Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia published recommendations on territorial optimization of municipalities. "Territorial optimization of municipalities is one of the key challenges of the local self-government reform, which implies the establishment of new self-governing cities and self-governing communities within the current municipalities. ...If the authorities aim to form real self-government and to the extent possible bring self-government units closer to the population by increasing their number, then the territorial optimization of municipalities should secure maximum participation of the local population. Demographic, geographic, infrastructural, social, economic, historical and cultural issues should be taken into account. This requires solid amount of work as well as mobilization of considerable financial and human resources. We believe undertaking this volume of work in 2-3 months is associated with a host of difficulties", says the document. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Regional Bureau of the Heinrich Boll Foundation has organized on April16 a discussion over "Green Dimension of Urban Development". Speakers at the discussion were Vladimer Vardosanidze (architect-urbanist), Davit Narmania (candidate for Tbilisi Mayor) and representative of public movement "Guerilla Gardening" Anano Tsintsabadze.The Foundation offers a video recording of the meeting for those who were unable to attend. The discussion  Source: the Foundation's web page in the social network.

Kakheti. On April 14th a training "Participation Formats in Self-Government Activities” was held for 18 youngsters from Signaghi municipality.The event was held within the coalition project "My Village”.

Mtkheta-Mtianeti. On April 14th the NGO "We – For Healthier Future” held a meeting for the members of "Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia”. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Imereti. As part of the "Open Governance" program of the Research-Intellectual Center "Dialogue of Generations", 9th meeting was dedicated to the functions and duties of local self-government civil servants.What should a local self-government civil servant be like - lawyer Nana Chapidze has discussed this with the program participants. After examining civil servants in terms of local self-government, meeting participants have also discussed the notion and principles of self-government in general.Following the lecture course, the meeting traditionally ended with question-and-answer discussion. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. A training was delivered on April 8 in the Training Center of the Central Election Commission for candidate women concerning the registration in the self-government elections and other procedural issues. Members of the leader women's data base (administered by the Gender Equality Network) from various political parties and potential independent candidates have participated in the training. Source: web page of the Gender Equality Network in the social network.

Samegrelo. The "Civil Monitoring and Research Center” has presented the 2nd Interim Report as part of the project "Monitoring the Activities of Local Authorities of the Tsalenjikha and Chkhorotsku Municipalities”.The report includes the analysis of the 2014 budget of the Tsalenjikha and Chkhorotsku Municipalities. The document analyses each article of budgets of the both self-government units and establishes its compliance with the priorities document, as well as the extent, to which they meet the population’s basic needs in light of the limited financial resources.The report was developed with support from the British Embassy in Georgia. The report Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Imereti. CSO representatives have organized a press-conference in the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center. 65 CSO and media organizations have released a special statement on April 2 addressing the Parliament of Georgia on the progress of the self-government reform.Representatives of CSOs and media organizations urge the legislative body to create several municipalities on the territories remaining after the separation of self-governing cities. The sector claims they have come up with this demand following the consultations with the single-seat MPs and leading officials of the municipalities.Source: web page of "Time for Self-Government" in the social network.

Kakheti. CSO "Regional Development Center” has organized a meeting in the small conference hall of the Telavi Municipality Sakrebulo.Presentation was made at the meeting on the creation of Telavi as an independent self-governing authority and the possibility of formation of one self-governing community in the remaining territory of the Telavi Municipality.Davit Losaberidze, local self-government expert:"Pursuant to Article 151.1 of the Organic Law of Georgia the "Local Self-Government Code”, after drawing the boundaries around territories of the seven new self-governing cities, the self-governing communities must be set up in the remaining territories. As a result of amendments to the Self-Government Code, Telavi will be the only self-governing city in the Kakheti Region. Along with this amendment, 3 new municipalities will be set up in the Telavi territory.”The group of experts offers recommendations to the Governmental Commission.Representatives of CSOs, local authorities and media have attended the meeting.

Samegrelo. Information meetings were held in the villages of the Khobi, Senaki, Abasha and Martvili Municipalities as part of the coalition project "Citizen Participation for Democratic Self-Government”.Meeting participants have discussed the novelties of the Local Self-Government Code and the key issues of citizen participation. Further, the population was informed about the Rural Aid Program and the methodology of advocating the problems.The process of information meetings will continue from the next week. The project is supported by the "Eurasia Partnership Foundation”. Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Kakheti. In the period preceding the municipal elections in Georgia the NGO "Media Centre Kakheti”, newspaper "Kakheti Voice” and the web-portal www.kakhetinews.ge will give free advertisement space to all the women candidates. They will have a chance to present their election programmes.

