Civil Development Agency (CiDA) is the organizer of an ongoing working meeting on “Involvement of local self-governments and civil society organizations in the process of juvenile crime prevention”. “The purpose of the meeting is to talk about development and implementation of services at the local level that are tailored to the needs of juveniles having been in conflict with law and at risk of committing crime”, - 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. Transparency International Georgia has requested information from all municipalities of Georgia, except Tbilisi, on the ownership of the buildings where the City Hall, the City Council and/or other municipal-funded institutions are located. “According to the information that we received, 22 out of the 63 municipalities do not have a sufficient number of properties to carry out their duties. The Tsalka Municipality is the only municipality that does not even own the building in which its City Hall / City Council is based and instead uses a state-owned property for free. In certain cases, municipalities have to rent a property for the operation of kindergartens, individual services, and municipal legal entities”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Over 100 representatives of public, private and civil society organizations attended the conference, which summarized the results of the EU-supported two-year ENPARD project “Strengthening Rural Development models in Georgia”.  The project, implemented by Mercy Corps, People in Need and CARE Austria, in partnership with the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), ran since 2017 and aimed at promoting a community-driven rural development approach in Borjomi, Lagodekhi and Kazbegi municipalities. Through sharing the best European practices in rural development, the project has contributed to the implementation of the EU’s LEADER approach in the three municipalities, where it has helped establish Local Action Groups (LAGs), elaborate Local Development Strategies and provided EU grants to over 200 development initiatives. As a result, throughout the project implementation, more than 600 permanent job opportunities were created in all three municipalities.  Since 2015, in the framework of the EU ENPARD programme in Georgia, eight Local Actions Groups have been created (in Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbebgi, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro, Akhalkalaki, Keda and Khulo municipalities), which, in collaboration with the EU partner organizations, are successfully implementing rural development projects. Up to 400 initiatives have already been funded by EU through their direct involvement country-wide. These initiatives are boosting production and services in the areas of agriculture, tourism, social and rural infrastructure and environment. They have already provided better employment to over 1000 rural households and benefited more than 10,000 people across the country. Currently, the EU’s LEADER methodology is being introduced and Local Action Groups established in four additional municipalities (Akhmeta, Tsalka, Tskaltubo and Mestia).  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kvemo Kartli. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), together with community centers of Khuldara, Kvemo Sarali, Aghmamedlo and Kasumlo villages, shared a list of priorities and a document containing recommendations and visions for the budget elaboration process with the Mayor and the City Assembly of Marneuli. The document has been prepared on the basis of field trips and consultations with local activists in the villages of Marneuli municipality and is an attempt to strengthen policies for protection of rights of ethnic minorities, creation of a fairer political and social environment for them, as well as inclusion at the local self-government level. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Ajara. As part of a broader effort to promote rural development in Georgia, the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is launching a series of workshops in Rural Development Advocacy in eight municipalities.  The first workshops brought together up to 60 community activists and representatives of civil society organizations from the municipalities of Tetritskaro, Lagodekhi and Dedoplistskaro. By the end of 2020, similar workshops will be carried out in five other municipalities – Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Kazbegi, Keda and Khulo.  The series of workshops for the civil society organizations is part of the EUR 179.5 million in EU assistance that has been allocated to Georgia under the ENPARD programme between 2013 and 2022. This support aims to promote rural development policies and create economic opportunities for the rural population outside of agriculture.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has studied the practice of disbursement of reserve funds of local self-government units during 2018.  “The study has revealed that the practice of determination of the amount of reserve funds and their consumption is different in various municipalities. A number of city halls of municipalities incur expenses that entail questions in regard to the necessity of funding them from reserve funds”, - is stated in the final part of the study.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization

Ajara. EU Supports the Adoption of Economic Development Plan for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities.  Over 50 representatives of public, private and civil society sectors gathered in Batumi, Adjara to discuss Economic Development Plans for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities. The document was prepared with EU support under “Mayors for Economic Growth” project, with the assistance from ENPARD’s ongoing rural development projects in Keda and Khulo and active involvement of Local Action Groups (LAGs).  The aim of the Economic Development Plans are to realize common interests, coordinate economic development sites between participating municipalities and initiate joint action concerning local economic development.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Imereti. Within the framework of the project “Inclusive Dialogue - Effective Social Policy”, Local Democracy Agency Georgia held a working meetings with the representatives of Zestaponi Municipality's Social and Financial-Budgetary Service. Based on their involvement and the project needs assessment document, two programs have been developed, detailing the program objectives, short-term and long-term outcomes.  „The aim of the project is to improve social service delivery system in Zestafoni and Baghdati municipalities of Imereti Region and to develop better need-based social policies through inclusive cooperation and dialogue with local self-government“.  Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. Mayors of Rustavi, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti and Lagodekhi municipalities have signed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. The signing ceremony was initiated by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia. The document, developed by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in May 2006, aims to both establish gender balance and take respective measures within the frameworks of their jurisdiction in order to improve equality between men and women at municipalities. Read more… Source: http://nala.ge

