The USAID-funded South Caucasus Regional Water Management Program, in partnership with the EU initiated “Covenant of Mayors East” will host signatories of the Covenant of Mayors from Georgia to discuss municipal water security, sustainable water resource management and water-related climate change adaptation on March 28, 2024. The event will open its doors to 32 representatives of local municipal governments and Mayors at Radisson Blue Iveria Hotel at 10:00.

To emphasize the central role of water in climate change adaptation on the municipal scale, the event sets three main objectives. Firstly, it aims to provide a space for dialogue on the implications of the newly adopted Georgian Law on Water Resource Management for sustainable water management at the urban scale. Secondly, it intends to enable knowledge-sharing on the importance of water security and water resource management in the context of sustainable and climate-resilient local development. Thirdly, it encourages municipal governments to reflect on their needs and challenges in sustainable water resource management in the context of climate change.

The speakers will focus on topics such as water and environmental governance in municipalities, river basin management approaches, municipal-scale nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction, and water security improvement for climate change adaptation.

The keynote speakers of the event include the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Ms. Mzia Giorgobiani, and the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Ms. Nino Tandilashvili. The Chief of Party of USAID South Caucasus Regional Water Management Program, Mr. Eric Viala, delegates of the USAID Caucasus Office and the Team Leader of Covenant of Mayors East, Mr. Christophe Fréring will also address the attendees.

About the program: South Caucasus Regional Water Management Program (SCRWM) is a 5-yearregional program funded by the USAID and implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP in the South Caucasus. Its goal is to support effective regional cooperation and water managementfor the promotion of regional stability and resilience through advancing stakeholder engagement andeffective regional cooperation in water management in the region. Working collaborativelywith key stakeholders from relevant government ministries, the private sector, civil society, academia,and water-related institutions, the program intends to catalyze regional environmental and watermanagement cooperation on shared priorities; support harmonization of water management policyframeworks and introduce new technologies to advance social, economic, environmental, and climatechange objectives for the prosperity and stability in the South Caucasus Region.

About Covenant of Mayors (CoM) East: CoM East is an EU-funded project aimed at introducing the EU climate and energy initiative to the Eastern Partnership countries. CoM East supports local authorities in implementing sustainable energy policies, improving the security of energy supply, and facilitating their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation. For more information, please visit: https://com-east.eu/en/