Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia

This Climate Change adaptation project aims to ensure that the vulnerability of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-related natural hazards is reduced through a well-functioning nationwide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action.

While the project has made significant progress in equipping national and local governments with the necessary skills and tools to ensure better prevention and response to multi-hazard risks, Georgia has still important strategic, policy and programming gaps: it does not have a proper risk-informed development planning. Local capacities and practices for disaster risk management (DRM) are also inadequate. The country needs effective forecasting and early warning systems, as well as comprehensive and up-to-date data on climate risks and hazards. In addition, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) processes and capacities are largely gender-blind and neglect social inclusion.

Outcome  1:  The Georgian  authorities  have enhanced  capacities  in  risk-informed decision-making. 

Outcome 2: Women and  girls have agency and  voice  to  be  resilient  to  disasters and threats. 

Expected results:  

• 3 municipalities adopt spatial development plans based on the newly developed Hazard Zoning Policy
• At least 3 municipalities have and use detailed landslide hazard maps
• 200 women and girls, and 15 women’s CSOs are trained on gender dimension of disasters, women’s resilience to disasters and climate change, and on capacities to recover
  

Results from previous phases:  

• National multi-hazard mapping and risk assessment methodology was developed for 7 major hazards (i.e. flood, avalanche, landslide, mudflow, windstorm, hailstorm and drought) taking place in Georgia.

• Multi-hazard maps were prepared for 11 river basins of Georgia.

• Municipal preparedness and response plans were elaborated for 11 vulnerable municipalities in Georgia.

• 27 staff members of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) were trained in modelling of flood dam-breach, avalanche and drought hazards; 165 municipal representatives were trained on disaster preparedness and response planning.

• Two study tours of the NEA representatives were organized to Switzerland to learn from the best practices in monitoring, forecasting and management of avalanche, landslide and mudflow risks.