Overview

UNDP and the Government of Georgia, with funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Swiss and Swedish governments are implementing a 7-year programme dedicated to reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters in Georgia. 

With an overall budget of US$74 million, the initiative comprises four interrelated projects:

• Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate Information in Georgia with US$27 million in funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF);
• Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia with US$5 million in funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC);
• Improved Resilience of Communities to Climate Risks with US$4 million in funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); and
• Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia - Phase 2 with US$1,450,000 in funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

The programme is co-financed by the Government of Georgia with US$38 million. 

The initiative aims to reduce the exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods, and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nationwide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action.

What We Do

In close cooperation with our partners - the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, National Environmental Agency, National Food Agency, Environmental Information and Education Centre, Emergency Management Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure we work to: 

• Upgrade and expand the hydrometeorological and agrometeorological monitoring network, and support establishment of centralized multi-hazard risk information and knowledge system, consisting of national e-Library, databases, information systems and knowledge portal. Local-level detailed hazard mapping and risk and vulnerability assessment will be developed.
• Address gaps in national coordination and institutional setup for effective early warning system (EWS) resulting in a functioning coordination mechanism and communication protocols for early warning. Capacities of decision-makers and national institutions involved in generating, processing, communicating, and using the warnings and other climate information will be enhanced. National and local integrated early warning systems by hazard and sectors will be developed and implemented.
• Secure delivery and use of the early warnings and climate advisories with end-users. Communities’ capacity to effectively utilize the EWS information and products and respond to climate-related disasters through planning and implementing structural and non-structural resilience measures will be enhanced. In addition, the project will implement priority structural intervention measures in high-risk areas addressing the most vulnerable communities (based on sound cost-benefit analysis using the socio-economic risk model) to reduce the risks that the EWS will be designed to address.

Results So Far

• In 2021, Georgia became a member of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) to improve forecasting capabilities.
• In 2025, the programme helped establish a partnership between the National Environment Agency and the European Meteorological Network EUMETNET to enhance forecasting, climate services, and early-warning systems.
• Out of 154 planned stations, 143 are already in place. That includes 130 hydrometeorological and 13 agrometeorological observation networks.
• The upper-air sounding system (radiosonde, balloons, parachutes, hydrogen generator) has been installed in Poti and will start operating shortly.
• The Georgian Climate Service for Agriculture, GECSA, is fully operational in two pilot regions - Kakheti and Shida Kartli Region, with over 1,000 users so far.
• Geological monitoring stations have been installed in 11 landslide-prone locations.
• For quality data processing and storage, a high-performance computer (HPC) was purchased for the National Environment Agency, which has been operating since 2021. The central information system is being updated, which ensures the automatic delivery of information from monitoring stations.
• A unified methodology was created for the assessment and modelling of natural hazards (floods, landslides, mudflows, snow avalanches, strong winds, hail, and droughts). Risk and hazard maps have been developed for seven individual hazards, along with multi-hazard maps covering 11 river basins: Alazani, Chorokhi-Acharistskhali, Enguri, Iori, Khrami-Ktsia, Kintrishi, Khobi, Mtkvari, Natanebi, Rioni and Supsa. A socio-economic vulnerability assessment was conducted across all 11 river basins.
• The Multi-Hazard Disaster Risk Information System (MHDRIS) has been developed and deployed at the Emergency Management Service (EMS), where hazard and risk information for all 11 river basins has been uploaded. The system aims to provide critical information about existing threats and risks to various government agencies and the population. The plan is to continue working closely with the EMS to agree on a data-sharing protocol, ultimately enabling public access.
• A forecasting platform -Delft-FEWS across 11 selected river basins has been established. A flood, landslide, and avalanche forecasting database assessment was developed, along with drought monitoring/forecasting platforms.
• Multi-Hazard Risk Management plans have been prepared for four river basins (Khobistskali, Kintrishi, Natanebi and Supsa). The implementation of the river basin-level risk management plan development will be initiated within the remaining 7 river basins (out of 11) and will be covered from 2025 through 2026.
• Emergency Management Plans have been developed for 11 municipalities, of which six, Akhmeta, Gori, Kobuleti, Lagodekhi, Signagi and Telavi - have been officially adopted by their respective local authorities. The remaining five municipalities, Abasha, Khobi, Samtredia , Senaki and Tbilisi, and are yet to adopt their plans. Based on hazard maps, international experience, and best practices, a legal guide to zoning is being prepared. Considering all the standards mentioned in the document will be mandatory when planning and implementing infrastructure projects.
• Based on hazard maps and the socio-economic vulnerability assessment, the most vulnerable communities to the hazards are being identified, and relevant measures are being developed and implemented. The programme has identified the 100 most vulnerable communities covering both Western and Eastern Georgia. At this stage, Community-Based Climate Risk Management (CBCRM) planning has been carried out in 45 of the most vulnerable communities in Western Georgia, with ongoing implementation of non-structural measures in 15 communities (out of these 45) in the , Kintrishi, Natanebi and Supsa river basins. This includes the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures outlined in the CBCRM plans, such as tree planting, small gabions, and riverbed/channel clearance. The implementation of CBDRM in the remaining 30 communities is scheduled to commence in autumn 2025, and 50 of the most vulnerable communities in East Georgia will be covered from next year.
• In partnership with the Roads Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure, flood-protective infrastructure is being built in 15 locations throughout the country.  Works have been finalised at 12 locations (out of which 10 were co-financed by the Government of Georgia and 2 were financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with the construction of the last and largest GCF-funded site currently underway.
• The assessment and development of institutional capacities of various state institutions are underway. Training in forecasting, hazard assessment, modelling, and other related topics is provided for employees of relevant departments in multiple agencies and municipalities.
• In partnership with the Environmental Information and Education Centre of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities have been conducted, reaching a total of 46 municipalities to date, with up to 10,000 people trained so far, and over 200 youngsters have participated in the Green Camp “Young Climate Ambassadors”.
• 96 students from eight Georgian universities received “Green Scholarships” to continue their graduate studies in ecology, hydrology, geology, energy, mineral resources management, sustainable development and environmental policy.
• UNDP supports a range of activities aimed at awareness-raising and knowledge-building: local Community Forums, Green Scholarships for graduate students promoting environmental professions, and annual contests for the media, community-based organisations, and public schools.