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About Us


Credence Consulting is a strategic advisory firm and expert hub, bringing together top-tier professionals in policy reform, regulatory compliance, ESG, finance, and impact measurement.


Supports public and private sector actors in turning vision into action — from policy design to execution, collaboration, and capital mobilization.


Work is driven by data, aligned with global standards, and focused on measurable outcomes.

Services

Experts Deployment and Tender Participation

Provide access to a pool of qualified experts to execute projects. Support participation in grants and tenders by supplying expert CVs, drafting application materials, and preparing tender documentation and scopes of work.

Loan & Financing Application Support

Assist in preparing financial documents and application materials for preferential loans from financial institutions. 

Enabling Data Driven Decisions

    Full-cycle feasibility assessments for infrastructure, industrial, and commercial initiatives

    Market demand and competition analysis

    Cost-benefit and regulatory impact evaluations (RIA, CBA)

Project Execution & Post-Exit Support

Develop, implement, and manage projects within companies helping reduce costs without the need for full-time hires and providing ongoing support after project completion. 

Policy Reforms

Strategic support in designing, reviewing, and implementing policy reforms for public institutions and private sector stakeholders. International best practices, evidence-based policy design, and a deep understanding of institutional ecosystems.

Compliance and Regulatory Advisory

Policy review and regulatory gap assessments and alignment with global frameworks. 

ESG integration and sustainability compliance, MEL system design, and impact tracking frameworks 

Sustainable Practices Advisory

Advise on improving sustainable practices for public and private sector entities, including energy efficiency, green transportation, near-zero and zero emissions building design and certification, waste reduction and climate change mitigation. Catalyze sustainable transition by matching projects with fit-for-purpose funding sources.

Management Team

Ana Kobalia

Director

Ana is an investment strategist and portfolio developer with nearly 20 years of experience across private equity, logistics, agribusiness, and hospitality. She has led and managed multimillion-dollar investments including greenhouses, food processing, infrastructure, and hotels. Ana has worked with institutional partners to structure co-investment mechanisms, execute turnarounds, and develop strategic partnerships across the Middle Corridor. Her background includes roles at the Georgian Co-Investment Fund, Pontus Capital, and Deloitte, where she provided high-level deal structuring, operational transformation, and investment facilitation.

Maia Guntsadze

Managing Director

Maia is a PhD economist with two decades of leadership in public policy, data systems, and evidence-based governance. A former Deputy Director of Geostat and MEL/RIA advisor for USAID programs, she brings academic, institutional, and donor-aligned perspectives to ESG, monitoring and evaluation (MEL), and strategic development. Maia has shaped national reforms in taxation, capital markets, sustainability reporting, and SDG localization. She has taught at multiple universities, founded the MELPA association, and contributed to EU, UNDP, and MCC development efforts across Georgia, with a focus on high-impact public sector reform and data-driven decision-making.

Giorgi Giorgobiani

Managing Director

A senior-level advisor with more than two decades in international development, Giorgi has led complex projects in energy systems, renewable energy, and financing models. He has held leadership roles in USAID-funded programs such as the Middle Corridor and EC-LEDS, where he provided institutional and technical guidance on energy reforms, financing frameworks, and implementation. Giorgi has negotiated and structured over $100M in project finance and facilitated the design of national energy strategies. His expertise covers climate finance, smart energy markets, regulatory reform, and blended capital design.

Sophie Gengiuri

Managing Director

With over 20 years of experience in grants management and donor compliance, Sophie provides guidance on complex regulatory and fiscal systems for development programs. She has led grant portfolios under USAID Economic Governance, Middle Corridor, and Financial Innovation programs, and held compliance and procurement roles with Winrock International and Palladium. Sophie's expertise includes subaward structuring, milestone verification, risk mitigation, and donor reporting across USAID, EC-LEDS, and other bilateral programs. She is also experienced in procurement law, audit response, and capacity-building for CSOs and local partners.

