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. By the Transparency International Georgia the practice of using citizen engagement mechanisms in municipalities of Adjara has partially improved. In comparison to 2015-2016, the practice of using citizen engagement mechanisms in the municipalities of Adjara has improved in 2017-2019. Nevertheless, local governments need to work on improving the quality of citizen engagement.  ‘Transparency International Georgia has requested information from the city halls and Sakrebulos of Batumi, Khulo, Keda, Shuakhevi, Kobuleti and Khelvachauri municipalities to determine to what extent the existing legislation supports citizen engagement, whether municipal authorities make use of the opportunities provided by the legislation and with what issues the citizens address the local self-government’, - is said in the information of TI, - ‘In comparison to 2015-2016, the practice of using citizen engagement mechanisms in the municipalities of Adjara has improved in 2017-2019. Nevertheless, local governments need to work on improving the quality of citizen engagement’.  Read more…   Source: The web-page of the organization

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person.  Newsletter...

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. 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.

The web portal CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person.  Newsletter...

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

USAID needs your help! A message from USAID/Georgia Mission Director Peter Wiebler: We are designing a new development agenda for the next five years and we need your input. What would you like to see Georgia achieve during the next five years?  Read more… Source: Social network

Tbilisi. 19 September, at the Rooms Hotel Tbilisi, Network of Centers for Civic Engagement hosted a presentation of State Grant Funding-Existing Situation and Perspectives. The event was organized by “Network of Centers for Civic Engagement”, in the framework of the project “Georgian Civil Society Sustainability Initiative”.  As a part of this project, within the support of Civil Society Institute, the Network of Centers for Civic Engagement and the Green Caucasus conducted monitoring of the process of grant issuing by public institutions. The monitoring period covered grants, issued in 2016-2017. Core objective of this event was to examine the actual situation as it stands in terms of state grant funding in Georgia and to discuss possible perspectives in this sense and to present monitoring outcomes.  The director of the Network of Centers for Civic Engagement, Nina Khatiskatsi and Civil Society Program Officer of EU Delegation Georgia, Dominika Skubida welcomed the audience. “We note that the scale and scope of funding for Civil Society in Georgia remains still insufficient to meaningfully improve the sustainability of the sector. Enhancement of enabling environment for diversification of funding, including support for refining state granting system, is therefore our main priority aimed at this objective. We welcome therefore the commitment of the Government of Georgia under the Open Government Partnership Action Plan to increase efficiency and allow local governments to use granting mechanism” - said Dominika Skubida.  The first part of the event was dedicated to present the major findings of the monitoring conducted by both organizations. More specifically, some of the crucial aspects have been emphasized: how clearly the particular details related to grant issuance are defined beforehand and to what extent the state agencies fulfill their commitments, considering each stage of providing grants; as well as the experience of granted CSOs in terms of administering state funds. It is worth mentioning that neither monitoring, nor the reports intend to evaluate the quality of the grant projects or its’ content. The legal environment related to the state grant funding was reviewed during the second part of the event. Levan Paniashili, the representative of Civil Society Institute, talked about CSOs’ State Grant Funding Reform Concept, elaborated by CSI expert team. One of the primary aspects he mentioned were the challenges, which reveal the importance and the need of mentioned reform. Moreover, the speaker analyzed current situation in regard to the reform concept and shared the key findings and recommendations of the document, along with its reflection in the legislation. The representatives of the public institutions, media, local CSOs and international organizations attended the presentation. They had an opportunity to address speakers with questions and get involved in the follow up discussions, after the presentations. In addition, the call for applications for the second cycle of the sub-granting competition on the State Grant Funding Monitoring was announced. The participants were able to receive detailed information about the term and conditions.  Project “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 Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Project aims to improve working environment for CSOs in Georgia, to support their capacity building, accountability and transparency and to strengthen their ties and cooperation with other actors.