Samegrelo. Meetings were held in the villages of Senaki municipality within the framework of "Civil Participation in Democratic Self-Government” project.During the meeting were discussed new laws in self-government code. The project is financed by "Eurasia Partnership Foundation”. Source:the organization's page in the social network

Kakheti. Members of the Advisory Council functioning with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and local CSOs have organized consultation meetings with the local population in villages of the Telavi Municipality over the territorial-administrative system.Local population were briefed about the territorial-administrative optimization model developed by the Council's working group on territorial arrangement, pursuant to which after the division of Telavi as a self-governing city, three municipalities - Ikalto, Tsinandali and Napareuli - will be formed in the remaining territory. Meeting participants have affirmed their position by signing the appeal to the Regional Development Commission of Georgia. Source: page of "It's Time for Self-Government" in the social network.

Adjara. Civil Council published information about the programmes to be implemented in Batumi in 2014. For the full text Source:marte.ge

Kvemo Kartli. With the help of the humanitarian centre "Abkhazeti” refugees in Marneuli learn legislation of an organization, its function and aims, and management. The first part of the training has already ended. They also learn how to reveal problems related to settlement and how to form an organization. Source: Web-page in of the organization in the social network.

Tbilisi. Appeal of Civil Society Representatives to the Government of Georgia on the Statement made by the Government Commission on Regional Development on March 13. "...he Government Commission on Regional Development released a statement according to which the Commission expresses its readiness "to overview the opportunity about creation of each local community with each administrative centre". Organizations consider that the local self- governance system established through this model: 1. Cannot improve the communication between the local authorities and the population and cannot give the latter the opportunity to participate in local decision-making process; 2. Cannot create the necessary conditions for establishing local interest-oriented self- governance system;   3. Cannot create a new cultural, economic and social centers on geographically related areas; 4. Cannot create the necessary conditions for rural development and professional growth of local leaders and qualified public servants. For the full text Source:osgf.ge

Adjara. The Civil Society Institute and the Keda Public Assembly have organized a public meeting on March 12, attended by the representatives of local authorities, members of the Assembly and interested population. Meeting participants have discussed the priorities of the Rural Aid Program and results of interviews of the local population on the urgent and key issues for the rural development. The meeting transformed into discussion where the audience has expressed its comments and recommendations.

Tbilisi. Fair Elections, GYLA and Transparency International released the statement, in which they welcomed the approval of the Tbilisi budget. They focus on certain procedural violations and express hope that "in the future the Sakrebulo and the City Hall will treat the issue with more responsibility and it will be possible to avoid procedural violations," the statement says. For the full text (geo) Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia released the new Local Self-Government Code. On 5 February 2014 the Parliament of Georgia approved on the third and final hearing the new Local Self-Government Code, which brings about certain changes in the current local self-government system. For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Samegrelo. The Civil Monitoring and Research Center has presented in the Chkhorotsku Municipality the first Interim Report of the project "Monitoring the Activities of Local Authorities in the Tsalenjikha and Chkhorotsku Municipalities". As part of the study, the degree of informing of web pages of both Municipalities was examined and the issuing of public information was observed. The project is implemented with support of the British Embassy in Georgia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia, Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and International Society for fair elections and democracy released a statement. "We urge Office of Mayor of Tbilisi, majority and minority members of Tbilisi Sakrebulo to cooperate in a constructive manner, to prevent enforcement of direct state government in Tbilisi. They must show adequate responsibility and facilitate as much as possible reaching of the consensus about the budget and its adoption prior to March 11, 2014". For the full text Source:transparency.ge

Imereti. CSO and regional media representatives have discussed the Local Self-Government Code and funds transferred from the central budget to Imereti in the Kutaisi Branch of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.Chairman of GYLA’s Kutaisi Office GiorgiChikaberidze believes that Article 48 of the "Local Self-Government Code” restricts the degree of legitimacy of elected Gamgebelis and Mayors and makes them dependent on the Sakrebulo: "It is unacceptable that Sakrebulo impeaches the Mayors and Gamgebelis elected by the people without any justification.”At the same meeting, representatives of the Young Economists’ Association have briefed the local CSO sector about the assignments of the central budget. The organization’s representative PaataKldiashviliconsiders that such projects were funded in the Imereti Region, implementation of which would have been impossible without the assistance of the central authorities.