Results and lessons learned

In 2016 the Government of Georgia adopted its first ever Rural Development Strategy (2017- 2020),
where Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has the coordinating role among the
ministries. This was followed by small-scale investment projects on income diversification in selected
rural areas. This comprehensive approach of shaping and implementing rural development policy
enables to bridge the gap between top-down and bottom-up approaches, and enhance a well-
informed and consistent policy making process, which is built on lessons learnt at all administrative
level. The experience in local rural development is planned to be replicated in a recently launched
project.