On December 11, CENN, together with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture, hosted a meeting for the Rural Development Interagency Coordination Council (IACC) working group with relevant stakeholders.
During the meeting, thematic and technical aspects of IACC’s activities in the forestry sector were discussed.
The Head of the Office for the South Caucasus Office for Technical Cooperation, Gerhard Schaumberger, noted that the four-year project, Sustainable Forest Management for Climate Resilient Rural Development in Georgia, implemented by CENN with funding provided by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), will support IACC in expanding its coordination beyond the EU and other state agencies.
The following is a list of areas in which the project will cooperate together with the Council: sustainable management of forest resources and increasing its role in rural development, tourism, sustainable energy solutions, natural disaster prevention, education, and female employment.
“All of these factors will contribute to the diversification of rural activities and reduce pressure on forests and green growth. IACC will improve our coordination and guide us to avoid overlap between donor and state-financed projects” – Khatia Tsilosani, Head of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture.
IACC members and other relevant stakeholders have received information regarding the current and planned forest programs and the development of inter-agency cooperation.
H.E. Ambassador of Austria to Georgia, Arad Benkö, recommended that IACC members join the project steering committee.