Head of the Department of Rural Development and Vocational Development

Nana Kashakashvili holds a Master’s degree in International Politics from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) and a Master of Arts in English Literature with a specialization in XX century English literature, from Tbilisi State University.  She has 20 + years of experience successfully leading and managing national and international projects to include activities of project development, project implementation, project monitoring/reporting and other related issues. Her main areas of specialization and professional activity include promoting modern principles of sustainable development, fundraising, TVET development, rural development, promoting the One Health approach, creating, developing and institutionalizing innovative, market demand TVET programs and teaching and consulting. Currently, at the same time, Nana is the Head of the Occupational Safety and Environmental Technology Vocational program at GIPA.

In addition to her current duties and responsibilities at GIPA, Nana has also worked as an English language teacher and coach at Tbilisi State University and other various local English language centers. She has been a Visiting Scholar for research work for her MA and PhD degrees in English Literature at Christ Church College; in Oxford, UK. She has also worked for the Peace Corps and different international and domestic organizations. Nana served as an International Election Observer in Armenia, the USA and Bangladesh. She previously was an Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.

Nana teaches the following courses at GIPA:  Management, Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, Fundraising and Project/Proposal Writing.

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The following is a list of projects which Nana has managed:

• 2023-present - USAID funded project- Develop, Implement and Institutionalize Level-IV and Level-V Technical Vocational Education Programs and Certificate Training Courses in the field of Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency at GIPA.
• 2021-present - US Embassy funded project - Mainstreaming Gender Balance and Equal Opportunities in Regional TVET Institutions.
• 2018-2020 EU/BSB funded project - Promoting Modern Traiding Opportunities in Agriculture through the Creation of the innovative Online Platform – AgroNet.
• 2017-2022 EU funded project –Tskaltubo Action Group.
• 2016-2018 Industry-led skills and workforce Development (ISWD) funded project - Developing, Implementing and Institutionalizing a Level-V Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Internationally Recognized Certificate Programs in Health, Safety and Environment Management at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.
• 2016-2021 EU funded project - Promoting a New Rural Development Approach in Akhalkalaki project, ENPARD II.
• 2015-2017 EU funded project - EU funded project - Empowering Modern Research Practices of the Regional Agriculture- Related Institutions, ENPARD I.
• 2014-2017 EU funded project- Strengthening Farmers Cooperatives in Rural Municipalities of Georgia, ENPARD I
• 2017-2018 Action Against Hunger South Caucasus Mission funded project - Improving confidence and trust between conflict-affected societies using shared approaches towards local animal bio-security issues and the One Health approach across the Administrative Boundary Line.
• 2008-2018 USDA funded project- Enhancement of the Technical Capability of the National Animal Health and Food Safety Services System in the Republic of Georgia; Regional Veterinary Association Development and Coordination of the National Animal Health Program Steering Group.