- Basic Info
- Contact
- Work & Expertise
- Current Commitment
- Past Commitment
- Resource
Basic Information
Organization Name:
Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRDOrganization Regions:
- Europe
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Organization Country Location:
Georgia -
Organization City/Locality:
Tbilisi
Organization mission and work description:
The Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD) is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting farmers' rights, and advancing rural development. We work to ensure food security, environmental protection, agrobiodiversity conservation, and climate resilience through advocacy, education, policy support, and community-based initiatives across Georgia and Eastern Europe.
Organization's Contacts
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Primary Contact Name:
Kakha NADIRADZE -
Primary Contact Title:
President
Additional Contacts Names:
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Additional representative #1:
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Additional representative #2:
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Additional representative #3:
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Additional representative #4:
OUR INTERNATIONAL COALITION IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN 400 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Learn about TAP Members & Partners
WHO ARE TAP'S MEMBERS?Organization's Work & Expertise
Organization's SGD16 Expertise:
- 16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
- 16.6 - Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
- 16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
- 16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
Organization's Areas of Expertise:
- Accountability for the 2030 Agenda
- Spotlight Reporting
- Voluntary National Reviews (VNRS)
Current Commitment to SDG16+
Summary of commitment:
The Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD) is firmly committed to advancing SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice, and the development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Our work directly supports rural communities and marginalized farmers—often underrepresented in political, economic, and legal processes—ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights protected. Objectives and Strategic Focus AFRD’s core objectives under SDG 16 include: Promoting legal empowerment of smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, through rights-based education and access to justice mechanisms. Strengthening rural institutions such as agricultural cooperatives and water user associations by improving transparency, participatory governance, and financial accountability. Fostering inclusive dialogue among farmers, civil society, and government to reduce rural conflict and enhance trust in public institutions. Combating corruption and ensuring equitable access to resources and services in the agricultural sector. Work Plan and Activities Our current and planned activities to implement SDG 16 include: Legal Aid and Rights Training AFRD organizes community workshops and publishes practical legal guides on land rights, farmers’ rights, and environmental justice. We also provide direct legal assistance in cases of land grabbing, environmental violations, and administrative abuse. Good Governance in Cooperatives Through training and mentoring, we build the capacity of local cooperatives and farmer-based organizations in internal governance, conflict resolution, and democratic decision-making. Policy Engagement and Monitoring AFRD actively participates in policy-making processes related to agriculture, environment, and rural development, advocating for laws and institutions that uphold justice and transparency. Youth and Women Empowerment We run leadership training programs for rural youth and women to encourage their participation in local governance and institutional development. Community Mediation and Dialogue Platforms AFRD facilitates dialogue between farmers, government agencies, and private sector actors to address grievances peacefully and collaboratively. Timeline and Theory of Change Our approach is both systemic and grassroots-driven. From 2025 to 2030, AFRD aims to expand our legal empowerment program to all regions of Georgia, strengthen at least 100 rural institutions, and directly engage over 5,000 community members in dialogue and accountability processes. Our theory of change rests on the belief that when rural people—especially youth and women—understand their rights and are empowered to participate meaningfully in local governance, they become agents of peace, resilience, and institutional reform. Strengthening the rule of law and accountability in rural areas not only protects individual rights but also builds public trust, reduces inequality, and supports sustainable development
Organization's priorities and work in relation to commitment:
The Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD) strongly aligns with the TAP Network’s mission to promote SDG16+—which encompasses peace, justice, strong institutions, and inclusive societies—and to ensure accountability for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Our grassroots-driven work across Georgia and Eastern Europe contributes directly to key TAP Network priorities, including inclusive policy-making, transparency, civil society participation, access to justice, and accountability in public institutions. Specific Contributions to TAP’s SDG16+ Focus Areas: Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment AFRD implements rights-based training and legal support for smallholder farmers, rural women, and youth—groups often excluded from formal justice systems. By building awareness and facilitating access to redress mechanisms (e.g., for land disputes, environmental harm, or administrative abuse), AFRD advances Goal 16.3 (Rule of Law and Access to Justice). Inclusive, Participatory, and Representative Decision-Making We actively work to increase rural stakeholder participation in policy-making, ensuring that farmer voices shape agricultural, environmental, and food systems governance. This supports Goal 16.7, and aligns with TAP’s efforts to empower civil society to influence and monitor public decisions. Transparency and Accountability Through capacity-building of local cooperatives and farmer associations, AFRD promotes transparent governance practices and strengthens internal accountability structures. We also monitor agricultural policies, budgets, and rural development programs to identify corruption or exclusion, supporting Goal 16.6 and 16.10. Peaceful Communities and Conflict Resolution AFRD provides community mediation services and hosts dialogue platforms between rural citizens, government officials, and private actors, reducing the potential for land-based and resource-related conflict and fostering social cohesion and peaceful dispute resolution (Goal 16.a). Contribution to Accountability for the 2030 Agenda: AFRD is committed to contributing data, case studies, and grassroots perspectives to national, regional, and global SDG reporting and review mechanisms, including Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Our work supports the bottom-up accountability model promoted by TAP by: Generating community-driven evidence on rights violations, service gaps, and institutional failures. Monitoring SDG implementation at the local level with a focus on justice, equity, and sustainability. Building capacity of rural stakeholders to understand and engage with the SDG accountability framework. Vision for Future Engagement with TAP AFRD sees a strong opportunity to collaborate with the TAP Network through knowledge exchange, joint advocacy, and participation in global platforms. We are particularly eager to contribute to TAP’s efforts in: Developing local SDG16+ indicators that reflect rural realities. Co-creating tools for grassroots monitoring and reporting. Elevating Eastern European perspectives on accountability and civic space.
Organization's work related to TAP network's SGD16+ work & accountability for 2030 Agenda:
Plan on engaging in TAP's work as a Partner:
- Thematic Working Groups
- Interest in leadership/coordination opportunities within the TAP Network
- Storytelling /Showcasing your organization's work via the TAP Network platforms
- Global engagement via the UN and other opportunities
