Publications
USAID and bp representatives visited Small Business projects implemented within the Community Development Initiative (CDI) program.
4/05/2021
Regional Development Association hosted USAID and bp representatives on Small Business projects implemented within the Community Development Initiative (CDI) program.
During the meetings, CDI beneficiary entrepreneurs described their activities, talked about the knowledge and experience they had gained through the program and shared their future plans as well.
CDI program has three components:
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Rural infrastructure rehabilitation;
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Small business support;
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Establishing Agricultural Knowledge centers run by Community Based Organizations.
As a result of the USAID and bp partnership in 2019-2020, 15 community infrastructure facilities were rehabilitated, 77 small businesses supported and 16 agricultural knowledge centers established.
Katy Tchumburidze, manager of USAID Zrda project in Georgia talks about the importance of bp cooperation and partnership projects in Georgia.
How public-private sector partnerships have transformed development in Georgia
31/03/2021
In the interview below, Investor.ge sat down with Katy Tchumburidze, Chief of Party of the USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia program, to discuss how public-private sector partnerships have altered the development landscape in Georgia.
Mariam Mosidze
31/03/2021
Meet, USAID/Zrda and bp joint program beneficiary Mariam Mosidze, florist in the village Atskuri.
The program is implemented by the Regional Development Association.
APMTerminals4Poti - Small Entrepreneurs Support Program
29/03/2021
The Small Business Support Program has been designed within the APM Terminals Poti Deep-Water Port Construction Project. It aims to provide competitive business and employment opportunities to start-ups and experienced entrepreneurs. The program will run for 2 consecutive years and is intended to deliver direct and indirect benefits to the Poti community. The process will be executed by the Export Development Association (EDA) and its sub-contractor – Regional Development Association (RDA). EDA was selected through an open tender and is a Georgian business enabler association with experience in similar initiatives.
Nana Devdariani
12/02/2021
Meet, USAID/Zrda and bp joint program beneficiary Nana Devdariani, Cheese producer from Bereti village, Kvemo Kartli region.
In Tsalka the program is implemented by the Regional Development Association.
Archil Khanikidze
12/02/2021
Meet, USAID/Zrda and bp joint program beneficiary Archil Khanikidze, Chairman of the community based organization "Bareti", village Sabechisi.
In Tsalka the program is implemented by the Regional Development Association.
"Samtskhe-Javakheti marketing potential"
15/06/2020
On September 5th, with the financial support of the USAID project "Zrda Activity in Georgia" RDA organized TOT sessions, regarding the "Samtskhe-Javakheti marketing potential" for the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Destination Management Organization (DMO), Akhaltsikhe City Hall and Rabati caste representatives, at Art-House, in Tbilisi. Training was led by the marketing specialist Sophio Britanchuki. TOT included three modules: Gastronomic traditions, Marketing, and Branding. The workshop participants got acquainted with the stories, images, graphics, and full articles of Samtskhe-Javakheti material and non-material cultural heritage, developed by the RDA within the initiative “Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti marketing potential.”
As a reminder, the initiative - "Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti Marketing Potential “is a training cycle within which the Regional Development Association (RDA), with the support of USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia”, introduces local entrepreneurs and governing bodies the usage of the region's cultural heritage or traditions for marketing purposes.
Two-day study tour in Kakheti
15/06/2020
On September 5th, 2020, with the financial support of the USAID project "Zrda Activity in Georgia" RDA organized two-day study tour in Kakheti region for the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Destination Management Organization (DMO), Akhaltsikhe City Hall and Rabati Caste representatives.
Within the demonstrative tour, participants visited tourism facilities, such as Georgian traditional Restaurant Badia , Hotel Zuzumbo, , Wine-cellar Museum Numisi, Babaneuri Winery and agritourism “Tsinandlis Edemi”. Business owners shared their experience with guests, and highlighted the challenges and troubles caused by the pandemic situation all around the world. The meaning of the development of domestic tourism and necessary changes regarding customers segmentation was assessed as necessity.
Participants had a great opportunity to attend the master classes, such as bread-making, preparing the most popular Georgian dessert “Churchkhela, wine and food pairing at Babaneuri Winery.
Study tour participants highly appreciated the study tour, as it proved the importance of using the cultural heritage of any region for marketing and economic purposes.
Meet USAID Zrda project beneficiaries
15/06/2020
Arif Omarov and Khalit Khalilov, from the village Shulaveri, Kvemo Kartli region.
In June 2020, regardless the turbulent situation caused by the global pandemic, in compliance with state restrictions and regulations, farmers arranged an 1800 m2 greenhouses, each to grow off-season vegetables (cucumber and tomato) and supply local fresh markets.
Call for Graphic Designers
19/07/2018
Regional Development Association (RDA) is accepting searching for Graphic Designers with experience in creating professional vector graphics for use in printed and digital media. RDA aims to develop a comprehensive multimedia gallery dedicated toillustration of natural and cultural heritage of Samtskhe Javakheti within the frames of USAID Zrda project. The graphic images are intended for use in marketing materials of rural SMEs and other promotion material.
