Czech innovators joined hands with their Georgian counterparts to implement innovative solutions in the fields of sustainable growth and good governance.

The partnership draws on the resources made available by the Czech Challenge Fund, implemented by UNDP with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Initiatives selected under the 6th Call for Proposals are covering the period from October 2022 to October 2023, with US$40,000 allocated for each project.

“Georgia has the highest number of Challenge Fund projects supported by the Czech-UNDP Partnership. We are proud of the accomplishments achieved by Czech and Georgian partners and partnerships formed around innovative solutions. We look forward to seeing the tangible results of the latest projects in 2023," said Pavel Faus, Senior Project Specialist of the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs, a.i., UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.

“It’s important to exchange experience, innovation and good practices among the countries to support sustainable solutions that benefit people and communities. UNDP-Czech Partnership creates a cooperation space between the public, private and civil sectors, bringing on board new technology and academic expertise,” noted Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.

Twenty-four innovative initiatives have been implemented in Georgia since 2018 with the Challenge Fund's support. The ongoing projects include:

• Centre For Mental Health Care Development – First Steps Towards Development of Peer Work in Georgia

The Czech NGO ‘Centre for Mental Health Care Development’ and its Georgian counterpart ‘Partnership for Equal Rights’ assist Georgia in introducing peer work in mental healthcare, an innovative approach that allows people with mental disorders, undergoing treatment in social and health facilities, to receive support from their peers with a similar experience. The Czech and Georgian civil society organisations train peer workers, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for mental health services. They also develop a system of standards framing peer work in mental health.

• VisionCraft - Road Asset Management system using AI

Aiming to improve road monitoring in Georgia, the Czech company ‘Vision Craft’, together with their local partner ‘GlobalPort’ LLC, is implementing a pilot project, which enables viRAM sensors to collect real-time data from vehicles owned by public agencies. The innovative technology detects road defects with an autonomous onboard sensory system and provides real-time information.

Some of the completed projects include:

• Caritas Czech Republic, together with its Georgian partner CRRC-Georgia, piloted HIV self-testing solutions and shared its findings with government institutions. The results of the project will inform a rollout of a nationwide project promoting preventive HIV testing in Georgia.
• Czech ‘Nesehnuti Brno’ in partnership with Georgian ‘Abkhazintercont’ worked with community-based organisations and municipal actors to strengthen their capacities and support a productive dialogue on community development and public engagement in local decision-making. Two community-driven micro-projects were completed as a result of this initiative.
• Czech ‘AGORA CE’ partnered with the Georgian ‘Regional Development Agency of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region’ to design an energy-efficient wood-burning stove blending Georgian traditions with high-tech European solutions.

The full list of projects is available on the UNDP-Czech Partnership website: undp.cz

Background

The Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs supports innovative solutions from the Czech private sector, non-governmental organisations, universities, state institutions, research centres and individuals. Challenge Fund projects focus on solving specific development challenges in six partner countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Moldova, Zambia). The implementation is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. In Georgia, the Czech Challenge Fund has already supported 24 projects.

Media Contact

Pavel Faus, Czech Challenge Fund Project Specialist, pavel.faus@undp.org