Theme

Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Description

Women’s socio-economic empowerment is one of the crucial issues in modern society. In Shuakhevi municipality, for years, the level of public engagement was low, especially among women and vulnerable groups, which was reflected in the fact that the local population did not utilize the engagement mechanisms provided by the Local Self-Government Code.

Despite significant measures implemented, the quality of women’s social activity and ensuring gender equality remain challenges to this day, which, in turn, is important for ensuring women’s involvement in the local self-governance process.

In Objective 3.1 of the 2020-2025 Decentralization Strategy, “Implementation of effective and innovative systems for local management and quality service delivery,” it is noted that the reform agenda envisages increasing women’s active participation, both in elected positions and among users of local self-government services. This contributes to increasing accountability and expanding the inclusivity of local services, giving women more opportunities to participate in public debates.

Additionally, Georgia has expressed readiness to engage in the implementation process of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 16.7, which aims to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels, where the involvement of all groups in the decision-making process is a crucial issue. This inherently implies women’s involvement and ensuring gender equality.

Shuakhevi Municipality is the first municipality, both in the Adjara region and throughout Georgia, to develop an innovative local budget program “Socio-economic empowerment of rural women.” This program contributes to significant progress in gender equality and women’s social and economic empowerment. Within the framework of the program, local women and women’s initiative groups were given the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality.

Implementing Organization

Shuakhevi Municipality City Hall. Municipal service open space for the community “Women’s Room”.

Challenge

Women’s sustainable involvement in local self-governance processes and the degree of their socio-economic freedom at the local level still face many challenges, leading to gender inequality. One of the consequences of gender inequality is violence against women and domestic violence.

One of the means to combat violence against women is women’s socio-economic empowerment. According to a study conducted by UN Women, at least 1 in 7 women has been a victim of violence.

Solution

First and foremost, the municipality should develop a strategic document on gender equality. Success-determining factors (including factors specific to the particular municipality); correctly selected segment, interest and support from leadership, involvement of non-governmental organizations, attitude and approach of municipal gender equality council members.

Socio-economic empowerment and activation of women living in the municipality, halting migration from villages, promoting the development of women as full and equal members of society, providing stimulus, motivation, and example for other women to become more active and participate in implementing their ideas both in the municipality’s targeted programs and in grant competitions announced by various non-governmental organizations and donors. One of the goals of this program is to attract the interest of donor and non-governmental organizations, towards which the first effective steps have been taken. With the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the project “Empowerment of Women and Youth in Shuakhevi Municipality” was implemented. Within the framework of the project, participating women and youth underwent training courses on the following topics: guarantees and forms of citizen participation in local self-governance, preparation and submission of petitions, budgeting process and citizen involvement in the process, development of project ideas and business ideas. A study of women’s needs was conducted, within which a corresponding document was prepared. Four petitions were developed within the project, two for submission to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and two to the Shuakhevi Municipality Council. The aim of the petition is to implement and carry out this program in all municipalities across the Adjara region.

The program “Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment” will support the development of start-up, micro, small, and medium entrepreneurship in the municipality, the emergence of more business ideas, women entrepreneurs, and jobs, halting migration from rural areas, promoting local economic development, establishing and strengthening business connections. It will contribute to equal and sustainable economic growth, improved economic governance, increased competitiveness and employment, as well as support for women’s equal rights and empowerment, which has yielded effective results. The project involves supporting the development of small and start-up businesses for women and women’s initiative groups registered in the municipality. Within the framework of the program, one project will be funded by the municipality’s city hall for up to 5,000 GEL, with the winner’s co-participation. The total project budget is 15,000 GEL.

The following types of projects were funded: installation of drip irrigation systems for raspberry garden maintenance, purchase of laser cutting and engraving equipment for creating handmade decorations, original and unique items, establishment of the clay workshop “Brili – Art” in the village of Brili for production and rural tourism development, purchase of fruit drying equipment to support small family farms and incubator equipment for small farm development, development of a family-type guesthouse and opening of a confectionery in Shuakhevi.

Legal Act

– Order of the Mayor of Shuakhevi Municipality N06-442 09/08/2021 on the creation of a competition commission for the program “Socio-economic empowerment of rural women” envisaged by the 2021 local budget of Shuakhevi Municipality.

– Order of the Mayor of Shuakhevi Municipality N06-118 12/03/2021 on the approval of the action plan for the program “Socio-economic empowerment of rural women” envisaged by the 2021 local budget of Shuakhevi Municipality.

– Order of the Mayor of Shuakhevi Municipality N06-111 05/03/2021 on the approval of the regulations and work forms for the program “Socio-economic empowerment of rural women” envisaged by the 2021 local budget of Shuakhevi Municipality.

Contact Information

Deputy Mayor of Shuakhevi Municipality – Rusudan Shavadze.

Email: rusoruso1975@gmail.com.

First Category Chief Specialist in Gender Issues of the Administrative Service of Shuakhevi Municipality City Hall – Tamila Putkaradze.

Email: tamila.futkaradze2010@gmail.com

Useful Links

See a report about one of the funded young female entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/batumelebi/posts/1833861366813582