Management Response

: Georgia
: 2021 - 2025 , Georgia (CO)
: Final Evaluation for the Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia project
:
: Georgia
:

The overarching goal (impact level) of the GG4GEG project is to ensure that governance systems, programmes, and policies along with private sector partners are gender sensitive and enable women’s economic empowerment and broader gender equality in Georgia. The project had two outcomes: (1) Governance systems are gender-sensitive and enable gender equality in Georgia and (2) Women in rural areas benefit from increased income-generation opportunities in the agrotourism and ICT sectors and fully realize their economic rights with the support of a gender-responsive private sector. Interventions developed in the framework of the project had nation-wide coverage and, in case, of the second outcome, more emphasis was set on more economically disadvantaged and conflict affected regions of Western Georgia (Imereti, Guria, Ratcha-Lechkhumi, Samegrelo and Shida Qartli). The project design targeted gender mainstreaming across a broad scope of reforms, such as decentralization, public service reform and public finance management reform, economic diversification (entrepreneurship), tourism (agritourism), financing, vocational education and training (work-based training), startups development, ICT industry, trade (value chain) and other. Due to that fact, the project implementation benefited from strategic partnerships developed with a large number of representatives from the Government, public administration institutions, non-governmental sector – CSOs and professional associations, and private enterprises. As a result of the evaluation, the project received six broad recommendations that have been all accepted by the Country Office.
: Approved
Recommendation: Continue with mainstreaming of GEWE into existing broad-scale reforms such as Public Administration Reform, systemic land registration process, also lawmaking around agrotourism and agriculture i.e., farmers’ status to accelerate achievement of all GEWE targets and SDG 5
Management Response: UN Women supports the Administration of the Government of Georgia in implementing gender mainstreaming commitments under the Public Administration Reform Strategy and Action Plan, namely in the area of mainstreaming gender in policy making, public finance management and public service. The effort is taking place within the framework of the “Increased Women’s Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” project launched in April 2023 with the generous funding from SDC
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018), Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, National ownership
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability, Impact
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1.1.Continue building national capacities to ensure effective utilization of gender equality mainstreaming tools such as GIA, GRB, prevention of sexual harassment and to use gender disaggregated data for decision making UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated Capacity development of public servants as well as civil society organizations on gender mainstreaming tools and methodologies such as GIA, GRB, prevention of sexual harassment and gender data is already taking place within the framework of the “Increased Women’s Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” project launched in April 2023 with the generous funding from SDC.
1.2. Continue building the evidence base of benefits of integration of gender equality mainstreaming tools in the public and the private sector such as sexual harassments prevention mechanisms, GRB, GIA etc. UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Not Initiated Capacity development of public servants as well as civil society organizations on gender mainstreaming tools and methodologies such as GIA, GRB, prevention of sexual harassment and gender data is already taking place within the framework of the “Increased Women’s Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” project launched in April 2023 with the generous funding from SDC.
1.3. Disseminate further the results of the Time Use Survey and advocate for amendments in relevant legislation and institutional practices to accelerate achievement for women work and life balance UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated This work is ongoing. Already in 2023, targeted presentations were organized with various target groups including the public servants, development partners and private sector sparking a national debate about the value of care and the gender inequality crisis in Georgia. The TUS findings are to further inform government policies to reduce the disproportionate share of unpaid care work carried by women and girls and to redistribute care responsibilities equitably between women and men in households, communities, the world of work and the State. This work is captured under the SDC funded WILD project as well as the 2nd phase of the GG4GEG project currently being fundraised for.
1.4. Use opportunities of participating in the ongoing dialogue on the status of gender advisors and Gender Equality Councils to strengthen capacities of these structures to promote GEWE UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated This work is ongoing under the SDC funded WILD project. A new partnership agreement has already been negotiated with NALAG and the formalization of the partnership agreement with NALAG will be finalized by mid-June.
