In Georgia, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) collaborate to promote peaceful conflict transformation. Their efforts focus on building confidence among divided communities, assisting internally displaced people, and fostering social and economic progress in regions affected by conflict. Over the past four years, the EU4Dialogue project has catalyzed more than 40 civil society initiatives, improving local livelihoods and encouraging community engagement in sustainable and equitable development.
Restoring Cultural Heritage
Recently, UNDP representatives visited Georgia’s Samegrelo region to review the progress of several civil society initiatives. Notably, they attended the official opening of newly restored mosaic murals relocated from the village of Rukhi. These restored murals—‘Lady in Red,’ ‘Summer in Samegrelo,’ and ‘Musicians’—are exemplary pieces of 20th-century public art heritage shared by communities across the conflict divide. Georgian and French experts from the ‘Mosaica Studio’ Crafts Development Centre and the Ribirabo Foundation collaborated on their restoration, with local youth actively participating and learning the craft.
Community Support and Counseling
The visit continued at the consultation center established by the Charity Humanitarian Centre ‘Abkhazeti’ (CHCA). This center offers psychological support and counseling to people living on both sides of the conflict divide. In its first six months of operation (from January through May 2024), the center provided over 120 face-to-face consultations and received more than 360 calls on the hotline. The center plays a crucial role in fostering resilience and well-being in conflict-affected communities.