The deadline for submission of applications is 31 July 2018.
An Initiative That Achieves Results
31/05/2017
412 infrastructural projects, 910 new small businesses; at least 1,542 new jobs, average monthly profit of ₾301 per business, and an average profit increase of 25% among target families – these are only some of the results of the social responsibility program conducted by BP Georgia in villages located along the pipeline.
The business and economic agenda of the twenty-first century is saturated with the subject of corporate social responsibility – a subject of discussion at every global economic forum. The focus of these discussions is usually the question as to whom the main initiative regarding social responsibility ought to be coming from – should the businesses themselves decide independently to combine the profit-making process with social and environmental issues, or should the government force the business to undertake socially responsible steps via regulations?
Support Small Business Entrepreneurship and Successful Beneficiaries
01/07/2016
The meeting of agricultural machinery service providers was organized in Zemo Skhvilisi within the scope of Community Development Initiative (CDI 5). Entrepreneurs presented their ploughs, seeders, scythes, cultivators and other crop farming machinery and shared experience.
Community Development Initiative (CDI) has stared in 2003 in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli with the financial support of BP. Regional Development Association (RDA) is the implementing partner of CDI program for the last six years.
Community Based Organizations and Their Role in Rural Development
16/06/2016
The Program in 33 communities of Adigeni, Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi municipalities has several directions, one of which is rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. To ensure successful implementation of the project, community based organizations (CBOs) were created within a 4-kilometer corridor of the pipeline. To obtain matching grants, CBOs, together with population, select priority projects and fill in applications. Local community is also engaged in implementation of the selected projects, either through labor or cash contribution. RDA team also participates in the process – quality and schedule of works are monitored on spot. CBOs are regularly trained to ensure adherence to quality and safety measures during implementation of these and other projects.
BP Pipeline Community Support Project – “Community Development Initiative” (CDI) enters its new phase
01/07/2015
Following the 12-year successful past experience, Community Development Initiative has entered its 5th phase. CDI is initiated and funded by BP and its co-ventures in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and South Caucasian Pipeline (SCP) companies.The objective of the 5th phase is to build on the results achieved during the previous four phases and continue support to communities in target villages along the East and West Route sections of BTC and SCP pipelines.The project implementing partners for the phase 5 are: in East section of the pipeline, Kvemo Kartli – Centre for Traninig and Consultancy (CTC) and in West section, Samtskhe-Javakheti – Regional Development Association (RDA).
BP assists development of cooperatives in Samtskhe-Javakheti
11/12/2014
A number of projects have been implemented since 2003 within the framework of Community Development Initiative (CDI) program - initiated and financed by BP and its partners in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. Regional Development Association (RDA) implements the abovementioned projects in Samtskhe-Javakheti (western route of the pipeline).
Zaza Ivanidze - Hero Of Imedi
16/11/2014
Zaza Ivanidze - Hero Of Imedi (GEO)
Arranged demo farms, increased yield and solved problem of cattle feeding with the assistance of BP in Samtskhe-Javakheti villages.
10/10/2014
Within the framework of Community Development Initiative (CDI) program initiated and funded by BP and its partners in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli region, a number of projects have been implemented since 2003. Regional Development Association (RDA) represents an implementing entity of CDI in Samtskhe-Javakheti (Western route of the pipeline) since 2012.
The program covers the villages located along the Western route of the pipeline and aims to improve livelihood of the population in 33 villages of Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe and Adigeni municipalities through financing participatory socio-economic projects.
The projects implemented by the assistance of BP in Samtskhe-Javakheti villages
29/07/2014
Rehabilitation of village infrastructure, arrangement of agricultural demo plots, creation of rural cooperatives and small business star-ups.Community Development Association is implemented in 5 more villages of Samtskhe-Javakheti region since 2013.Regional Development Association has started implementation of the Community Development Initiative program within the framework of South Caucasus gas pipeline expansion ( CDI SCPX) project since June 2013. The program is initiated and financed by BP and its partners.
Problems solves by BP in the villages of Meskheti
07/07/2014
Kilometers of rehabilitated irrigation system and increased amount of harvest; dozens of arranged cattle watering troughs and enhanced milk yield; roads, bridges, potable water and sewage system, dozens of infrastructural projects implemented in more than 30 villages.
4 winners of Community Development Initiative grant competition gained the status of Agricultural Cooperative
05/07/2014
The component Development Of Agricultural Cooperatives is implemented within the Community Development Initiative program. The grant competition Development of Agricultural Cooperatives announced by Regional Development Association (RDA) in Samtskhe-Javakheti region is completed. From 47 participant groups 12 were trained on grant application filling, 4 best projects were selected for financing.