Recommendation: Increase involvement of CSOs and women from SHGs, through the grant schemes and targeted funding, in promoting of gender mainstreaming tools and capacities to use these tools at the local governance level
Management Response: This approach has been incorporated by UN Women in the design of its new cost-share project Women’s Increased Leadership for Democracy (WILD) launched in April 2023 with financial support of Swiss Development Cooperation. More specifically, through WILD local women's CBOs and SHGs will receive small grants to engage in advocacy around greater gender mainstreaming and increased protection of women’s rights. GRB discussions and advocacy has been also an integral part of UN Women social mobilization work through GRB roundtables initiated by SHG members with local government representatives and will be carried on also in the next phase of GG4GEG project.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and political participation (SPs before 2018), Women economic empowerment (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles: National ownership, Advocacy, Capacity development, Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Human Rights, Gender equality, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
2.1. Integrate into the grant schemes for CSOs activities to develop capacity of duty bearers at the local governance level in GIA, GRB and use of gender disaggregated data for policy planning UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated UN Women has been training representatives of local government in GRB for quite some time though its partnership with the Ministry of Finance Training Center using specially dedicated GRB training course. This work will continue also in the second phase of GG4GEG project. Further, SDC supported WILD project will be providing small grants’ opportunities to women’s CBOs and SHGs for advocacy initiatives around gender mainstreaming and women’s rights protection topics.
2.2. To enable women at the grassroot level to address the barriers to their economic empowerment, provide them with communication and advocacy skills to influence decision making at local governance UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated This work is ongoing under the SDC funded WILD project and WEESC project through capacity development component of social mobilization work, so called Women’s Community Academy. UN Women plans to further advance the trainings provided to women through the social mobilization process under the Women’s Community Academy - a comprehensive capacity development framework that will include the adult education curriculum for women in – a) civic education module consisting of: a) 1) human rights, women’s rights and gender equality, 2) violence against women and girls (domestic violence & sexual harassment), 3) property & labour rights, 4) democracy, political rights and active citizenship; b) Women’s economic empowerment module consisting of: 1) basic financial literacy, 2) how to start the business and 3) how to develop the business and c) Women, Peace and Security module consisting of: 1) gender and mediation/negotiations and 2) human security - basic life skills and disaster/crisis/conflict preparedness.
2.3. Increase accountability of local governance for implementation of gender equality plans by involving local CSOs into their monitoring UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated In the frameworks of the WILD project and also the planned GG4GEG second phase, UN Women plans to deepen on the one hand its partnership with the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, while on the other hand with local CSOs. These partnerships will enable UN Women to create sustainable and effective platforms of dialogue between CSOs and local authorities for increased accountability of local government for implementation of gender equality plans.
Recommendation: Expand further successful cooperation with stakeholders representing different sectors and IFIs
Management Response: For the next years UN Women Georgia CO plans to build multi-stakeholder collaborative partnerships for gender equality and women’s empowerment, where representatives from government, private sector, CSOs, academia and investor groups are welcomed either as partners or as allies. UN Women’s vision is to encourage more and more stakeholders to join a network of organizations with similar values and take a greater ownership of the gender equality work by investing in their commitments.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Advocacy, National ownership
Organizational Priorities: Partnership, UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Gender equality, Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
3.1. Enhance participation of high-level management, CEOs, heads of municipalities in UN Women and partners’ advocacy and capacity building activities UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated For the next three years, UN Women’s vision is to encourage more and more stakeholders to join a network of organizations with similar values and take greater ownership of the gender equality work by investing in their commitments. UN Women will reach out to the new companies as well as capitalize on established partnerships with the business and HR associations by providing the companies with technical support and capacity development activities, including support in assessing their gender gaps, developing gender action plans, launching diverse and inclusive workplaces, offering continuous learning to the management and staff and supporting them in revising their corporate sourcing policies (gender-responsive procurement) to increase women’s inclusion in value chains. Special focus will be given to the capacity building of CEOs and high-level management to ensure high-level corporate support to gender equality.
3.2. Continue liaison with IFIs, UN agencies and other actors/ donors to ensure sustainability of support for women -entrepreneurs and to upgrade their businesses UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated Continuous business development support activities are provided, so women’s entrepreneurs have 1. access to necessary business knowledge and individual coaching: 2. access to finance to start/scale up business. 3. mentoring and individual support. In 2022, jointly with ILO-WED programme, UN Women conducted National Assessment of Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) in Georgia. Findings will be used to inform policymakers, business development service providers, financial service providers/institutions, development partners and relevant stakeholders on the actions needed to advance the profile and status of women entrepreneurs in Georgia. Assessment recommendations will be advocated to support actionable policies and programming to address the identified challenges affecting women’s entrepreneurship development. Following to the WED Assessment recommendations, it is planned to provide technical assistance to existing Business Development Service (BDS) providers, accelerators, incubators, and other relevant actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in developing/adapting the services to the needs of the women entrepreneurs through public-private initiatives. Also, it is envisioned to support existing angel networks, Venture Capital (VC) funds, commercial financial institutions, and impact investors, actively integrating, or interested in integrating, a gender strategy into the investment portfolios, through sharing the information and resources on Gender Lens Investing (GLI). From 2022 UN Women leads the working group on Promoting Gender Equality in Decision-Making Positions in the Financial Sector composed of the leading IFIs in Georgia. The objective of the working group is to ensure a coordinated approach to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the financial system of Georgia, specifically around achieving gender balance on the supervisory and management boards of the commercial banks. However, the scope of the working group can be extended to advocate for more ambitious targets for GEWE in this sector and push for further institutional changes within commercial banks in terms of inclusion through launching impactful initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs.
