Georgia has been among priority recipients of Polish aid from the very beginning of our program of development assistance. Since 2003 that country has undergone transformations directed at attaining democracy and market economy, similar to what Poland achieved earlier. Thus, Polish experience, accumulated in the course of successful economic and administrative reforms (at local and national level) and the resultant enhanced competitiveness of Polish agricultural products in foreign markets could significantly contribute to Georgia's development.
In the years 2004-2005 projects addressed to Georgia were implemented exclusively by NGOs. Since 2006, territorial self-government bodies, government administration authorities and the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi have also been involved in the program of Polish foreign aid.
During a donors' conference in Brussels on October 22 2008 Poland pledged 5.3 million euro in aid for Georgia in the years 2008-2010 (including 2 million euro in 2009 and 2 million euro in 2010). The funds were designated for government administration, territorial self-government units, projects implemented by the Polish Embassy and by NGOs (calls for proposals), and as direct bilateral assistance.

Priority support sectors:

● agriculture and development of rural areas
● decentralization and local development
● development of social institutions (including those dedicated to aiding internally displaced persons - IDPs)
● support for Euroatlantic aspirations

Poland is currently the largest national donor of funds for regional reform in Georgia, providing support for the Task Force for Regional Policy, which has the goal of drafting a strategy of regional development.  The Task Force was established at the initiative of the government of Georgia and the European Commission, with the support of the Polish MFA and the German government. It is composed of about 40 experts representing government ministries, self-government bodies, the business community and NGOs. As a result of efforts by the Development Cooperation Department and the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi,  related cooperation has also been established between the Polish and Georgian regional development ministries.

This year, over 886,000 euro has been allocated for 13 projects under the Foreign Aid 2009 call for proposals.  Seven of the projects concern social institutions, 4 deal with decentralization and local development and 2 with agriculture and the development of rural areas. Recommendations were also given to 4 projects worth almost 105,000 euro by territorial self-government units, devoted local development. Financing of over  196,000 euro was approved for 5   small  grant projects authored by the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi. One of them is devoted to decentralization, and the remaining 4 - to the development of social institutions. Furthermore, financing was provided for 7 government administration projects, worth over 383,000 euro. Two of them concern training of personnel needed for regional reform, one deals with export controls, one with  border guard training and 3 - with agriculture and the development of rural areas (veterinary service, forestry, agricultural production). The Development Cooperation Department is currently considering the possibility of financing a six month stay in Georgia by a Polish forestry expert, who,  at the request of the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, would take part in elaborating forestry reform in Georgia.