One cannot change what has not yet been measured. With this in mind that DCAF undertook a structured, purposeful evaluation exercise to understand the impact of selected activities implemented in 2022 and 2023 as part of the Ministry of Defense’s Women in Defense program, under UN Women’s Accelerating the Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Georgia programme.

This change story was designed to highlight the progress of the Georgian Ministry of Defence and the Georgian Defense Forces towards gender equality and DCAF’s contribution to this journey. The evaluation was conducted by DCAF between September 2023 and January 2024.

We often talk about gender equality in theory, but the reality is different. For instance, I haven’t appointed women to leadership positions. I can’t pinpoint what held me back, as I’ve never consciously refused to appoint someone based on their gender.  
— Male Brigadier General