3.3. Use the WEPs Council as a platform to expand public-private partnerships and dialogue and engage WEPs Council /thematic groups and CSOs to work together and provide input in relation to desirable changes in sectoral strategies and relevant legislation and inform where GIA would be most relevant. UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated In 2022 WEPs companies were invited to join around 7 working groups to discuss their sector-specific challenges regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment: (1) Finance and Insurance, (2) Consultancy, (3) Media and Communications, (4) Transport and Construction, (5) Health, Services and Production, (6) ICT and Education, and (7) Tourism and Hospitality. In 2022 and 2023 the working groups have been discussing quarterly the sector-specific needs and planning joint initiatives around GEWE. This year the working group meetings will be used as a platform to expand public-private partnerships and engage the companies in policy advocacy and lobbying initiatives. This can be implemented through the capacity building of the companies in the thematic areas (e.g. paid maternity leave, equal pay, minimum pay, etc.), as well as in advocacy methods in order to engage them in advocating for gender equality policies.
3.4. Support joint advocacy initiatives of WEPs companies and CSOs with relevant duty-bearers (national and local governments) to address the challenges that prevent women from equal participation in the economy such as lack of childcare facilities, social care infrastructure, in particular in rural areas, etc. UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated Some of the WEPs quarterly meetings will be dedicated to care economy and CSOs will be also invited to strengthen the ties with the private sector. The WEPs companies will be supported to see the direct links between the care economy and inclusion of women in the labor force as a major cause to the lack of talented workforce on the Georgian market. WEPs working group meetings will be used as a platform to engage the companies in policy dialogue and lobbying.
3.5. Continue advocating for recognition of the private sector’s contribution to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment and SDGs i.e., awarding additional points in procurement processes, through allocation of targeted grants etc. UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated UN Women Georgia will also continue to advocate for the recognition of the role of the private sector, which requires the generation of evidence that informs about the impact of WEPs integration on the vitality and productivity of the private sector, the diversification of the economy, the reduction of unemployment and the importance of women’s participation in different sectors of the economy. The best practices and case studies on WEPs companies’ women’s empowerment work will be collected to ensure wide dissemination of the achievements of the private sector companies in Georgia. Enterprise Georgia, as key policy institutions staffed with the relevant focal points and dedicated personnel to pursue the development of women’s entrepreneurship. Continuous advocacy work is planned with Ministry of Economy and its affiliated implementing agency “Enterprise Georgia” to ensure that initiated support schemes – including access to generic finance, access to technical assistance - are gender inclusive. Work with GITA is also in progress, and it is planned to work towards filling the founder’s gap, by improving better access to ICT knowledge and mentoring opportunities to women entrepreneurs.
3.6. During the stakeholder analysis, consider mapping of stakeholders and partners around the project results (Outputs and Targets) indicating towards which nationalized and/or global SDG targets these partnerships will be contributing (e.g., SDGs 5.4) UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated UN Women conducts regular stakeholder mapping exercises - in line with its Strategic Note as well as with its cost-share projects. The partnerships have not been mapped out against SDG targets; the CO may consider doing this in the coming years.
3.7. Increase visibility of partnerships for GEWE and SDGs in online reporting and communication campaigns by adding hashtags next to information on partners/ partnerships under the project e.g., #SDG 5.4 UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated UN Women conducts regular stakeholder mapping exercises - in line with its Strategic Note as well as with its cost-share projects. The partnerships have not been mapped out against SDG targets; the CO may consider doing this in the coming years, reflecting this also in online reporting and communication campaigns.
