The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Environmental Information and Education Center of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, within the framework of a project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), invite you to participate in the Ideathon "Climate-Smart Agriculture".

The main goal of the Climate-Resilient Agriculture Ideathon is to encourage creative thinking to address the challenges of climate change and its impact on agriculture in Georgia. By developing country-specific solutions to mitigate climate change and adapt to its adverse effects, the Ideathon aims to generate practical ideas for addressing these challenges. It provides a platform for participants to create, design and share solutions that promote sustainable agricultural systems. Through collaboration, creativity, and guidance from experts, participants will develop proposals that contribute to Georgia’s efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt agricultural practices to new climate realities. 

The Ideathon brings together various stakeholders in Georgia, including public and private sector representatives, students, civil society, and academia. The public and private sectors will share their perspectives during panel discussions, while students, representatives of civil societies and climate practitioners will be encouraged to submit solutions. 

Target audience:

• Vocational education students, Bachelor (third/fourth year) and master’s and higher degree students  

• Representatives of civil societies (CSOs, NGOs) 

• Professionals, practitioners, or individuals with a strong interest in contributing to climate change response initiatives 

Note: Collaborative teams from different sectors, bringing together diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise, are highly encouraged. 

Participation is allowed either individually, or in groups.

Application Guidelines 

1. Completed Application Form. (Participants can apply individually or in teams (up to 4 persons) available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12xJZJSGrdcmbUfqsKJ3bVi8Abk5oUw9H?usp=drive_link.

2. Resume of participant/members of the team

Application Process 

• Open call for application: until the 10th of March

• Informational session – 28th of February 

• Review of Applications: 12-21 March 

• Notification of participants 24-25 March 

• Event* 10-11 April 

* At the final event, authors of the 4 best ideas will make presentations and get awards.

Evaluation Criteria 

• Clarity and relevance of the problem: Is the defined problem elaborated in clear manner and in line with the background information? (5 points) 
• Clarity of the Solution: Is the proposed solution presented in a clear, comprehensive, and easily understandable manner? (5 points) 
• Effective: Does the solution establish clear targets for enhancing the agricultural sector's adaptation capacity, reducing GHG emissions, and/or increasing carbon sequestration? Additionally, is it technically effective in achieving these targets? (5 points) 
• Feasibility: Is the solution realistic, considering the local context, existing resources, and climate conditions? (5 points) 
• Economic Sustainability: Can implementation of the solution be maintained financially to achieve its targets, does the solution have the potential to become profitable or generate additional employment? (5 points) 
•  Usability and replicability: Does the solution identify and address barriers to acceptance among the target group, and can it be replicated? (5 points) 
• Multi-sector Partnerships: How effectively have the participants identified and demonstrated the necessary partnerships required for the proposed solution to succeed, including collaboration across sectors? (3 points) 

Please send the completed application form and CV to the following email address: [email protected] and indicate  “Ideas Competition - Climate-Smart Agriculture” in the subject line:.

To attend the information meeting about ideathon, please register at: https://forms.gle/mVDuZwxvjAGwxP6ZA

For further information, please contact FAO Climate Change and Environment Coordinator Tamar Shervashidze (e-mail: [email protected], tel: 595 95 88 25).