Experts Hub

Nino Chokheli

Senior Legal and Policy Reform Expert


Nino Chokheli is a seasoned legal advisor and program leader with over 20 years of experience in regulatory reform, legislative alignment with EU standards, and public-private dialogue. She has led multi-million-dollar USAID-funded governance programs in Georgia, overseeing the adoption of landmark economic and environmental laws. Her background includes strategic advisory for tax, trade, e-commerce, pensions, public procurement, and maritime reforms.


Kakha Baindurashvili

Public Finance & Economic Policy Expert


Kakha Baindurashvili is a former Minister of Finance of Georgia with over two decades of leadership in fiscal policy, public financial management, and economic development. He has served as President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Director at the ECA World SME Forum. Kakha led transformative reforms in budgeting, taxation, and investment during his government tenure and has consulted for UNDP, AFD, and Frankfurt School on VET modernization, cooperative development, and sectoral investment strategies. He holds advanced degrees in economics and development from Williams College and Tbilisi State University.

Zaza Chelidze

Economic Policy & Statistics,

Rural Development, Regional Development


Zaza Chelidze is a former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Georgia, with over two decades of experience in statistics, monitoring and evaluation, and inclusive development.  Zaza previously served as Executive Director of Geostat, transforming Georgia’s national statistics into an independent, internationally-aligned institution. He has supported UN, FAO, and national governments across the Caucasus and Central Asia on SDG alignment and public finance. A graduate of GRIPS Japan and Harvard Kennedy School’s executive program, Zaza brings deep regional and institutional expertise to data-driven development reforms.

Maya Eristavi

Civil Society & Private Sector Development Expert


Maya Eristavi is a strategic advisor with 25 years of experience in organizational development, public-private dialogue, youth empowerment, and advocacy for business-enabling reforms. She has held senior roles with USAID, CIPE, and ICC Georgia, spearheading initiatives such as ReforMeter, Economic Policy Advocacy Coalition, and the Georgian Tourism Industry Alliance. Maya has led coalition-building and capacity strengthening efforts across civil society and private sector actors, with a strong focus on women's economic empowerment and youth participation in policy reform.

Levan Natadze

Environmental Policy & Green Building Expert


Levan Natadze is a certified LEED AP and BREEAM Assessor with over 15 years of experience in sustainable development, environmental policy, and energy efficiency. He has led national-level projects on decarbonization, green building standards, and climate action planning in Georgia, working with institutions such as GIZ, UNDP, and USAID. His expertise spans life cycle assessment, emissions modeling, and environmental technology integration across infrastructure and building sectors.

Ekaterine Burkaidze

Food and Safety Expert


Ekaterine Burkadze is a senior food safety expert with over 20 years of experience in quality systems, international certification, and regulatory alignment. She has advised IFC, EBRD, USAID, and UNIDO on food safety and Global GAP across Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and beyond. As Head of Quality and Food Safety at IDS Borjomi Georgia, she leads system compliance for major beverage brands.

Ekaterine has supported EU DCFTA implementation and built national capacity through the CIB Programme. She is a certified specialist in FSSC 22000, HACCP, and occupational safety, and lectures on standardization at the Agricultural University of Georgia. She holds a Master’s in Quality Management and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Science.

Valerian (Vato) Khavtasi

Utility Reform & Energy Policy Advisor


Valerian Khavtasi is a strategic energy advisor with over 15 years of leadership in utility transformation, regulatory policy, and sustainable energy development. He has advised USAID, the World Bank, and ADB on utility reforms and public-private energy initiatives in Georgia, Nigeria, and Papua New Guinea. Vato specializes in revenue protection, power sector restructuring, and stakeholder engagement, having led enforcement, turnaround, and investment strategies across public utilities. His background spans legal, commercial, and technical domains, with expertise in both traditional power operations and renewable energy integration. He holds law and business degrees from Tbilisi State University and the University of Cyprus.

