An interesting meeting was organized by Kutaisi Women Initiative Group in the library No. 17. The meeting aimed to cooperate with local authorities to advocate problems.

The head of the Infrastructure Development Service Vladimir Nakashidze and the chief specialist of this Service Levan Batiashvili were invited to the meeting.

The discussion was very active. The participants raised various problems, listened to competent information and got acquainted with the infrastructure programs that are implemented by the local authorities.

On the 18^th July, Fund “Sukhumi” carried out a meeting on sharing information and experience with local self-governments of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The meeting was organized at the meeting room of the Regional Administration in Zugdidi. Local and international organizations took part in the meeting. The first meeting of the same format was carried out in Kutaisi with participation of local self-governments of Imereti region.

Representatives of Fund “Sukhumi” provided participants with the information about the project supported by the Visegrad Foundation. The project aims at advocacy for equal, inclusive and democratic governance at local level with consideration of experiences of the leading countries of Europe.

Participants were interested in the Czech experience in terms of citizens’ inclusion in equal governance at the local level; which “gender markers” are applied for analysis of a socio-demographic picture of the persons’ included in programs; Georgia’s practice on civic participation and results of cooperation between the local government, civil society groups and international organizations. Representative of PIN and UNDP shared successful practice of the projects on social inclusion.

Attendees talked about an effective mechanism – Municipal Gender Equality Councils established to promote democratic governance. Fund “Sukhumi” representatives shared their experience in institutionalization of this mechanism, and the Fund’s expertize applied by the Municipalities.

Materials of the meeting will be useful for the fulfilment of the project goals and objectives, which coincide with the declared principles of the State policy - definition of the main directions of the gender policy of the State and support for the adoption of new concepts; creation of the legislative base in the sphere of gender equality, ensuring gender development and promoting harmonization with international treaties.

The project is implemented with the support  of the Visegrad Fund 

In Kutaisi, Khoni and Tskaltubo there were held meetings of women initiative groups. The groups discussed the plans of advocacy. They received consultations – what steps should they go, whom to address, how to find followers during the work on concrete problems. They jointly worked on deadlines, in what period should be the advocacy process completed.

The members of women initiative groups also scheduled the plan, functions and responsibility of each member. The participants mention that information received during the training helped them to correctly carry out advocacy process.

In Kutaisi fund “Sukhumi” there was held consultative meeting of the leaders of women initiative groups of Khoni, Kutaisi and Tskaltubo. Participants familiarized with their functions, rights and responsibilities, they spoke about future plans. Leaders of the group agreed to present detail plan and schedule of advocacy.

Advocacy plans will be discussed at meetings with the members of initiative groups, which will be held in all tree cities.

In the conference hall of Khoni Sakrebulo there gathered members of women initiative group. The meeting was attended by the representative of relevant service, who evaluated the situation existing round advocacy of the issues regarding (heating system in the central library) and expressed the position of self-government.

As it was mentioned the issue is in the local agenda, but the actuality of the case grows because of activeness of the society.

During the meeting there were planned following phases of advocacy, among which the most important is participation in discussion of the local budget. It gives possibility to envisage desired issues in the programs of the next year.

The Women's Initiative Group gathered in Kutaisi. Participants of the meeting listened with interest to information about the work of the Women's Initiative Group of Tskaltubo and Khoni.

According to the members of the group, the population does not know whom to address, how to solve different problems, does not have information about local programs. envisaging all this, the Initiative Group assists local groups to reduce the risks that are associated with human security.

The meeting of the Women's Initiative Group took place in the main library of Khoni. Representatives of different spectrum of society attended the meeting. Representatives of the Board of Khoni Municipality were invited to the meeting: the head of the infrastructure department Makvala yui96htadze and the head of the social service Leila Kintsurashvili.

Participants listened to information about what programs exist in the municipality, what works were done and what is planned.

The meeting with representatives of local self-government aimed to inform the population.

On January 20, Women's Initiative Group of Khoni gathered for the first time in 2017. The leader of the group while summing up the past year, spoke about the positive results of a short-term advocacy, as well as on the progress made in terms of long-term advocacy. According to recent news, the group received an official response from the City Council, about the fact that their demand - to ensure Khoni library with central heating – was taken into account in the priorities of 2017.

With pleasure, it was noted that the system of constructive feedback was introduced from the municipality, and each statement of the group causes a rapid response from any government level.

As a result of the discussions there were identified the main strategic goals and objectives, areas, in which Khoni initiative group is going to work actively. Among them - the environmental, social issues, the solution of which will contribute to women.