Rural SMEs Development Project end of phase operational and financial report

The Rural SMEs Development Project (RSMEDP) in Georgia aimed to increase rural employment and incomes by improving small businesses’ access to finance and advisory services.

From 2021 to 2024, the programme exceeded key targets, reaching 14,392 people, creating 4,020 new or better jobs, and increasing SME income by USD 7.95 million.

It built sustainable local advisory services and strengthened access to state-supported finance.

However, some gender-specific and smallholder farmer targets were not fully met, and political instability limited some partnerships and scaling efforts.

Financially, the project utilized 99.34 per cent of its budget, positioning it well for a second phase focused on scaling and innovation.