The workshop targeted accounting professionals and trainers, selected to serve as core national trainers capable of transferring knowledge to the broader Georgian accounting community. The initiative is designed to ultimately upskill professional accountants, auditors, and other financial reporting practitioners across Georgia.

The workshop was co organized by the World Bank Centre for Financial and Sustainability Reporting Reform (CFRR) and the Service for Accounting, Reporting and Audit Supervision (SARAS). The activity was delivered under the Enhancing Accounting, Auditing, and Sustainability Reporting (EAASURE) regional program, co funded by the Austrian Ministry of Finance, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA).

The primary objective of the workshop was to support SARAS in the implementation of a multi stage Training of Trainers (ToT) program on the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard (2025). The broader goal of the program is to train up to 400 accountants in Georgia by establishing a sustainable cadre of national trainers who can adapt, replicate, and deliver high quality IFRS for SMEs training tailored to the Georgian market.

The three day workshop provided participants with updated and in depth knowledge of the recently amended IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard (2025).Using a case study based approach, the training focused on strengthening participants’ technical understanding and practical application of the standard, while also fostering the pedagogical and facilitation skills required to replicate the training effectively at the national level. During the workshop, the sessions emphasized the importance of: 

• Consistent and high quality application of the updated IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard;
• Building national training capacity as a foundation for sustainable reform; and
• Aligning professional practice in Georgia with international financial reporting standards.

By equipping a core group of national trainers, the workshop is expected to create a multiplier effect, supporting the large scale dissemination of updated IFRS for SMEs knowledge and contributing to stronger corporate financial reporting practices in Georgia over time. Feedback from participants was strongly positive, particularly regarding the pragmatic, case study–based format, which enhanced practical learning and maintained high audience engagement throughout the workshop.

Next steps include:

• Continuation of the multi stage ToT program led by SARAS;
• Replication of IFRS for SMEs training sessions by the trained core trainers across Georgia; and
• Ongoing technical support and coordination under the EAASURE program framework.