The Women Fund “Sukhumi” starts the project “IDP Women and Girls – Actors of the Needs-Oriented Local Policy Development in Kutaisi” in Kutaisi Municipality. The first information meeting - presentation of the new project was held online. It was attended by the representatives of the USAID Local Government Program, Kutaisi local self-government and the civil sector, as well as partners and beneficiaries.
Representatives of Kutaisi local self-government expressed their readiness to actively cooperate within the framework of the project.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Online conference of the Fund “Sukhumi”: "Local Cooperation for Advocacy of Community Needs in Zugdidi Municipality - with participation of members of the Women Peace Coalition, IDPs and conflict - affected women and girls" was held.
The conference was attended by representatives of the civil sector, municipalities, international organizations, the legislature and the central government.
The meeting evaluated the successful practices and challenges in terms of local cooperation in responding to the needs of citizens. Municipal officials announced their official position on advocacy issues initiated by Women Initiative Groups. They noted that the dialogue initiated with participation of citizens is a precondition for more accountability and responsibility of local authorities.
Village Ingiri (Zugdidi Municipality). There is a kindergarten "Tsitelkuda" in the compact settlement of IDPs from Abkhazia, where IDPs and local children study.
The kindergarten has been operating since 1997, with a rent in a non-standard two-storey building and does not meet the needs of IDPs and conflict-affected families in terms of access to preschool services.
The advocacy group collected signatures and submitted a letter to the City Hall requesting the adequate infrastructure for children of 150 families. The group members attended the budget discussion and received feedback from City Hall on the issue raised by them.
In parallel, the advocacy group has created an informal space where kindergarten teachers and psychologists meet parents and hold interesting discussions about the educational process.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
A member of the Women Peace Coalition - Association "Mercury" (Zugdidi) is actively involved in the advocacy campaign of the Fund "Sukhumi". Using years of experience in assisting victims of domestic violence, the organization advocates for the improvement of the provision of services to victims of domestic violence in the municipal budget.
Zugdidi Municipality is one of the first to introduce assistance programs to victims of violence. During the discussion of the 2022 budget, this issue was also discussed with the qualified non-governmental sector. Members of the advocacy group continue to consult with the financial, legal services.
In case of appropriate support, Zugdidi Municipality will introduce another innovation - the use of outsourcing method to provide qualified services to victims
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
In frames of the Fund “Sukhumi” advocacy campaign, the activists are trying to address the needs of IDP families and the local community in 7 Baramia Street, Zugdidi: Citizens using municipal transport are not provided with bus stops, which causes inconvenience for women (who take care of the family - shopping for the family, going to the pharmacy, carrying children to school, etc.), schoolchildren, people with disabilities, the elderly.
A meeting was held with the Mayor, a representative of the MP Bureau, at the Infrastructure Service. Signatures were collected and the relevant letter was submitted to the City Hall.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
In frames of the advocacy campaign, it is important to work with a long-term prospect in support of IDP youth and conflict victims. In school No. 12 of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic (in Zugdidi), in cooperation with the administration, the staff and the pupils, there was a willingness to arrange a youth space on the basis of the school so that teenagers could hold interesting meetings, discussions in an informal emviroment and think about the development of entrepreneurial skills.
Within the framework of the project, under the leadership of the activist of the Fund "Sukhumi" Mariam Narmania, meetings were held on the topics: "Ecology and climate change", "Women's rights". Young people were actively involved and had interesting discussions on various issues.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
On October 15-25, a series of meetings were held with members of the Women Peace Coalition and other groups, interested in the project of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the Women Peace Coalition.
The next phase of the project envisages advocacy campaigns in Zugdidi Municipality on the issues identified by the Fund "Sukhumi" in terms of the needs of IDPs and conflict affected women and girls.
The participants of the meetings presented ideas, after prioritizing of which the advocacy plans will be developed and advocacy campaigns will be launched.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
The first stage of the " Online – Vote- O- Meter – Voters’ Advice Application" for the 2021 local self-government elections in Zugdidi Municipality has been completed.
According to the answers given in the application, 8️3% of the population believe that in Zugdidi Municipality there is a need to improve e-services and increase the population's access to local e-programs and services. The same number consider that, it is necessary to assess the infrastructural, technical and human resource needs of outpatient clinics in the villages and ensure their proper functioning. 8️0️% mentions that local self-government should be involved in the process of preventing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. 7️8% think that women should be proportionally involved in management and decision-making positions in local municipality.
Zugdidi voters still have the opportunity to find out which party is closest to their views and to make an informed choice in the second round as well.
Please see the application at: http://onlinemricxveli.ge/vote/voting/2021-2/
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
For the local self-government elections in Zugdidi Municipality, the Fund „Sukhumi” introduced a model that is successful in Europe - an online “ Vote- O- Meter” – Voters’ Advice Application to inform the voters in pre- election period.
Tbilisi Representative Office of the Fund "Sukhumi" actively cooperates with political parties. The following political entities took part in filling out the application: "Shalva Natelashvili - Georgian Labor Party", "Girchi - More Freedom", "Lelo for Georgia", "Giorgi Vashadze - Strategy Aghmashenebeli", "European Georgia ", GP "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia ","United National Movement".
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