Ana Kvintradze Hardy

Research & MEL Expert 


Ana Kvintradze Hardy is a seasoned MEL expert and sociologist with over 15 years of international experience in research, evaluation, and program quality. She has led complex MEL initiatives for Save the Children, Oxfam, and International Medical Corps across the Middle East, Africa, and the South Caucasus. Her work blends quantitative and participatory methods, with a focus on disability inclusion, youth engagement, and adaptive programming. Ana is a co-author of several publications on outcome mapping and evidence-based development and currently serves as a founding member of Georgia’s MEL Professionals Association.

Nino Mirzikashvili, MD, MSc

Health care and social issues expert


Nino Mirzikashvili is a public health expert and policy advisor with over 20 years of experience advancing health system reform, service delivery, and social protection across Georgia and Central Asia. Her background spans senior government roles, academic leadership, and consulting for UN agencies, USAID, and WHO. She has led national programs on primary care, maternal and child health, and inclusive health services—bridging public, private, and civil society sectors. Nino brings deep expertise in policy planning, health workforce development, and equity-focused service design. She holds medical and public health degrees from Tbilisi State Medical University and the University of Warwick, and currently serves as an Associate Professor at Ilia State University.

Tamar Machavariani

Capacity Development Expert for Private, Public & Civil Society Sectors | Public Sector Reform and PSE Expert


Tamar Machavariani is a PMP-certified project manager and institutional reform advisor with over 15 years of leadership experience in public administration, private sector transformation, and donor-funded program delivery. She currently serves as Policy Component Lead at the USAID Economic Governance Program in Georgia, where she oversees policy reform initiatives, public-private engagement, and implementation of strategic legislation across key sectors including tourism, digital finance, and infrastructure. Tamar has supported more than 70 projects with a focus on capacity building, organizational transformation, and sustainability. She holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in performance management systems.

Giorgi Amzashvili

Access to Finance Policy Advisor, Corporate Finance Advisor


George has over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of strategic planning, capital markets, and economic development with a strong focus on improving access to finance, especially in emerging markets. Most recently, George worked as an Access to Finance Policy Advisor with Deloitte Consulting LLP on a major USAID program, where he led initiatives like the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), asset securitization frameworks, Collective Investment Undertakings, and supply chain finance platforms. George also advised companies on M&A strategy and Multilateral Trading Facilities (MTF), built financial models for high-value transactions, and helped secure multimillion-dollar investments in fintech, manufacturing and finance.

George holds an Executive MBA from Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business, and degrees in international trade and physics from Tbilisi State University.

George is fluent in English, Georgian, and Russian

Avtandil Lomiashvili

Senior Infrastructure & Energy Expert


Avtandil Lomiashvili is a civil engineer with 25+ years of experience managing complex infrastructure and renewable energy projects. With a background in FIDIC contract administration and energy efficiency, he has delivered large-scale assignments for USAID, Deloitte, MCC, and MDF. His expertise includes hydropower, energy audits, sustainable construction, and stakeholder coordination aligned with EU and IFI standards.

Mariam Bakhtadze

Environmental and Climate Policy Expert


Mariam Bakhtadze is an environmental scientist with over 20 years of experience in water governance, natural resource management, and climate policy advisory. She has worked with UNDP, USAID, Deloitte, and other donors on aligning Georgian environmental law with EU directives. Her core skills include ESIA, safeguards compliance, stakeholder engagement, and development of SEAPs, GCAPs, and WRM legislation.

Molly Corso

Knowledge Management Expert


Molly Corso is a seasoned editor and communications specialist with over 20 years of experience in journalism, technical editing, and strategic outreach. She has supported Deloitte, BBC Monitoring, and Chai Khana in delivering high-quality reports, stakeholder communications, and media content across development, policy, and media sectors. Molly specializes in turning complex technical material into accessible, polished narratives, and has led content development, editorial mentoring, and report systems on USAID and regional initiatives. Her expertise includes developmental editing, newsletter production, RFP writing, and media strategy in politically sensitive environments. She holds a degree in photojournalism from Western Kentucky University and has working knowledge of Georgian and Russian.


