Samegrelo. There will be issued 79 grants, at least 5000 representatives of civil society throughout entire Georgia will benefit from them – this is a small list of activities of a new large-scale project of the European Union, which was presented on May 24 in Zugdidi. The purpose of the "Civil Society Development Initiative" project is to improve civil society environment, strengthen civil society organizations and increase their accountability towards citizens. The event was attended by representatives of public, i.e. non-governmental organizations of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, persons interested in the subject issue.

The project is funded by the European Union and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation of Germany. The project is implemented by a Consortium (Civil Society Institute - #CSI, Center for Training and Consultancy - #CTC, Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia - #CSRDG, Kutaisi Education Development and Employment Center - #KEDEC) under the supervision of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

In Zugdidi, the ceremony of signing a Declaration on basic principles of civil society organizations was held On May 24 for representatives of civil society organizations of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti.

Gia Khasia, the Head of the Association "Atinati”, noted at the meeting that the sector needs the Declaration on basic principles in order to let the society know who they are and what they use as a guidance.

Please, be reminded that #16 principle has already been shared and signed by organizations operating in Imereti, Shida Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kakheti. 160 organizations have already joined it.