Several actual issues were discussed during the meeting of Baghdati working group. The group members decided to present the code of ethics to to City Council meeting for final approval. They also talked about the active updating of the web page - the new version will include an online petition system, access to public information, and the City Council meetings will be broadcasted.
Recently, local civil society organizations received mini-grants in the framework of the Fund “Sukhumi” project. Representatives of these organizations informed the group members about the future work in small projects that will contribute to the introduction of more effective public administration.
The meeting of the working group also considered the recommendations of the third monitoring of the implementation of public administration reform. These recommendations should be reflected in the action plan of the working group.
The results of the third monitoring of the implementation of public administration reform were discussed during the ordinary meeting of Ozurgeti working group. The monitoring was carried out by local civil society organizations - the Center for Education and Equality and the Union of Young Teachers - with the support of Imereti Scientists’ Unions “Spectri”.
Representatives of these organizations familiarized the meeting participants with the positive trends of the three monitoring processes and new challenges.
The meeting was attended by: Chairperson of the City Council David Darchia, representatives of the City Council Administration, mass media and civil society. David Darchia noted that the municipality has completed the process of internet covering and a person can have electronic access to municipal services from any place. It is one of the contributing factors of improving the practice of e-management.
Meeting of the Women Initiative Group was held in the village Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). The meeting discussed the tools of the Gender Responsive Early Warning System, the main stages of its implementation, as well as the components of human security. Emphasis was placed on studying the needs of women and participants were selected to conduct the research (focus groups, in-depth interviews and questionnaires).
On the same day, a similar meeting with a youth initiative group was held in school # 2 of the village Lia (Tsalenjikha municipality). The children also wrote essays on the topic of Abkhazia and sent messages to Abkhazian peers. Three members of this group shared the knowledge gained at the common training of the initiative groups with friends.
The meetings of three initiative groups were held in Zugdidi municipality. One group of women was formed in Zugdidi, and the second united women living in two villages - Koki and Khurcha.
The main topics of the meetings were: meaning of the Gender-Responsive Early warning System, its components and stages of implementation. Participants received detailed information about the research. The aim of the research is to study the interests of women from different vulnerable groups.
The third initiative group includes only young people. The group was created in the schools of the village Koki. The activity of the students is special. The members of this group, who passed training organized by the Fund "Sukhumi", shared with their peers the knowledge they gained about the Gender Responsive Early Warning System.
The project of the Fund “Sukhumi” - "Strengthening the Women's Rights in Western Georgia" is focused on the following issues: - protecting women's rights, strengthening the families, preventing domestic violence and supporting victims, responding to gender problems through cooperation with local governments.
Project presentations have been already held in Terjola, Senaki and Bagdati municipalities. The meetings were attended by representatives of local governments, civil activists. The prospects of responding to the problem of domestic violence and cooperation were highlighted.
The representatives of the municipalities underlined that prevention of domestic violence is the sphere of their interest and they are ready to cooperate with the Fund "Sukhumi".
- What does early conflict prevention mean, how to react according to the components of human security, what kind of dangers do the young people feel - these and other questions, using thematic exercises, were discussed with Senaki youth group.
According to young participants, low level of education, the problem of employment, the migration of women, and the social background is dangerous. In their opinion, every person perceives danger differently, and the response mechanism should also be appropriate.
The second meeting was also devoted to this topic - with members of the women initiative group: what is the early conflicts prevention system and how important is its application in a gender prism. Group members will take part in the research - they learned about the techniques and skills of conducting focus groups and in-depth interviews.
Meetings of Women Iitiative Groups and youth were held in Kutaisi on the topic “Gender-Responsive Early Warning System ”. At the beginning of the meeting, the participants of the general training of initiative groups spoke about this system as the best way to avoid conflict (groups were also created in Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, and 2-3 members from each group participated in the training).
Through the presentations, the participants of the meetings got acquainted with the main stages of the early warning system and response to them, with the essence of human security and other important issues.
At the end of the meetings, it was noted that, Kutaisi initiative group together with the initiative groups of other municipalities, will conduct a research of the population human security and gender needs.
Vani working group has a lot of work, and this was obvious during City Council meetings. IT specialist presented information about updating the official web page - the functions of requesting public information and online petitions, a mechanism for citizens' participation "Plan the budget" will be added. Online broadcasting of City Council meetings and other technical changes are planned. The meeting also reviewed the code of ethics developed for City Council members and the results of the third monitoring conducted by representatives of partner civil society organizations.
Part of the recommendations identified in the framework of two monitoring have already been implemented. Recommendations of the third monitoring will be also reflected in the action plan of the working group. Their implementation will add more transparency and efficiency to the work of local self-government.
The training on elaboration of grant applications and projects was held in Batumi for the representatives of civil society organizations from eight municipalities.
The second grant competition is currently underway according to the project. The training was devoted to the consideration and adjustment of projects that will be submitted to the competition. The work was quite fruitful, as together with the theoretical part, the training format also envisaged the active involvement of the participants. All organizations were able to correct and improve their project applications.
The project is implemented with the support the European Union - #EU4Georgia
