Rural and Agricultural Policy and Development Institute (RAPDI) is a Georgian NGO, established in 2014 by former senior Government officials responsible for agriculture, food, and rural affairs. Founders of RAPDI have more than 20 years of professional experience in agriculture and rural development in public and private sectors. While holding senior positions in the government they have successfully initiated and implemented many significant reforms in the sector. Some of these reforms include: the introduction of the affordable agro-credit facilities to the farmers and agro-producers, drafting of the Law on Agricultural Cooperatives and the creation of the Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency, set-up of the Agricultural Scientific Center, the creation of a countrywide network of agricultural extension centers, etc.

Our objective

The objective of RAPDI founders is for the Organization to fulfill its purposes as defined below. We aim to help the Government understand and make informed choices about different issues pertaining to agriculture and rural development, while providing a constructive forum for the exchange of ideas and information between key stakeholders in the policy formulation process. We hope to facilitate to build trust among the private sector, the public and the Government, and to serve as an informed and independent voice in policy debates and media conversations about agriculture and rural development, aiding the public understanding of these issues. We aim to identify, articulate and evaluate agriculture and rural development policy issues, programmes, and proposals, transforming ideas and emerging problems into new policy issues. In addition, we strive to challenge the conventional wisdom, standard operating procedures and business practices of the officials from the executive and the legislative branches of the Government.

In order to serve these purposes RAPDI’s activities are balanced between research, analysis and outreach. Our activities include: researching and writing publications, policy briefs and monographs, evaluating the government programmes, disseminating research findings and conducting various outreach activities, creating networks and exchanges via workshops, seminars, and briefings. We’re the first Georgian civil society organization with the capacity to serve the defined purposes in a sustainable way. We aim to provide informed and independent opinions, research, analysis, and outreach, especially in light of DCFTA signing and EU approximation process.