Consortium / Partners
The AgriVET consortium consists of 6 partners from 3 countries (Georgia, Greece and Lithuania). The consortium is structured to bring together VET providers, universities, a farmer’s and a business association to ensure the effective implementation of vocational education and training (VET) programs in women’s agri-preneurship in Georgia. Each consortium partner has been selected based on their expertise and strategic role in its relevant area. The collaboration combines leading vocational training providers (OTC, EINC) with higher education institutions (UoP, BTU) and local farmers and business Associations (GFA, BTU).
Olympic Training and Consulting Ltd is a VET provider specializing in the development and implementation of educational programs that align with European standards in vocational education. The organization is highly experienced in designing innovative training curricula and integrating pedagogical methodologies for skills development. OTC is a recognized expert in upskilling and reskilling professionals, with a strong focus on agriculture, green and digital transformation in VET. Within AgriVET, OTC will lead curriculum development and pedagogical innovation, ensuring the training content is tailored to address the needs of both new and experienced VET trainers. Since 2016, when the company entered the wider area of the rural economy OT directly supports more than 1400 farmers on a constant, yearly basis by providing services within and around the IACS (Integrated Subsidy Management System). It is a certified Application Submission Center (KYD) and prepares applications for Young Farmers programs, Improvement Plans etc. within the RDP (the Greek Rural Development Program within the CAP). In addition, OT offers support and consulting in management of crop insurances, subsidies and investment plans. OT has a wide network of specialists directly or indirectly involved in farming and rural development.
Business and Technology University (BTU, Georgia) is a dynamic and fast-growing higher education institution, committed to delivering high-quality education, fostering innovation and driving transformative change in the South Caucasus region. BTU has set new standards for producing and transferring knowledge, designing interdisciplinary programs and addressing pressing societal needs.
Since its establishment, BTU has taken technology literacy and entrepreneurship to new heights in Georgia. By offering in-demand interdisciplinary courses, creating knowledge exchange platforms and building partnerships with top global institutions and changemakers, BTU has provided transformative opportunities for Georgia and the broader South Caucasus community. The university has played a pivotal role in bringing world-class institutions to Georgia, ensuring access to internationally accredited education without leaving the country. Among its flagship achievements is being recognized in 2023 by Emerging Europe as the Future-Proof Education Initiative of the Year. BTU integrates Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4, SDG5, SDG8) into its vision and practices, ensuring inclusivity and innovation across all initiatives. The university is particularly dedicated to empowering women through technology and entrepreneurship, offering targeted vocational training, mentorship programs, and opportunities for career advancement. These efforts have significantly contributed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in Georgia. BTU’s expertise in agritech and entrepreneurship project management has established its position as a leader in addressing agricultural challenges through innovation. With the support of the USAID Agriculture Program, the institution has developed a pioneering model to enhance women’s participation in agriculture by equipping them with essential entrepreneurial skills and technological knowledge. This approach fosters sustainable economic growth and promotes gender equality by empowering women to drive change in agricultural practices and value chains. BTU’s global outreach and strategic collaborations with international stakeholders underline its commitment to creating impactful educational opportunities. Through initiatives like AgriVET, BTU demonstrates how education, entrepreneurship, and technology can converge to transform women’s roles in agriculture, ensuring long-term benefits for communities and the economy.
Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) is an umbrella organization founded in 2012, which unites more than 5,000 farmers, agribusinesses, and sub-sectorial associations. GFA operates 3 offices, including Akhaltsikhe, and Kutaisi regional offices together with a headquarters office in Tbilisi. GFA is dedicated to empowering farmers and transforming the agricultural sector in Georgia. Guided by a mission to support and advocate for farmers, GFA serves as a bridge between agricultural stakeholders and the government, ensuring that the voices of farmers are heard and their needs addressed. The organization is committed to enhancing the capacity and networking capabilities of its members, fostering a thriving agricultural community equipped with the best practices and expertise to succeed in a competitive and sustainable market. At its core, GFA operates with the values of collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. By uniting farmers under a common vision, the association drives impactful initiatives that align with its members’ mandate. GFA places a strong emphasis on knowledge-sharing and capacity building, offering tailored solutions to strengthen individual farmers and the sector. Through its facilitation efforts and strategic partnerships, GFA strives to create an inclusive agricultural ecosystem where farmers are empowered to thrive and contribute to the economic and social development of Georgia.
The Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) offers a range of professional, paid services to its member farmers as well as clients from the civic and private sectors. These services include specialized consultations for GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP standard certification, particularly for blueberry and almond producers. Additionally, GFA provides expertise in business modelling and planning, market and value chain analysis, and market access initiatives, tailored to meet the needs of investors and existing agricultural producers. Facilitating sales and exports remains one of the most in-demand services among farmers. By addressing these critical needs, GFA plays a pivotal role in enhancing market opportunities and fostering sustainable growth within the agricultural sector. One of the organization’s strengths is its research and analysis capacity and GFA offers professional paid research services, delivering high-quality, tailored insights to meet your specific needs.
Women’s empowerment is one of the main strategic directions of GFA. Since 2018, they have actively worked on empowering women in agriculture and agritourism, engaging 350+ women in agribusiness through training, mentorship, and financial literacy programs. The collaboration with UN Women (2018-2024) and the Canadian Government has provided valuable insights into addressing gender disparities in rural economies.
