Theme
Women’s Economic Empowerment.
Description
The City of Poti Municipality notes low female involvement in both socio-economic activities and municipal processes in terms of presenting initiatives and opinions. This situation is caused by a lack of awareness in society, a deficit of financial resources, and other factors. The municipality aims, within its capabilities, to reduce the barriers that hinder women’s active involvement in public activities and to support the use of their economic potential, as well as to develop incentive services.
To support women’s empowerment, the City of Poti Municipality has been implementing various social programs over the years, including assistance programs for single parents, newborn families, large families, and families with five or more children. In addition, a Gender Equality Council has been established in the municipality, which promotes awareness of gender issues and supports women.
Despite existing programs, it became clear that additional and diverse services are needed to improve women’s economic empowerment. In response, the City of Poti Municipality’s 2022 budget approved the sub-program “Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment/Support at the Local Level”. However, it was found that women often lack information about municipal services or do not know how and in what form to fill out applications. For example, only two applicants participated in the first competition announced under this sub-program, but neither of them met the requirements due to incomplete documentation and application deficiencies.
Considering these results, the municipality re-announced the competition, but again only two applicants participated, whose applications also failed to meet the program management requirements. The results of this competition showed that it was necessary to strengthen the dissemination of information and organize an information meeting to explain in detail to interested parties the essence of the competition, its goals, the list of documents to be submitted, and the application filling process.
For this purpose, the City of Poti Municipality held an information meeting about the Gender Equality Promotion Program “Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment/Support at the Local Level”. A presentation was given at the meeting, during which the attending public (women) were provided with detailed information about filling out the application and the necessary documentation.
As a result of the information meeting, the number of participants willing to participate in the third competition increased significantly, and among them was a women’s initiative group. Applications were submitted that met the program management requirements and were allowed to proceed to the second stage of the competition.
Implementing Organization
Poti Municipality
Challenge
Lack of information in the community about the project, lack of application filling skills, and the limited volume of the municipality budget were some of the main challenges.
Solution
For interested parties, the City of Poti Municipality held an information meeting about the Gender Equality Promotion Program “Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment/Support at the Local Level”. A presentation was given at the event, through which the attending public (women) were provided with detailed information about the rules for filling out the application and the necessary documentation. As a result of this meeting, the number of applicants increased.
Three applicants, including one initiative group, won the competition announced within the framework of the Gender Equality Promotion Program “Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment/Support at the Local Level”. The winners received financial assistance for the following purposes:
- Purchase of a display refrigerator for storing perishable products for a confectionery bakery.
- Purchase of a gas stove, mixer, and ice cream maker to expand the production of confectionery products at home.
- Purchase of sewing machines to turn sewing activities into entrepreneurship.
Co-financing women’s entrepreneurial activities will contribute to the expansion of their businesses, which will increase the area of employment and, consequently, have a positive impact on both women’s economic empowerment and reducing unemployment rates. Each winner, after implementing the project and expanding the business, plans to employ additional local staff.
The more information is spread about the project, the more the population’s interest in the program increases.
The project is included in the 2023 budget, and the funding amount has been increased and is set at 15,000 GEL.
Legal Act
Order No. B42.42222076 of the Mayor of Poti Municipality, dated July 26, 2022, “On conducting a competition, creating a competition commission, and implementing measures in accordance with the Gender Equality Promotion Program (program code 06 04 21) of the City of Poti Municipality budget”.
Contact Information
Deputy Mayor – Mamuka Papaskiri, mamuka.papaskiri@poti.gov.ge
Head of Health and Social Services – Maia Makalatia, maia.makalatia@poti.gov.ge
Head of Sustainable Development and Innovation Service – Nino Gvasalia, ninogvasalia@poti.gov.ge
Head of Innovation and Municipal Services Development, Sustainable Development and Innovation Service – Teona Getia, teona.getia@poti.gov.ge
First Deputy Chairman of the City Council – Maia Dolbaia, maia.dolbaia@poti.gov.ge
Deputy Chairman of the City Council – Shalva Sardalishvili, shalva.sardalishvili@pot.gov.ge