Recommendation: Strengthen RBM capacity of UN Women project staff and partners and promote consistency of partners’ reporting towards the project results and indicators including on informing on the progress in achievement of HR and GEWE
Management Response: UN Women provides regular capacity development to is staff on RBM and will continue doing so. UN Women will further ensure that its responsible parties undergo RBM trainings as a part of capacity development support provided by UN Women on a periodic basis. From the middle of 2023, UN Women Georgia CO will also be joined by Monitoring and Reporting Specialist who will further accelerate the implementation of this recommendation.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Knowledge management, Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency, Gender equality, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
4.1. Provide a training for the project team (and partners) in RBM and Theory of Change and in mainstreaming of HR and GE into the project design and implementation UN Women GEO CO with the support of RO and HQ 2026/11 Initiated
4.2. Developing simple reporting templates for each of indicators and providing guidelines for reporting on LNOB e.g., disaggregation of data. UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated During the beginning of each phase of the project, UN Women delivers a session on RBM to its partner organizations on how to report based on the project indicators. From the middle of 2023, UN Women Georgia CO will also be joined by Monitoring and Reporting Specialist who will further accelerate the implementation of this recommendation.
Recommendation: To avoid overstretching of human resources of UN Women, keep a manageable scale of interventions during the next phase of the Good Governance project
Management Response: In 2022-2023 UN Women carried out robust fundraising for the Governance & Participation in Public life (G&PPL) portfolio. As a result, UN Women was able to launch a new project “Women’s Increased leadership for Democracy in Georgia” (WILD) generously funded by the Swiss Government. The combination of WILD and the 2nd phase of the GG4GEG, along with two project teams will ensure that UN Women has adequate human resources capacity to reach ambitious goals and objectives of the G&PPL programme without compromising quality of work and or well-being of staff.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Internal coordination and communication
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Organizational efficiency
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
5.1. Prioritize interventions to pilot tools e.g., GIA, GRB in order to demonstrate their relevance and effectiveness in the areas targeted by the project (e.g., PAR, agrotourism and agriculture, unpaid work) UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated GIA and GRB are priority tools applied and promoted by the CO not only in its programming but also in the operations of its national and local level state partners. UN Women will continue its advocacy and capacity development efforts to ensure institutionalization of GRB and GIA and their sustainable application.
5.1. Prioritize interventions to pilot tools e.g., GIA, GRB in order to demonstrate their relevance and effectiveness in the areas targeted by the project (e.g., PAR, agrotourism and agriculture, unpaid work) UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated GIA and GRB are priority tools applied and promoted by the CO not only in its programming but also in the operations of its national and local level state partners. UN Women will continue its advocacy and capacity development efforts to ensure institutionalization of GRB and GIA and their sustainable application.
5.2. Integrate in the design use of capacities developed during this project such as of ToTs in GRB and GIA, CSOs in monitoring of international HR and GE obligations etc. UN Women GEO CO 2027/11 Initiated This recommendation was put in practice already during the 1st phase of the project implementation. e.g. a national expert who was trained on GIA under ToT conducted within the framework of GG4GEG is now a lead expert in carrying out GIA on the Law of Georgia on Public Service. Similarly, several CSOs trained on monitoring gender equality commitments under the project took part in the development of the Alternative report to CEDAW Committee – also prepared within the framework of the project. UN Women will make sure to continue building on the results of the 1st phase of the GG4GEG under its 2nd phase as well.
Recommendation: Emphasize under the next phase maximum use of results from application of innovative methodologies, products and initiatives
Management Response: Application of innovative methodologies, products and initiatives has been given due consideration in the design of the next phase of GG4GEG project.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Knowledge management
Organizational Priorities: Culture of results/RBM, Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Relevance, Impact, Gender equality, Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
6.1. Continue integration of innovative methodologies into relevant strategies and action plans at the national policy level UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated In support of the commitments undertaken by the Government of Georgia to mainstream gender in innovations and technologies, relevant government stakeholders are being supported in the development of a consolidated Plan of Action on the implementation of TIGE commitments. In addition, the Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA) is being supported to continuously update the Gender Equality Action Plan; Agency has already supported to incorporate of relevant actions of TIGE commitments into their plan and as the strategic partner, we commit to provide technical assistance during the implementation process.
6.2. Integrate innovative products and concepts and models developed under both components of the project through (1) own interventions and (2) at partners’ institutions, for example through gender equality strategies and action plans UN Women GEO CO 2026/11 Initiated Building on the enormous demand for the tech skills-building programme implemented in the framework of the GG4GEG project, UN Women will continue innovative partnership between state, private sector, and academia to increase the participation of women in ICT, through providing skills-building and career pathways to the beginners and those women and girls who already have some experience in the ICT field. UN Women will continue working with international and local experts to develop policy packages, tools, instruments, guidance and practices that will help the businesses to make their working environment more diverse and inclusive. UN Women will continue delivering the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate programme to HR professionals from the WEPs companies.