As part of Georgia Resilient Agriculture, Irrigation and Land Project (GRAIL)
Together with the World Bank, the Government of Georgia is implementing the Georgia Resilient Agriculture, Irrigation, and Land Project (GRAIL). The project aims to strengthen institutional capacity for climate-resilient irrigation and land management planning. Targeting farmers and agricultural enterprises in selected regions, the project supports rural communities through improved irrigation, land services, and agricultural support. Additionally, GRAIL focuses on enhancing the capabilities of key public institutions, including MEPA, GA, NEA, RDA, and LMA, to ensure sustainable and efficient land and water resource management.
The project aims to improve the coverage and quality of irrigation and drainage services and agricultural production in selected irrigation command areas, which will be measured by the number of landowners with access to the services and the increase in the gross value of agricultural production. In addition, there are data gaps and discrepancies among the land related management and information systems operated by the MEPA, LMA, National Agency for Public Registry (NAPR), National Agency of State Property (NASP) and others.
Moreover, a lack of structured, institutionalized and multi-purpose Land Information System (LIS) hinders the capabilities and opportunities of Georgia in comprehensive agricultural land use planning, promotion of Sustainable Land Management (SLM), access to required data and information services for climate resilient planning and management of land resources.
The objective of this assignment was to design a LIS, conduct a needs assessment and scoping, followed with the development of a roadmap and preparation of all required technical documentation necessary for the establishment of LIS. This includes to describe, analyse and determine automation issues of existing and potential land-related business processes of LMA, MEPA and other related entities.
Development of a Land Information System (LIS): A national-scale LIS has been established as a centralized data and information hub to support sustainable land management and policy development.
Support for MEPA and Associated Agencies: The LIS will aid MEPA, LMA, and other agencies in organizing data, conducting spatial analysis, and delivering information services to address issues like land degradation and unsustainable land use.
Decision-Making Tools for Stakeholders: The system will provide key stakeholders—including government agencies, local authorities, farmers, NGOs, and academia—with data and tools to support climate-resilient planning and sustainable land use decision-making.
Integration of Advanced Monitoring Features: LIS will include interactive maps and monitor variables such as land cover/use, soil fertility, degradation, pH, EC, nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and other soil health indicators.
Support for Policy and Legal Frameworks: The LIS will assist in implementing national regulations like the Land Balance and Agricultural Land Accounting rules, and help align with integrated land use planning frameworks.
Alignment with International Commitments: The system will enable Georgia to monitor progress and report on land-related targets under international frameworks such as the UNCCD, UNFCCC, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Land Information System (LIS) will serve as a national data and information hub, significantly enhancing sustainable land management and policy development in Georgia. By integrating interactive maps and comprehensive datasets on land resources, soil properties, land use, and degradation indicators, the LIS will support evidence-based decision-making and climate-resilient planning. It will also strengthen land-based targets, integrated land use planning, and landscape restoration efforts, while enabling effective monitoring, visualization, and reporting of progress towards national and international commitments, including Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), the UNCCD, UNFCCC, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
