The FINANCIAL — Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili signed the “FAO Country Programming Framework for Georgia 2016-2020” together with Raimund Jehle, Regional Strategic Programmes Coordinator for FAO in Europe and Central Asia and FAO Representative in Georgia. The four-year agreement aims at institutional, regional and sectoral development of agriculture and related subsectors.
“The Country Programming Framework 2016-2020 makes available FAO expertise and innovative international best practices in agriculture to support Georgia in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”. Therefore, the agreement contributes in particular to strong institutional capacity, sustainable and more resilient agriculture, and improved food safety- noted Jehle.
”I would like to thank the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for its active support and cooperation, which lasted for years. We will carry out a number of important projects in the future as well, which will further promote the development of agricultural sector in Georgia, “- Levan Davitashvili said.
“ FAO Country Programming Framework is a guarantee for Georgia to achieve sustainable development goals. FAO will share its experience and international, innovative practices in the field of agriculture. The Framework Agreement will ensure a strong institutional capacity building, sustainable agriculture and food safety system in the country “- said Raimund Jehle.
Since the land reform of the early 1990s, Georgia has become a country of smallholders and family farms. All priority areas outlined in the agreement with FAO clearly support smallholders in developing productivity and competitiveness. They also point to improved livelihoods and reduction of poverty for disadvantaged groups in rural areas, including the internally displaced persons. In order to empower women and men farmers, to lead them to good agricultural practices, FAO will work with the Ministry of Agriculture to help improve its capacities for implementing the current Strategy for Agricultural Development and associated Action Plan. FAO is also ready to assist the country on food safety, veterinary and plant protection, and improving efficiency and reliability in the country’s animal health protection, surveillance, monitoring, and traceability system. Plant and pest control services will also be strengthened.
Under the Agreement, in the next 4 years focus will be laid on conservation of the Georgia’s unique biological diversity and establishing a system of sustainable management and effective use of forest and wildlife resources. Adaptation to climate change in agriculture is a national priority, and FAO will support the application of Climate Smart Agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction measures, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia.
The agreement was drawn up following consultations with Ministries and government agencies. It also benefitted from discussion with development partners with key resource partners including the European Union, Austrian Development Agency and Swiss Development Cooperation, and with development partners including other United Nations agencies.
Framework agreement in consultation with the various ministries and government agencies, as well as financial supporters – the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the United Nations organizations – the agreement was prepared.
“We look forward to working with the government and people of Georgia,” said Jehle, “to help the country meet UN development goals as well as requirements for EU integration.”
The FAO Country Programming Framework for Georgia 2016-2020 is a direct contribution to implementation of the United Nations Partnership for Sustainable Development 2016-2020 document, which summarizes the Government of Georgia and United Nations (UN) partnership.
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