Tbilisi. “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” implementer organizations closely follow recent developments occurring around a new pandemic, #COVID-19, both in Georgia and worldwide. “We have been strictly adhering to the recommendations provided by the World Health Organization, the Government of Georgia and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia since the very beginning of spread of the virus. The health and well-being of employees, beneficiaries and partners is of prime importance for the members of our consortium. Once the risk of transmission of the virus increased, all consortium member organizations took respective measures to reduce likelihood of further spreading of the virus, more specifically: postponed international and domestic business trips of staff and experts; switched meetings and events to online mode; introduced special measures of hygiene at their offices”, - is noted in the statement. Read more…  Source: The website of the Project in a social network

Tbilisi. It counts already the second year that the first CSR related media competition, established by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), runs successfully. “Winners of the media competition “Journalists for Corporate Social Responsibility 2019” have been revealed.  Best TV Report - Manana Gigineishvili – First Channel Best Radio Coverage - Nino Khugashvili - Radio Imedi  Best Online/Printed Article - Katie Ruth Davies - Georgia Today  Best Multimedia, Video Material - Nino Vartapetyan – TV Borjomi  Best Blog - Marika Mchedlidze - Forbes Georgia  The competition is carried out within the framework of the project “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” with the support of the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation”, - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network.  Read more…   Source: The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) publishes a blog post on a blog related to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development: www.asocireba.ge - All about association with the European Union on one site. “There are various opinions regarding those obligations that Georgia assumed based on the Association Agreement with the European Union. For this particular reason, to ensure that the society is not misled and gets more thoroughly aware of European values, legislation system and obligations that the EU Association Agreement entails, the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) has created a platform www.asocireba.ge. The website contains video tutorials, which take 10-15 minutes to let you get aware of what Europe is and what its values are, what the Association Agreement means and what obligations or benefits it may entail as for the country itself as for each of its citizens”, - is stated in the blog post. Read more… Source: csrblog.ge

17 January, Tbilisi - the National Volunteering Forum “For You, For Me, For Changes – It’s Time For Volunteering”, organized by Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC) at the Georgian National University SEU in Tbilisi. “The forum was held within the framework of Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The partner of the forum is Georgian National University SEU The forum was dedicated to promoting volunteerism in Georgia. During the forum the presentation of the campaign “This Country is Yours” and the award ceremony of journalists’ contest “Journalists for Social Change” was also held. At the end of the event an interesting presentation on the topic “Civic Activism, Volunteer Culture and Experience of the Regions of Georgia” was presented by journalist and director Goderdzi Sharashia. Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative was developed and is implemented by the consortium led by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung“. Read more… Source: Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has identified winners in a competition “Journalists for Social Changes”. The competition is part of the campaign “ThisCountryIsYours” and aims at identifying journalists throughout Georgia who have regularly and competently covered challenges and development opportunities that civil society faces. Organizations, operating in regions of Georgia, had a possibility to select the best journalist who works in their region, as well as to nominate one representative of central media. On January 17, the Civil Society Institute announced the winners: Guria - Tamta Dolidze - TV Company “Guria”;  Adjara - Irakli Kurua – TV program Hashtag, Adjara TV;  Imereti - Tamuna Kavtaradze, Mega TV; Kakheti - Mariam Megrelishvili - TV “Tanamgzavri”;  Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - Nana Khubutia - live press;  Samtskhe - Javakheti - Rusudan Gvaramadze - TV9;  Kvemo Kartli - Ekaterine Eradze - Marneuli TV; Shida Kartli - Nino Chibchiuri - TV Company “Trialeti”;  Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti - Marine Svanidze - kvira.ge;  Central - Mikheil Sesiashvili - Mtavari Arkhi;  CSI special prize - Netgazeti.  The civil campaign “ThisCountryIsYours” is carried out within the framework of “Civil Society Development Initiative”, implemented by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in cooperation with the Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is financed by both the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Tbilisi. A full of positive emotions two-day “Community Leadership Forum 2019” is over. The forum of his year was dedicated to the International Day of Rural Women. The forum was conducted within the framework of the project “Civil Society Sustainability Initiative” with the support of the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On 27th of September, the launch of wide-scale public campaign - “This Country is Yours” was held at Ilia Chavchavadze Hall of National Library of Georgia.  The public campaign aims to strengthen civil society in Georgia, promote civil values, embrace civic activism and raise public awareness on CSOs and their work. At the opening of the event the Deputy Head of Cooperation Section of EU Delegation to Georgia, Catalin Gherman stated: “The EU remains a close ally and supporter of civil society. We count on you to help us devising the best policies and programmes, to be our eyes and ears when it comes to their implementation and to hold the government and authorities accountable to their commitments.”  “The project contributes to the empowerment of civil society, by enhancing its role and importance in supporting democratic processes in the country. It is achievable only through proactive and direct communication with society. Proper communication strategy is a gateway for gaining high credibility and public trust”- noted Team Leader of Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative, David Aprasidze.  The comprehensive study on public attitudes and widely believed stereotypes, related to CSOs and civic values, was conducted in the framework of the project - “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”. Based on the key findings, the communication strategy was elaborated. The strategy highlighted socially active groups: students, youth, civic education teachers, and media that represent major pillars of the campaign. The strategy also predefined particular behavioral change needs to be achieved within each target groups, along with effective communication channels and instruments.  “This Country is Yours” (Share Responsibility) is a value-based public campaign, developed under this strategy to evoke public awareness, that the route towards European type of society, where security and human rights are protected, economy and education are developed and social rights are guaranteed, relies on the values of civil society.” – underlined Vazha Salamadze, Director of CSI.  Media and other awareness raising products and activities, aiming to instigate the successful implantation of the campaign, were introduced at the event:  •Almanac “Freedom, Justice & Democracy in Georgian Thoughts”  •Short Self-Study Online Tutorials for Youth  •Online Course “Journalism for Social Change”  •Cycle of TV Shows in the Regional Media  •CSOs PR Guideline •CSOs’ Web-portal www.csogeorgia.org  •Social Media Campaign  •Promo and Advertising of the Campaign  •Contest for Journalists, Bloggers, School students and etc.  The representatives of local, international CSOs, donor organizations, central and regional media, youth, civic activists and other opinion leaders attended the event to support widespread launch of the campaign and create ownership among all development actors and thus encourage the synergy of various efforts.  The progressive development of the country relies on the common acknowledgement of each citizens’ role and responsibility in this process.  Public campaign “This Country is Yours” is part of the project - “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”, which was developed and is implemented by the consortium, led by the Konrad¬-Adenauer¬-Stiftung in cooperation with four Georgian Civil Society Organizations: Civil Society Institute (CSI), Center for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) and Education Development and Employment Center (EDEC). The project is funded by the European Union and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.