Ekaterine Meskhidze

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Expert


Ekaterina Meskhidze has more than 25 years of experience in research, project management and consulting services for various international organisations, public and private sectors, academia, and NGOs, with a strong portfolio of over 20 successfully managed large-scale projects in Georgia, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, policy, and strategic development in the fields of economy and SME development, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, gender equality and inclusivity, vocational education, agriculture, ICT and e-governance, rural development, environment protection, etc. Besides, she has about 16 years of experience in the field of education and employment sectors, including 8 years in VET; Her expertise covers the topics focused on improving the conditions in selected sectors relevant to employment for sustainable economic development, focused on the reform of the current TVET system by introducing elements of dual education and training or apprenticeship programmes in the labour market–relevant sectors; formulation and dialogue including a social partnership in VET and labour market, strengthening BMOs, educational infrastructure development, and capacity building activities, working with high-level decision-makers, social partners, government agencies and institutions engaged in VET policy, and representatives from businesses and VET stakeholders.

Levan Pavlenishvili

Senior Researcher


Levan Pavlenishvili brings over a decade of experience as a researcher, data analyst, and consultant with a strong background in mathematical modeling and data analysis across engineering, business, economic, social, and environmental fields. He holds an MSc in Operational Research, where his thesis focused on modeling the operation of microgrids in smart grids, underscoring his expertise in advanced analytical methods.

His professional interests are rooted in energy market liberalization, renewable energy modeling, and smart grid development, areas where he has contributed both research and practical insights. In addition to his technical expertise, Levan has extensive experience in public policy and regulatory research, supporting evidence-based decision-making in complex policy environments.


Giorgi Chapidze

EU Integration and Trade Policy Expert 


Giorgi Chapidze is a public policy and governance specialist with over 20 years of experience in legislative reform, public administration, and democratic development. He has advised Parliament, the State Audit Office, and numerous USAID and EU-funded programs on institutional transparency, legislative drafting, and policy monitoring systems. Giorgi’s work spans EU approximation, rule of law, and parliamentary oversight, with a strong focus on multi-stakeholder dialogue and institutional capacity building in emerging democracies.

Ana Kvernadze

Policy and Institutional Expert


Ana Kvernadze is a highly accomplished M&E and policy design specialist with over 14 years of experience in public administration, employment reform, institutional development, and donor program evaluation. She has contributed to national-level policy reforms and led evaluation frameworks for UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, Expertise France, and the Georgian Government. Ana co-authored Georgia’s national guideline on policy planning and M&E and is a trusted advisor on evidence-based governance, strategic planning, and results-oriented evaluation.

Giorgi Gigauri

Urban Transport & Mobility  Expert


Giorgi Gigauri is a senior transport planner and GIS specialist with over 15 years of experience in urban mobility, smart transport systems, and infrastructure development. He has served as project lead and technical advisor for international organizations including ADB, EBRD, WB, UN, and GIZ across Georgia and the Caucasus. Giorgi has played a key role in strategic mobility initiatives such as Tbilisi’s Sustainable Urban Transport Strategy, the Middle Corridor logistics program, and multi-city transport reforms. With a dual background in human geography and physics, he combines spatial data expertise with policy implementation, guiding cities toward inclusive, sustainable public transport solutions.

Giorgi Zaridze

Transport Law & Logistics Policy Advisor


Giorgi Zaridze is a transport and maritime legal expert with over a decade of experience in policy development, infrastructure planning, and regulatory alignment. He currently serves as Transport & Logistics Policy Advisor under the USAID Middle Corridor Program, supporting Georgia’s integration with EU transport standards. As Legal Counsel at Wondernet Express, he led compliance and operations for Georgia’s strategic fertilizer terminal at Batumi Port. Giorgi has contributed to multiple international feasibility studies on port waste, maritime strategy, and customs digitalization. He holds an LLM in Maritime and Transport Law from Erasmus University and is fluent in Georgian, English, and Russian.

