Czechia integrates projects for better impact in the Aragvi Protected Landscape

Challenge

The natural resources in Georgia’s Aragvi area provide potential for tourism, but the area lacks infrastructure such as an electricity network and public services. It also lacks job prospects, leading people to search for work elsewhere. Some remote areas are inhabited only half the year.

Internally, Czechia wanted to better co‑ordinate multiple projects and instruments in the region and make the most of its small bilateral budget to make a difference.

Approach

“Sustainable development of the Area of Aragvi Protected Landscape”, launched in 2018, provides tailor-made solutions to challenges in multiple sectors. In this way, it meets the social and economic needs of local communities, while protecting natural and cultural heritage.

Initially, it had three key targets: community tourism and organic agriculture; social services such as health care and education; and inclusive and sustainable governance of the protected area.

With co-financing from Austria, the programme now mobilises strategies and funding instruments from both Czech and Slovak development co‑operation for a total budget of USD 3 million to:

• building capacity

• raising awareness

• providing grants

• empowering local people for decision making

• providing technical assistance to manage the protected landscape and sustainable forestry.

Results

While development results have not yet been measured, the programme had several achievements between 2018-22:

• It finalised management plans for the Aragvi Protected Landscape and sustainable forestry.

• It trained personnel and provided 90 grants to local farmers and tourism-related service providers.

• It improved both external and internal co‑ordination:

  • Externally, it leveraged more funding, engaging with Austria and the Slovak Republic (Slavkov co‑operation).

  • Internally, it mobilised multiple Czech instruments around a shared goal to fill in any gaps in its bilateral portfolio in Georgia. When some farms could not take full advantage of installed solar panels, Czechia mobilised the small-scale project mechanism to fund feasibility studies and identify technical solutions. Another small project supported online schooling in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the programme will add a disaster risk reduction component. With support from the Czech humanitarian assistance budget, the United Nations Development Programme will deliver firefighting equipment and train rangers how to use it.