A stakeholder consultation meeting was held on September 12, 2023, in Tbilisi, coordinated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. The workshop brought together 38 participants from various organizations, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, its sub-agencies, other state agencies, NGOs, regional projects, and experts in Gender and Vulnerable Groups, under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) guidance. The Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the GWP country representative also collaborated in the coordination of the workshop.
The preliminary report on Indicator 6.5.1 was shared widely among the participants, who examined its content critically. The meeting was divided into four sessions, which included an overview of Sustainable Development Indicator 6.5.1 (Level of Implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management), review and discussion of questions in Part I and II of the report related to "Enabled Environment" and "Institutions and Participation," review and discussion of questions in parts III and IV of the report related to "Management tools" and "Financing," and a summary and closing of the meeting.
Participants brought up several issues that they believe should be discussed, such as the importance of having effective monitoring systems to accurately analyze water resource consumption and environmental conditions, which in turn allows for informed decision-making. They also emphasized the need for a thorough analysis of the gender-related dynamics within integrated water management, with specific reference to the context of Georgia. Additionally, they expressed concern about engaging youth, which is a challenge in many related areas and promoting stronger collaboration among various institutions, particularly those with competing interests.
During the workshop, the participants had extensive discussions on the highlighted issues, which led to a comprehensive exploration of their complexities. The relevant thematic sections of SDG 6.5.1 Stakeholder Consultation Report-Georgia examine these issues in detail.
According to the "IWRM implementation level" results, significant progress has been made in comparison to the baseline reporting. Notably, key legislative frameworks have been established for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) management at all levels, indicating crucial advancements.
During the consultation process, it was highlighted that conducting an in-depth analysis of financial resources and their alignment with water resource development objectives is crucial.
Although the overall activities related to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are addressed in NEAP-4 and other sectoral strategies, the recent adoption of the law indicates that Georgia is currently undergoing a transformative phase.