NNLE EBA Foundation operates under the umbrella of the European Business Association (EBA), a member-based organization uniting over 100 Georgian and European companies across key economic sectors, including Banking, Audit, Insurance, Agriculture, Tourism, Hospitality, Law, Engineering, Manufacturing, Medical, and others, supporting EU-aligned business practices and workplace innovation. EBA promotes EU business values, supports SMEs, and fosters closer EU-Georgia economic relations. Its primary goals are to advocate for European businesses operating in Georgia and to stimulate trade and investment between Georgia and Europe.
The EBA actively helps create a transparent and inclusive business environment in Georgia through both proactive and reactive advocacy. It plays a pivotal role in representing the interests of European businesses. It offers a range of services tailored to its members’ needs, including business consulting, mediation, arbitration, and skills development. These services are designed to help companies navigate the Georgian market while maintaining European business standards. Through its consulting arm, EBA implements international donor-funded projects in economic governance, capacity building, digital transformation, green economy, trade facilitation, and workplace policy, and promotes D&I models at the institutional and enterprise levels.
A key focus of the EBA is to facilitate the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Georgia and the EU. This effort aims to establish an open and transparent market for European businesses. To support this mission, the EBA has launched the “Promoting European Business and Economic Interests in Georgia” project, backed by the European Union. This initiative enhances coordination and fosters active collaboration among businesses, government agencies, and international organizations. Through public-private dialogue (PPD) activities, the EBA brings together companies, strategic partners, and policymakers to address challenges and opportunities in the business landscape.
The association produces an annual research report assessing the implementation of the Association Agreement across key sectors, including customs, taxation, and competition. This report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the progress and challenges in aligning Georgian policies with European standards.
The EBA also supports business development through its specialized committees, including the EBA Skills Development Committee, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises by providing vocational education, relevant consulting services, and engagement with Georgian decision-makers. Additionally, the EBA is an active participant in international cooperation networks, such as the EBO Worldwide Network, thereby strengthening its connections with European businesses worldwide. This involvement enables the EBA to share best practices and insights into international trade trends, further supporting Georgian businesses in expanding into European and global markets.
European Innovation Centre (EINC) is a non-profit vocational training institution, seeking to support social welfare and sustainable development, through initiation and implementation of social innovations. Youth (NEETs, low-skilled, early school leavers) as well as adults (unemployed, disabled, single parents, elderly citizens, people in remote areas, migrants, women survivors of domestic violence) are the main target groups that EINC seeks to help since the day of its establishment by offering them the competence training courses aimed at improvement of their employability and entrepreneurship, and showing them the paths from social exclusion to social inclusion. The EINC has many years of experience in developing training programs and organizing various training events: seminars, workshops, study visits, conferences and other educational and dissemination activities at national and international levels. Since its’ establishment with the group of people with the ICT background, the EINC pays a lot of attention to implement within its training activity e-learning and reversed training methodology based on innovative ICT-tools and Open Educational Resources. Special attention was given to the creation and use of innovative educational applications for mobile devices (APPs) for different target groups – pupils, low-skilled adults.
Nowadays, EINC provides help and assistance to the senior citizens, especially those with less opportunities aiming to foster their employability and entrepreneurship through appropriate guidance and training, as well as coaching and mentoring services on the green entrepreneurship skills. The main EINC’S training activities at local level cover the following topics: entrepreneurship, social, green entrepreneurship and sustainable development; gender equality issues; computer skills and Internet using e-learning and mobile learning; active citizenship and self-esteem increase; soft skills development to increase employability. EINC has experienced staff with high-level ICT skills and experience in the field of social inclusion and entrepreneurship, who have participated in various European projects (Socrates Grundtvig, PHARE Lien, PHARE Democracy, EQUAL, ESF, ERASMUS+). During these projects, EINC has gained a vast experience in developing and implementing different educational methods of work with target groups, such as organizing e-learning courses, dialogic groups, implementing social pair and group mentoring, creating club “Help yourself”, providing various competence trainings, evaluating quality of projects’ management and projects’ outcomes, etc. EINC is a member of Lithuanian
The University of the Peloponnese is a modern, multidisciplinary, regional and multi-campus university, established in 2000. The Mission of The University of the Peloponnese is: – Generating, disseminating and promoting scientific knowledge through teaching, research and the contribution to the cultural and economic development of the local community and wider society.
The University places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation and the creation of synergies among its departments, as well as with national and international academic and research institutions. It is committed to the continuous expansion and qualitative enhancement of its academic programmes at all levels, alongside the internationalization of research and teaching activities. Close collaboration with local and regional authorities, the strengthening of ties with alumni and external stakeholders, and the adoption of effective administrative structures and practices are integral elements of its institutional strategy. In parallel, the systematic integration of Information and Communication Technologies supports innovation in both education and administration, in line with the principles of quality assurance promoted within the European Higher Education Area.
Within this framework, the School of Agriculture and Food, participating in the AgriVET project, oversees and coordinates the activities of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Food Science and Technology, both located in Kalamata. The School’s core philosophy is firmly rooted in strong links with primary sector production. Through active cooperation, applied actions, and outward-looking engagement at local, national, and international levels, it ensures close alignment between academic curricula and real-world needs. By fostering partnerships with both public and private institutions, the School continuously incorporates feedback from the real economy into its programmes, equipping students with relevant knowledge, practical skills, and professional readiness for successful careers in the agri-food sector.
