With the support of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Church World Service (CWS), Rural Communities Development Agency (RCDA) implemented of the Project “Building Resilience – Promoting Renewable Energy Technologies as a Model for Sustainable Livelihoods”. The project is implemented in six communities of Mtskheta Mtianeti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regions of Georgia.
The overall objective of the project is to foster climate resilient, low-carbon development and poverty reduction through promotion of technologies based on renewable energy resources and building capacities of local communities in utilization of these resources.
Within the frame of the project, the activities were focused on decreasing the impacts of Climate Change and decreasing threats of natural disasters through up-scaling introduction of renewable energy technologies.
To achieve the overall objective, the activities were focused on:
• The application of technologies that support low-carbon footprint development of the communities. Within the frame of the project Development of two demonstration green, low-carbon footprint model farms, equipped with: composting bin, animal manure platform, solar water heater, briquetting machine, fuel efficient stoves, solar dryer for fruits and vegetables, solar house heating systems (thermosyphons), rainwater harvesting system, grey water filter, solar water filter, solar pump and drip irrigation system attached to rainwater harvesting system. The development of model farms will be followed by training on organizing low-carbon footprint livelihoods models.
• Installation of Solar Water Heaters (SWH): The solar water heaters will be installed at kindergartens, guesthouses, village health points, and women headed households to demonstrate their applicability in different contexts.
• Small business groups supported by RCDA will ensure Installation of Solar Driers for fruits, vegetables and NTFPs in target communities. Solar dryers represent a good income generation opportunity for women and particularly youth.
In order to raise awareness of the local people, local authorities, businesses and civil groups on the Climate Change and its impacts the project will build their skills and capacities in sustainable utilization of renewables through organizing number of seminars and trainings.