Irina Iremashvili

Marketing communications and public relations Expert


Irine Iremashvili is a marketing communications and PR specialist with over 25 years of experience supporting major international development programs, government institutions, and private-sector organizations. She has worked with Soros Fund, FIAC under the President of Georgia, TaoPrivatBank, and numerous USAID and U.S. Government–funded initiatives in energy, economic governance, and transport. Her expertise includes strategic communication, PR advisory, media relations, market and public opinion research, and the management of multi-channel visibility campaigns. Irine has also written scripts and produced more than 30 documentary and success-story films. In her personal time, she writes fiction and scripts.

Teona Jangveladze

Senior Operations and Compliance Expert


Teona Jangveladze is a senior operations and compliance professional with 29 years of experience managing international development programs across finance, administration, HR, and procurement. She has overseen complex USAID-funded initiatives with Deloitte Consulting LLP and previously supported World Bank operations for a decade. Teona has led regional program startups and closeouts, developed operational systems aligned with donor and local regulations, and managed multi-million-dollar grant portfolios. Her expertise includes policy development, risk management, vendor oversight, and organizational efficiency.

Shalva Uriadmkopeli

Road Freight Transport & Logistics Expert


Shalva Uriadmkopeli is a Georgian expert in road freight transport and logistics with over 12 years of experience in trade facilitation, cross-border transport efficiency, and regulatory reform. He has held senior advisory and consultancy roles with international organizations such as UNECE, IRU etc. and previously served as Director of Georgia’s Land Transport Agency (MOESD), where he led the harmonization of freight transport legislation with EU and international standards. Shalva has supported the development of operator reform plans, vehicle inspection systems, and digital compliance tools. He currently contributes to the ADB CAREC Corridor Performance Monitoring Project. As Deputy Director of the Road Transport Academy, he actively promotes the professionalization and modernization of Georgia’s road freight sector in collaboration with vocational and policy institutions. He holds a PhD in Business Administration and is an accredited international IRU instructor in ADR (Transport of Dangerous Goods), Tachographs, CPC Manager, and CPC Driver.

Giorgi Bobghiashvili

Governance and Policy Expert


Giorgi Bobghiashvili is a governance and policy expert with over 12 years of experience in public administration reform, e-governance, institutional strengthening, parliamentary development, and minority rights. He has a proven track record of designing and implementing governance reforms in line with OECD/SIGMA principles of public administration. Giorgi possesses an extensive background in policy planning, public service delivery, and digital transformation, working with national and international organizations, including the EU, USAID, UNDP, GIZ, and the Council of Europe. He also has strong expertise in institutional and functional analysis and capacity-building for government officials, civil servants, and policymakers. Giorgi also serves as an invited lecturer in Public Administration at Ilia State University and Caucasus University.

Dariko Bakhturidze

Evaluator, Researcher and Gender Expert

Dariko Bakhturidze is an Evaluator, Researcher and Gender Specialist specialized in statistics, quantitative and qualitative surveys with over a decade of experience in gender-responsive research, monitoring, and evaluation in international development. Specialized in participatory and feminist evaluation approaches, with a strong background in policy advisory, gender mainstreaming, and social inclusion. I hold a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies and I am a Certified ILO Participatory Gender Audit Facilitator. I have extensive track record of designing and leading evaluations and research on gender- based violence, TFGBV, women’s economic empowerment, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, etc. Proven ability to integrate gender perspectives across sectors including climate change, governance, societal resilience, migration, and humanitarian response. Worked with diverse partners including UN Women, UNDP, Council of Europe, GIZ, and FCDO.

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