Climate resilience starts locally with people who understand the challenges in their communities and have the knowledge and tools to turn those challenges into action. 

A two-day capacity-building workshop was recently held in Kachreti, Kakheti, under the EU4ClimateResilience project, bringing together representatives and local stakeholders from Tbilisi, Gori, Marneuli, Dedoplistskaro and Kvareli. The workshop was the third and last in a series of regional trainings designed to strengthen local capacities for climate action and resilience across Georgia. 

Despite the different geographic, economic and social contexts represented in the room, participants shared a common challenge: climate change is already affecting communities, infrastructure, livelihoods and local development, making informed and locally relevant adaptation increasingly important. 

The training combined practical learning with interactive exercises, allowing participants to move beyond the theory of climate change and explore how climate risks can be identified, assessed and addressed at the local level. Discussions covered climate change adaptation, vulnerability and risk assessment, nature-based solutions, sustainable practices and the integration of climate considerations into local planning and decision-making. 

A strong emphasis was placed on learning through participation. Group work, practical examples and discussions encouraged participants to examine climate challenges from the perspective of their own municipalities, identify areas of vulnerability and consider possible responses. Sharing experiences across municipalities also highlighted how different regions can learn from one another and adapt successful approaches to their own local circumstances. 

Nature-based solutions were among the topics explored during the workshop, with participants considering how approaches that work with natural systems can contribute to climate resilience while also generating environmental and social benefits. The discussions helped connect broader climate adaptation concepts with the realities faced by communities across Georgia. 

The diversity of participants added another important dimension to the training. Bringing together people working in different municipalities created an opportunity to compare local experiences, identify common challenges and discuss how cooperation between local actors can support more effective climate action. 

The workshop demonstrated that building climate resilience is not only about understanding future risks. It is also about strengthening the capacity of people and institutions to recognise challenges today, work together and develop solutions that reflect local needs. 

The Kachreti training is part of the wider series of regional capacity-building activities organised under the EU4ClimateResilience project across Georgia. By creating spaces for practical learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration, the initiative was designed to support local actors in turning climate awareness into concrete action and helping communities prepare for a more resilient future.