GEORGIA - Reading the human development statistics which describe life for the majority of Georgians, it is difficult to imagine that Georgia was once a thriving and highly productive country with one of the highest standards of living within the Soviet Union.

In the late nineties, Georgia steadily improved on the Human Development Index. In 2001 however, its position declined, primarily because of worsening economic conditions. There is also a significant change in economic activity between the summer & winter months- Georgia's severe & freezing winter has huge affects on all areas of human life, which becomes more like an act of survival.

In other words, half of Georgia's population of 5 million survives on one dollar a day. This menial amount should cover food, housing, electricity, transport & health, not to mention basic personal necessities, such as clothing. Unemployment in the Georgian capital Tbilisi is reaching 40% and in urban areas is around 26%, but even these statistics are far from being accurate. If an individual owns half a hectare of farming land, though it does not provide any income, he/he is classed as being employed.

For many Georgians, employment is not enough to pull them above minimum standards of living. They need fairly paid jobs. Banks and credit institutions require unattainable guarantees for many poor entreprenuers who, given a small loan and positive guidance would reach relative financial stability.

World Vision has responded to this widespread need through its Micro Enterprise Development program. The program gives individual and group entreprenuers access to small to medium loans, basic business training and technical assistance to establish a business or expand an existing one.

The program also targets enterpreneurial women. Currently, around 70% of clients are women and it has been shown that they are more likely to put funds back into the well being of the family and more benefits will reach Georgia's children. The program also aims to provide assistance to the trading, productivity and service sector where there is the greatest potential for job creation.

A new project has also been funded to commence agricultural lending in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti & Imereti, where farming equipment and infrastructure is needed to establish agro-business.

The program currently has 2,000 active clients and to date, 3,300 loans have been provided to small-medium businesses in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Tskaltubo. The aim for 2003 is to serve some 3,500 clients and pour greater resources into the agricultural sector to change 'surviving to thriving'.