Tbilisi. On September 17th and 19th, results of the new CRRC-NDI survey were released. The survey was conducted in July 2019 and 2,131 adult people were surveyed all around Georgia (excluding occupied territories).  Read more… Source: crrc.ge

Tbilisi. The “Open Society Georgia Foundation” has published individual portfolios of candidates for judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia today. The portfolios offer profiles of twenty candidates selected/nominated by the High Council of Justice as a result of verbal interviews with judicial candidates, combine facts obtained from public sources and contain less appraisals. Read more… Source: The website of the organization

The web portal www.CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person.  Newsletter...

Tbilisi. ”No to Phobia!” platform member organizations release a statement concerning expressions used in regard to the Batumi Mosque.  “We call on government representatives and public officials to refrain from making statements of xenophobic and discriminatory character and to adhere to the principles of freedom of religion, rule of law and equality, guaranteed by the Constitution”, - is noted in the statement released by “No to Phobia!” platform member organizations.  Read more… Source: www.humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. “Article 42 of the Constitution” calls on the judicial authority to publicize decisions (judgments) of candidates for members of the Supreme Court. “On the background of the ruling team announcing establishment of “unprecedentedly transparent and open procedures” for selecting judges of the Supreme Court and, besides, making statements that the parliamentary majority would “monitor those candidates under a microscope”, all these procedures are devoid of real substance without studying professional experience of the candidates. Decisions made by judges are the best indicators of their competence and conscientiousness”, - is noted in the statement released by the organization, - “Respectively, we call on the judicial authority to publicize previously made decisions of candidates for judges and make them available for both the Parliament and general public within the shortest possible time”. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. EU is inviting civil society organizations to two consultation events on 17 September at Republic Events Hall. “Eastern Partnership celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year and as 2020 is approaching it’s important to look at its achievements, challenges and reflect on its future strategic direction”, - Is mentioned in the information of EU. First consultation meeting on future of the EaP will start at 10:00. In case you are interested please complete the online registration form by 13 September 2019 here: https://www.eap-events.eu/eap-future Second consultation meeting on the implementation of Association Agreement and EU’s roadmap for engagement to civil society will start at 14:00. For registration please contact Natia Antelava (natia.antelava@eeas.europa.eu) by providing the name and contact details of the participants by 13 September. Read more…  Source: The page of the organization

The web portal www.CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person.  Newsletter...

Tbilisi. Part of Georgian Civil Society Organization’s address to the International Community. “We, the undersigned representatives of the civil society organizations of Georgia would like to address the friends of Georgia and share with you our concerns with regards to the quality of democracy, media and political freedoms, corruption and eventual state capture that we are facing today”, - is mentioned in the statement, - “We wanted to request your continued interest and engagement with Georgian affairs, with the aim to pressure the leadership of the country to bring about the democratic change which would be consistent with Georgia’s declared goal of joining European Union and NATO”. Read more… Source: www.gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) appraises a government program presented by the new Prime Minister of Georgia to the parliament of the country. “The text of the program, among others, does not respond to the deep crisis revealed in the country within recent months that is connected with democratic functioning of state institutions and the political system. In these circumstances, the government program is more technical in its meaning and cannot carry the real essence of rational political review and parliamentary control in this process”, - is stated in the appraisal.  Read more… Source: The website of the organization

The web portal of civil society organizations - www.csogeorgia.org – conveys feelings of gratitude to its users and says them goodbye just for a month. The portal will resume the activities in September. Stay in touch with us, we will be back soon…

The web portal www.CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person. Newsletter...

Tbilisi. Public Defender informed provided information on the criminal case of abuse of power by the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on June 20-21 to the Advisory Council.  "The joint recommendation of the Public Defender and the Council is to focus on the study of the overall situation: how the police used the force; whether the force used by police was in compliance with the instructions and legislative regulations in Georgia; how the operation was planned; who issued orders and who was responsible for the execution of the orders. These are the main issues and the investigation should focus on the abuse of power by individual police officers only after studying all this,"- the Public Defender told journalists.  Read more…  Source: The web-page of the organization

The web portal www.CsoGeorgia.org releases a weekly newsletter of grants competition, contests, vacancies, fellowships and tenders for civil society organizations and for any interested person. Newsletter...