To promote women's economic empowerment, ProCredit Bank has joined the project initiated by UN Women and the Government of Norway. This project aims to enhance the economic independence of women residing in rural areas through specialized training, grants, and mentorship sessions. The program is organized in partnership with the Taso Foundation, an organization actively working with vulnerable women groups in rural communities.

A series of tailored training sessions were designed to motivate participants, showcase their potential, and provide guidance, thereby boosting their confidence and directing them towards specific empowerment pathways.

The economic empowerment component of the project involved 200 women from eight municipalities across five regions of western Georgia. As a result, 80 women completed the "Business Training for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs" course, which included both in-person and online sessions. These sessions were complemented by group mentoring meetings and were conducted in collaboration with the Center for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from October 2024 to March 2025. The training saw high engagement and interest from the participants.

Upon completion of the course, participants had the opportunity to enter a grant competition specifically established to support "Income-Generating Activities for Women." Out of the 80 applicants, 79 women submitted individual business plans to be implemented in their villages. Each application requested varying amounts of funding and was evaluated individually by a special commission. The evaluation methodology adhered to principles of transparency and objectivity, assessing the feasibility and potential of each idea.

Recommendations were made to fund all 79 applications. Grant agreements have already been signed with the women, and preparatory activities and procurements outlined in their business plans are currently underway in rural areas. Simultaneously, individual mentoring sessions are being conducted to assist women in successfully launching their businesses.

Each project presented by the rural women demonstrated strong, sincere motivation and a desire for change. Their aspirations for independence, clear vision of community needs, and innovative, practical ideas with limited resources characterize every proposed idea and project.

This initiative underscores the importance of collaboration among responsible organizations with extensive experience, shared vision, and values.

Watch the report about the project