Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Georgia 2022
With support of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Refugee Council and the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub are implementing the program in order to support IDP women’s sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship in Georgia.
Overall goal of the program is to develop the entrepreneurial and transversal skills among women living in five IDP settlements – Tserovani, Tsilkani, Prezeti, Shavshvebi and Khurvaleti – and four Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) villages in Georgia – Odzisi, Mchadijvari, Lamiskana, Kvemochala.
As a result of the program, in total 20 new business ideas and 20 existing businesses will be supported in targeted locations with equipment and tools worth up to approximately 3500 and 7000 GEL (1000 and 2000 EUR), respectively. Together with the financial support, selected participants will have a chance of a 6-month long mentorship program in order to get proficient advice from the experienced consultants regarding business management.
Since 2021, women’s sustainable livelihood program is implemented for the second time in targeted locations in Georgia and includes series of trainings for entrepreneurial skills development, business management and mentoring in order to improve the living conditions of IDP and war-affected women in Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Shida Kartli regions.
Program implementation stages:
- Business idea submissions. Application process opens on 2 February and remains open until 21 February. Business ideas are submitted through the online entrepreneurship platform. Women above the age of 18, living in Tserovani, Tsilkani, Prezeti, Shavshvebi and Khurvaleti IDP settlements, as well as Odzisi, Mchadijvari, Lamiskana and Kvemochala ABL villages are eligible for the programme. Out of all applicants, 80 people will be selected to take part in the programme.
- Development of selected business ideas, training sessions, submission of business plans. Selected applicants will have a chance to attend 5-day training which aims to develop women’s entrepreneurial and transversal skills. During the trainings, participants will fill their business plan on the online entrepreneurship platform with the help of the trainers. Trainings will take place outside of the IDP settlements and ABL villages in March 2022. 5-day trainings will be conducted separately for startups and already existing businesses with the main focus on business, entrepreneurship, startups, design thinking, market analysis, SWOT, production process, marketing, employee management etc. In total 80 business ideas will be selected for the training, from which, 40 business will be supported – 20 startups and 20 existing businesses.
- Providing grants to the selected business plans. In total 40 businesses will be selected by a jury to receive asset-based support to establish or expand their business:
- 20 new business ideas will receive equipment and tools worth up to 1000 EUR (appr. 3500 GEL) necessary to start their businesses
- 20 existing businesses will receive equipment and tools worth up to 2000 EUR (appr. 7000 GEL) necessary to develop and expand their business. NB! Existing businesses must contribute at least 10% of self-financing for business development.
- 6-month mentorship programme. 6-month long mentorship program will give participants the possibility to get proficient advice from experienced consultants regarding business management.
- Business management training. 3-day business management training for the supported beneficiaries will take place in July. Training will be focused on the specific needs of the program beneficiaries in order to overcome the challenges that they faced during their business activities.
Terms and conditions:
- Asset-based support must be dedicated to the business development, upon the budget that is presented to the commission. Selected participants should research the needed technique and materials, prepare invoices and deliver them to MMRH. Based on the received documentation, MMRH will provide transfers to the sellers.
- Applying for the business idea and attending the training does not guarantee the asset-based support.
- Any types of business can apply to take part in the programme.
- Asset-based support can not be used for the following purposes: to pay salaries, to pay fines and state fees, to fund individual travel or study grants, to pay for applicant's litigation processes, for humanitarian activities, to finance other types of expenses that are not included in the business plan budget.
- While the desired business direction is not strictly defined, but it is necessary for the beneficiary to create ready-made products and services before the end of the programme by December 2022.
Applications are open within the period of Feb 2nd – Feb 21st.
For additional information regarding the program, please contact us from 09:00 until 18:00:
- phone: 557 435 455 – Ekaterine Zaridze
- phone: 599 410 250 – Nana Chkareuli
- email: womenfbf@gmail.com