Women Initiative Groups (112)
Women Initiative Group is a group of women, created in 2016 to prevent crisis and conflict situations, to advocate and solve local social problems related to the human security of women. The groups are established in Khoni, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality).
“Gender Responsive Early Warning System” - why this direction was chosen, what is the main goal, what did the project and cooperation with the Swedish Women's Fund Kvinna Till Kvinna give, what is the main achievement, how effective is the work with Abkhazian partners, what are the main difficulties in working process, what is the direction for further work.
These issues, were discussed at an evaluation workshop, which was held in an online format on the initiative of the donor organization on December 14-15. On the first day, the Georgian and Abkhazian groups separately assessed their work, on the second day, a joint meeting was held with the exchange of information, an assessment of what has been achieved and an emphasis on future prospects.
Women initiative groups of the Fund "Sukhumi" are actively working on problems that are urgent in the villages near the conflict line. During the period of Covid pandemic, new problems have arisen, some of them are individual and some of them general. Women activists discuss, analyze how to solve these problems, how to continue the advocacy process. The work of the Women Initiative Groups continues through cooperation with local governments until the problems are completely resolved.
Women initiative groups continue the meetings in the villages near the conflict dividing line and discuss the problems of communities, which have been especially aggravated by the covid pandemic.
Fear of a pandemic, psychological needs, job loss, inaccessibility of medicines, lack of transport and restrictions on movement - this is a list of priority problems that are outlined in terms of advocacy for Women Initiative Groups. Advocacy will be continued together with local governments.
On the initiative of the Fund "Sukhumi", training was held on the topic "Gender Responsive Early Warning System for conflict." The training was attended by representatives of local governments of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities, members of the Gender Equality Councils, journalists, members of the Women Initiative Groups of the Fund "Sukhumi", women leaders of various communities.
The participants heard the information about the meaning and importance of introducing an early warning system for conflicts in local governments.
- What problems are especially urgent in the communities, how to respond to these problems, who is responsible in the advocacy process - practical work on these issues, was continued in different groups.
According to the participants, the training gave an opportunity for local government representatives and community activists to jointly discuss ways of problems’ solution.
A rapid assessment on “Responding to the challenges caused by the post-Covid virus and studying the level of gender sensitivity” was completed. The survey was conducted in 11 municipalities, 580 people took part in the survey. 52 people were interviewed using the focus group method. The survey included beneficiaries living in Abkhazia. As a result of the analysis of the survey, it will be revealed, what is the impact of the covid pandemic on women, how their lives have changed, what are the challenges and what support they need.
“Responding to the challenges caused by the post-Covid virus and studying the level of gender sensitivity” - the Fund “Sukhumi” is conducting a quick survey on this issue.
Up to 500 people have already been interviewed using questionnaires and focus groups in the target municipalities. Among the beneficiaries there are also people who live in Abkhazia. The survey process will be completed at the end of October, and an analysis will be prepared based on the received data - this will give possibility, to identify the problems and needs caused by the Covid pandemic in a gender perspective.
Since September, the Fund “Sukhumi” group begins a rapid research on the issue of “Responding to the problems caused by the post-Covid virus and studying the level of gender sensitivity”. The process will include the target locations of the Fund "Sukhumi", 11 municipalities: Kutaisi, Tskalutbo, Terjola, Khoni, Senaki, Poti, Kobuleti, Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha. Including villages on the conflict dividing line - both on the Georgian and Abkhazian sides.
Questionnaire survey and focus - group format will be used as rhe research methods. An online meeting was held with the persons involved in the research. The participants received consultations to arrange everything, taking into account the necessary regulations.
Women's initiative groups of the Fund "Sukhumi" are actively working in direction of problem advocacy. Meetings with population identify community needs and action to address particularly pressing issues begin.
The moderator of the Fund "Sukhumi" held meetings in the communities of Pakhulani and Tskoushi (Tsalenjikha municipality) - the population was actively involved in the process of identifying and advocating problems.
- What problems are important for the population, how possible is their solution at the local level, what is the significance and results of citizens' inclusion - these issues were discussed during a meeting held by the Women's Initiative Group in Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality).
The attitude of the population is as follows: we need to talk about the problems that worry us, it is necessary to attract the attention of those who can solve these problems. Inclusion of population and activism always have positive results.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
Women initiative groups of the Fund "Sukhumi" discuss the problems that disrupt normal life in their communities and contribute to conflict situations. The focus is made on priority issues, and the list also includes long-term problems. According to the participants of the meeting, held in Orsantia community (Zugdidi municipality), there is no need to wait for solutions “from above”, their activity will speed up the advocacy process at the local level and help in the regulation of problems.