Tbilisi. Today, “Green Alternative”, a civil society organization of the “Open Society Georgia Foundation” conducted a presentation of the study – “Assessment of opportunity for creation of a protected area in Idliani, Khaishi, Chuberi and Nakra communities of Upper Svaneti”. The study reviews opportunities for creation of a protected area in Idliani, Khaishi, Chuberi and Nakra territories of Upper Svaneti; assesses the extent to which existing environmental, social and economic problems can be resolved through the protected area; besides, defines which category of a protected area would be the most acceptable to create from an environmental, social and economic point of view. The study has been prepared within the framework of the ACCESS project of the East-West Management Institute (EWMI) and is implemented by Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC). Read more… Source:https://emc.org.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Members from the International Women’s Association Georgia visited the EU-supported Green Camp for Young Leaders and Innovators at Bulachauri Green Center.  During the meeting, the invited guests shared their experiences with the camp participants and discussed topics such as environmental issues, technologies, education and career development. The Green Camp participants presented their community problems and future plans for solving them. IWA member, Mrs. Mette Hartzell, spouse of Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia, addressed the camp participants and read a letter addressed by the Ambassador to the camp participants.  Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. On July 2, 2019 representatives of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC) and Management Systems Development Center (MSDC) presented the Evaluation of Municipalities in 2019, according to the Local Self-Government Index. Municipalities in top five spots were also awarded based on the transparency index. The initiative is financially supported by Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF). “The average rate of transparency and accountability of municipalities in Georgia still remains low – 28%, 25% for city halls and 31% for municipal councils”, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. According to information released by Transparency International Georgia, numbers of both factions and initiatives of fractions decreased in city assemblies of Batumi, Keda, Kobuleti, Khelvachauri, Khulo and Shuakhevi municipalities of Adjara in 2017-2018 years in comparison with 2014-2016 years.  “The conducted study revealed that a legislative amendment passed at the end of 2017, as a result of which Deputy Chairperson of Faction became a paid position and which, as the parliamentary majority anticipated, would activate factions, did not entail positive results - on the contrary, the number of initiatives of factions decreased, which is an unequivocally negative tendency”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Imereti. Meeting held in Kutaisi about strategies and challenges of decentralization reform in Georgia. „The purpose of the meeting was to convene interested parties for a discussion on the challenges and prospects of regional development and to discuss mechanisms of cooperation between different stakeholders (government, civil society organizations, business)“, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: Social page of the LDA

Imereti. According of ‘Transparency International Georgia’, the majority of municipalities in Imereti spend money on carrying out their delegated powers from their own budget. ‘Funds, which are transferred by the central government to the local self-governments in order to exercise their delegated powers, is for the most part not sufficient and that’s why local self-governments have to mobilize their own resources’, - Is mentioned in TI’s information. Read more  Source: The organization’s webpage

Kakheti. EU-supported Training in Project Cycle Management was implemented for the representatives of Dedoplistskaro Local Action Group. During the trainings, participants had an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in the following directions: implementation of context analysis, identification of intervention strategy and related goals and outcomes; project design and planning; development of indicators for each level of the project; allocation of resources, budgeting and project monitoring; reporting and project close. Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Imereti. Local Democracy Agency Georgia held a Regional Civil Society Forum in Kutaisi. The main goal of the forum was to attract donors and potential financiers and strengthen civil society in the Imereti region. Local NGOs, media, donor organizations, self-governments and youth (students) were invited to the forum. The Regional Civil Society Forum was organized by LDA Georgia within the project "Civil Society Initiative," which is implemented by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) by the Civil Society Institute (CSI), a training and consulting center (CTC), a strategic research and development centers, (CSRDG) and Education, Development and Employment Center (EDEC). Read more…  Source: The organization’s page

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia continues to publish results of a study, carried out by the ''Caucasus Research Resource Center'' based on the order of the organization, in the form of blog posts. ''About a quarter of surveyed citizens consider that mayors and assemblies, elected in 2017, do not express interests of citizens'', - is stated in the blog post. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. In spite of a requirement of the legislation and public statements of highest officials of the authorities, the local self-government bodies have yet to receive agricultural and non-agricultural land and other property from the State. ''In accordance with Article 162 of the Local Self-Government Code, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Finance of Georgia were supposed to draft and submit for approval to the Government of Georgia relevant schedules and procedures for the transfer of agricultural land to municipalities before January 1, 2017, although the Ministries have yet to fulfill this obligation Accordingly, the State owns more real estate in the territories of municipalities than local self-government bodies. To illustrate the foregoing, we will present the example of Zugdidi'', is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: www.transparency.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The European Union (EU), together with its partner organization CENN, officially launched a new rural development project in Tsalka Municipality. The "EMBRACE Tsalka” project aims to provide support to smallholders, entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation, introducing best practices, creating public-private partnerships and business linkages, as well as generating new employment opportunities by utilizing the development potential of the area. Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

With the support of the European Union (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia (MEPA) have developed a Market Information System for agricultural products. The system was launched in 2015 under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). Monitoring the market prices of more than 100 agricultural products is conducted in 59 municipalities across Georgia. Data-collectors – the staff of the MEPA Information and Consulting Centres (ICCs) – in each region gather prices on each agricultural product on a weekly basis and upload the data to an online database, providing users across the country with the latest price-related information. The data are further processed by the ministry and used for policymaking. After three years of data collection, the system is being upgraded in 2019 to improve the data collection and analysis process. FAO has developed an online application to collect the data electronically through tablets and to transfer the collected data automatically to the ministry’s main server. These upgrades of the system significantly simplify the process of monitoring and reduces the chances of making mistakes. In full  Source: http://enpard.ge