Civil Society Actors as Levers for a Sustainable Food System in Georgia
Project Description
The action will pilot a food bank intervention that will redistribute unsold food items donated by food business operators (FBOs), otherwise destined for landfill, to food insecure people in the municipality of Tskaltubo in the region of Imereti. This pilot intervention will test the impact of the new Law on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, Food Recovery and Redistribution expected to be approved later this year. The action will empower LAG Tskaltubo and other local civil society actors (CSAs), including registered CSOs and informal groups, to facilitate the provision of food to local food-insecure people. This will include their involvement in the identification of food insecure people, distribution of food items from the food bank, their role in facilitating the cooperation of local farmers with surplus produce and the municipal soup kitchen, and an accompanying information campaign assuring people of the safety of donated food. Redistribution of unsold food items and surplus produce will result in a reduction of food waste and farm gate losses, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while at the same time reducing the rate of food insecurity among the local population. Furthermore, the LAG and CSAs will be provided with training and resources to run awareness-raising campaigns on the issue of food waste and food losses, leveraging their networks in the community to influence behaviour change at the local level.
Specific Objective
Civil society actors and the local action group effectively contribute to reducing food waste and increasing food security of vulnerable populations in Tskaltubo municipality. Specific objectives include:
1. Increased awareness of Tskaltubo and Tbilisi residents on the importance of food loss and food waste reduction
2. Establishment of a central food bank in Tbilisi and redistribution mechanism in Tskaltubo municipality
3. Local civil society has the skills and resources to ensure food distribution to the food insecure in Tskaltubo municipality
1. Increased awareness of Tskaltubo and Tbilisi residents on the importance of food loss and food waste reduction
2. Establishment of a central food bank in Tbilisi and redistribution mechanism in Tskaltubo municipality
3. Local civil society has the skills and resources to ensure food distribution to the food insecure in Tskaltubo municipality
Expected Results
- 1000 food insecure people in Tskaltubo will benefit from increased access to food through the mechanism connecting the food bank with local CSA-run food distribution networks.
- Wider FBO sector will benefit from an environment supportive of food waste reduction and access to mechanisms facilitating donation of unsold food items.
- Citizens of Georgia will benefit from increased awareness of FLW and measures to reduce it.
- Wider FBO sector will benefit from an environment supportive of food waste reduction and access to mechanisms facilitating donation of unsold food items.
- Citizens of Georgia will benefit from increased awareness of FLW and measures to reduce it.
Project map
PROJECT DETAILS
Georgia
Priority Area:
Partnership that empowers, Partnership that greens Subsector:
Civil society, Environment & climate change Topic:
Project Status:
Ongoing Start Date:
01.12.2023 End Date:
31.05.2026 EU Project Number:
448-052