Our Results
Over small business projects and up to 700 employed. These are the results of activities of company BP under the development initiative of the company for the local people
RDA Launches EU Funded Agri-Cooperatives Project in West Georgia
13/03/2014
RDA’s geographical coverage expanded to West Georgia from January 1, 2014, after gaining an opportunity to implement Small Farmers Co-operation component of ENPARD Georgia program as part of the consortia with CARE International in the Caucasus and International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University (ISET).
The Ministry of Agriculture visited enterprises in Akhaltsikhe
05/05/13
Georgian Buziness Zone owns Diary and Combined Feed plants in Tsnisi village, Akhaltsikhe. In 2009 the company attracted contribution grant within the framework of Millennium Challenge Program (MCG) and established dairy plant equipped with the latest technologies. In 2010 Georgian Business Zone expanded its activities and built up Combined feed proceeding plant, which was equipped with the modern technological equipments funded by BP within the program “Farmer to Farmer” (FtF). Both plants of Tsnisi village run ISO and HACCAP certificates.
According to the director of Georgian Buziness Zone Ltd. Besik Babunashvili, establishment of farm and deploy of highly productive livestock is planed for the next year “We plan to build farm using credit with low interest. Project works have already been started, and we hope to receive loan in October”
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RDA Starts Implementation of CDI SCPX Project Funded and Initiated by BP and Its Partners
05/05/13
From June 2013 Regional Development Association (RDA) launched program – Community Development Initiative (CDI) for South Caucasus Pipeline Extension (SCPX) project initiated and funded by BP and its partners. CDI SCPX aims to improve living conditions of population through social and economic development projects in the villages, which are located in 5 kilometer radius from gas pressure regulation stations.
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia familiarizes with BP’s small start-up business development model in Samtskhe-Javakheti region
12/04/13 Press Release
The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia plans to further facilitate the SME development in Georgia. Within the framework of the initiative The Deputy Minister Ketevan Bochorishvili visited Samtskhe-Javakheti region, where BP has been promoting entrepreneurship in the communities along Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline for the last several years.
“We have decided to visit successful micro-entrepreneurs on site, as it is the only way to see the real picture and create useful sector development strategy” – says Ms. Bochorishvili.
RDA Awards Guinness Book Recordsman Jumber Lejava with Honorable Adviser Status and Health Insurance
11/02/13
In January 2013 the world traveler - Jumber Lezhava became honorable adviser of Regional Development association. Mr. Lejava will train Samtskhe-Javakheti Community Based Organizations about how to overcome problems in life. RDA has great honor to award a Guiness Book Recordsman with health insurance from BCI.
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RDA Rises Awareness on 3R Principle of Waste Management in Samtskhe Javakheti
31/10/2012 Press Release
RDA has been selected as implementing entity for environmental awareness building project in partnership with Environmental Union "Samkaro". The project envisages series of trainings in Samtskhe Javakheti schools and communities with the purpose to communicate the importance of the 3R principle of waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle). The training are being conducted in town of Akhaltsikhe and 11 villages (among them five CDI West villages - Klde, Arali, Minadze, Tsnisi, Varkhani). Trainings in school aim at general awareness of the issue, while in communities, RDA tries to advance skills of CBOs to mobilize community members with the purpose of securing funding for the environmental projects.
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RDA and Georgian Fruit and Vegetable Export Company sign MOU
22/10/2012 Press Release
In September 2012, Regional Development Association (RDA) and Georgian Fruit and Vegetable Export Company signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation within the framework of which RDA conducted assessment survey in 3600 villages of 64 municipalities in all 10 Georgian regions and created database of so called “Village ID Cards”.
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Recent news RDA signs first grant agreements in CDI4
01/10/2012 Press Release
The fourth phase of the Community Development Initiative West has officially launched on May 11, 2012 upon signing of agreement on implementation of the project between BP and RDA. The project will emphasize its efforts on delivering benefit through mixed funding instruments, including matched grants and subsidized micro loans. Technical assistance and capacity building of the beneficiaries remains at its top for every component of the project.
HERA meets CDI3 women grantees, extends financing to form a value chain
22/07/2012
RDA facilitated meetings between the organization HERA (Her Equality, Rights and Autonomy) and CDI3 start up women grantees in villages Klde (Wool processing ), Tsnisi (Dental service) and Zikilia (Mini market). HERA is an UK organization which supports strengthening of the women's role in the society in order to prevent them from trafficking and achieves this by helping women entrepreneurs worldwide to sustain their small businesses. The visit was organized upon HERA's request submitted to RDA last month.Add News Story here
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RDA Launches CDI4
11/05/2012 Press Release
The fourth phase of the Community Development Initiative West has officially launched on May 11, 2012 upon signing of agreement on implementation of the project between BP and RDA. The project will emphasize its efforts on delivering benefit through mixed funding instruments, including matched grants and subsidized micro loans. Technical assistance and capacity building of the beneficiaries remains at its top for every component of the project.