USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia Quarterly Report No. 9: Q2, FY 2018

The program began implementation on March 15, 2016, and is expected to run for a period of five years. The program's main objective is to improve the livelihoods of rural households through the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). One of the key areas of focus for the Zrda Activity is the development of MSMEs. The program has established a network of MSMEs in various sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. These MSMEs have been provided with training, technical assistance, and access to finance to help them grow and become more competitive. The program has also placed a strong emphasis on market linkages between producers and buyers. Zrda has established partnerships with private sector farm service centers (FSCs) to provide farmers with subsidized consultation services and to increase their direct contact with farmers through market facilitation approaches. In the agriculture sector, the program has launched requests for applications for farmers to participate in two new activities to introduce new vegetable crops in Zrda target regions. The program has also finalized the activity design for village-based micro cold storage and packing facilities and has made preparations for the spring 2018 agricultural season. The program has also made significant progress in the tourism sector. Zrda has continued to develop and market tourism products, provide training and capacity building to tourism operators, and promote regional coordination and destination management. The program has also launched two small grants programs, one targeting exclusively tourism activity operators working in Zrda's target regions. In terms of impact, the program has reported significant increases in sales by Zrda MSMEs, with new sales increasing by 151% and 139% over the past two quarters. The program has also created over 500 new jobs to-date, with numbers expected to increase significantly over the remainder of FY 2018. Additionally, the program has trained 369 individuals across all sectors, bringing the cumulative total to 2,356 individuals. The program has also made significant progress in leveraging resources from public and private sector partners. As of Q2, Zrda has leveraged almost $1.7 million from project partners, 47% of the LOP target. The program has also reported that 45% of Zrda beneficiaries are women and 32% are youth. Overall, the Zrda Activity in Georgia is making significant progress in promoting economic growth and development in rural areas. The program's focus on MSME development, market linkages, and tourism development is paying off, with significant increases in sales, jobs, and training reported. The program's emphasis on leveraging resources from public and private sector partners is also a key factor in its success.