Municipal authorities in Tbilisi are learning how to team up with citizens and civil society to green the city and promote environmental thinking in everyday life.

Three courtyards in the Saburtalo district, with an overall area of 2000 sq. M, have been redesigned and greened with joint efforts of the residents and district administration. Children from vulnerable families took part in the landscape design workshops and more future initiatives have been discussed to create green spots in the densely populated urban space.

The initiative was implemented by a non-governmental organization “Child & Environment”, cooperation with the Saburtalo District Municipality, and with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP).

On 22 June 2018, Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Georgia; Gaioz Vasadze, Head of Saburtalo District Municipality; and Nana Iashvili, Child & Environment President, visited the newly greened courtyards and met with the residents.   

The project “Modern Tbilisi Courtyard” is part of a series of local initiatives funded by the GEF Small Programme (GEF SGP) to promote environmental thinking for the benefit of people and communities.

Since its launch in Georgia in 2012, the GEF Small Grants Programme has funded over 50 environmental initiatives for a total value of USD 1 million. The list of successful initiatives funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme includes: reintroduction of Colchis Pheasants in the Vashlovani Protected Areas, modern practice of chemical waste management in Kharagauli, degraded land restoration in Tusheti, Chiatura and Kazbegi, construction of flood protection gabions at the Alazani and Ilto rivers, and many more.

Media contact

Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP in Georgia, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org

Photos