Climate Resilient Rural Development, Georgia

CENN is implementing a project Promoting Sustainable Forest Management for Climate Resilient Rural Development in Georgia with the support of the Austrian Development Cooperation. The project aims to halt and reverse the impact of forest degradation across Georgia. The project works at the national and local levels to establish sustainable forest management and rural development approaches. With this, the project is contributing to the reduction of rural poverty and sustainable green growth. A key component of the project is to empower rural women to act as leaders in the community and to be meaningfully involved in forest management and rural development decision-making. CENN is doing this through providing skill-based and thematic trainings, offering grants, and strengthening their advocacy knowledge to influence the decision-makers. CENN has consolidated women’s voices in forestry sector by establishing four women’s councils in the target regions: Adjara, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Kakheti. Forests provide abundant resources, they are our lifeline and a path out of poverty for many communities. All across Georgia, women are already informally involved in an innovative use of forest resources, but need institutional support and education to help them reach their potential.  CENN is non-governmental organisation working to protect the environmental by fostering sustainable development throughout the South Caucasus. CENN specialises in a number of areas including combating climate change, sustainable management of resources, building and developing healthy and prosperous climate resilient communities, and empowering women and girls to participate in creating inclusive solutions.