Georgia is actively addressing gender equality and women's economic empowerment (WEE) within its investment climate and national policies. Despite legislative efforts to align with EU directives, women-owned SMEs face significant challenges in accessing finance, impacting overall economic growth.

ISET Policy Institute, in partnership with UNDP, has launched a new project, entitled "Developing RIA SME Test Methodology for Georgia", with the aim of strengthening the Government’s capacity to analyze policy impacts on SMEs by providing essential tools, knowledge, and practical experience.

The study examines challenges to Georgia’s economic and democratic development that accompany growing presence of Russian business ownership in the country; and seeks to heighten awareness among key stakeholders (i.e. government, civil society organizations, development partners) and the Georgian public regarding the associated risks and threats.

The goal of the vocational education support programme is to promote the socioeconomic integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and ecomigrants and improve their living conditions by creating employment prospects, and it aims to do so by promoting the vocational education of IDPs and ecomigrants in order to increase their competitiveness in the labour market.

UNFPA will work with ISET-PI to conduct an in-depth analysis of inheritance practices in Georgia with regard to son preference. The team will elaborate on the methodology for analysis and will conduct preliminary desk research on the issue. The program will provide a better understanding of the depth of gender bias in inheritance legislation and practices, and its practical implications on women’s lives, their status, and social-economic outcomes.