Working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Reheat advised the government of Georgia on their drive to increase the uptake of sustainable bioenergy across the Georgian economy.
Georgia is a nation state of 3.7 million people with a land mass of 69,700 square kilometers of which 40% is covered by forested areas. Despite the potential supply of domestic wood, the country has relied on firewood and suffered from illegal logging for its heating needs – this applied to 70% of Georgia’s rural population according to the UNDP. By replacing just 10% of unsustainable wood consumption to upgraded biomass, it had been estimated that Georgia could reduce 100,000 tons of CO2 (equivalent) whilst creating positive employment and economic opportunities.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a grant programme administered by UNDP on behalf of the World Bank and other major development banks, Reheat was appointed to support the UNDP team in Georgia, delivering a wide brief to help create the right conditions for sustainable growth of the biomass sector in Georgia. In addition to helping develop industry standards, supporting the creation of a national trade association and providing advice on a number of practical projects and initiatives, Reheat worked with the UNDP team to develop a range of communication activities to support the uptake of biomass energy.
As a result of Reheat’s work with the UNDP in Georgia, we were subsequently commissioned by the Danish Refugee Council to deliver two projects in Abkhazia. The second project focused on encouraging behaviour change and the adoption of sustainable practices toimprove forest and human health among those using biomass for heating and cooking across rural Abkhazia. The project included conducting focus groups and using the insights gained to develop a communication strategy and an active programme of education and communications, including social media campaigns and information films shown by Apsua TV, the national broadcaster.
