“New visions in the process of public administration reform for the introduction of population needs assessment” - a round table on this topic was held in Vani. Representatives of local self-government and civil sector were actively involved in the meeting. The participants were provided with information on population’s needs assessment and developed the recommendations. They got acquainted with the work of civil society organizations registered in Vani in terms of informing the population about public administration reform. There was also a presentation of Vani working group, its structure and results.
The meeting was held on the background of active discussions. The participants mentioned the reasons that hinder the use of e-services. This is mainly a low information level and lack of proper skills.
The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
It was a round table - presentation on the topic "E-petition in Khoni municipality". The meeting, held in the City Council of Khoni, was attended by 28 participants: representatives of local government and civil sector. Participants were provided with information on the results of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
One of the successful results of the project is the creation and implementation of an electronic petition system. The speakers talked about the information campaign carried out in 12 administrative units of Khoni municipality, as well as about the e-petitions presented on behalf of the communities and the process of challenging the petitions by the local government.
The Forum of civil society organizations was held in Kutaisi.
The meeting was attended by 16 civil society organizations registered in Khoni, Vani, terjola, Bagdati, Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti, Tsageri and Ambrolauri municipalities.
During the meeting, a small analysis of the results of the second needs assessment research was made according to the municipalities.
The results of the second local needs research were analyzed according the municipalities. A comparison was made with the previous research, to see what dynamics are observed at this stage, what results are obtained and what challenges remain.
It was underlined that information level among the population about public administration reform has increased in all municipalities, accordingly the statistics on the use of e-services has also increased. Working groups set up in 8 municipalities make a great contribution to all this.
The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
Terjola working group has achieved number of successes. At the beginning of the project, a lot was done, and mainly these activities were underlined during the round table. The meeting was attended by representatives of the City Hall and the City Council, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers.
The participants of the meeting saw well what the working group has done over the last period. Talked about the second local needs research, which has been finished and will soon receive the form of publication. There was also a presentation of local civil society organizations and it was noted that they were especially activated within the framework of the project.
Particular attention was paid to the issue of civil budgeting - now the document is in the process of development, it will soon be posted on the web page and citizens will have the opportunity to record their ideas and project applications on this platform.
Despite the nihilistic attitude towards the elections, the meeting participants expressed great interest to the initiative of the Fund "Sukhumi". The initiative is unusual and original - this is an online platform for elections to local self-government in Zugdidi, which will provide the voter with will give the voter information about the positions of political actors and other issues.
Members of the women initiative group started meetings with voters in different communities of Zugdidi municipality. They introduced the meeting participants to the online platform. The first meetings were held on June 24-29 in the building of the Kakhati tea factory, the IDP settlement, in the community center of Khurcha and individually with the rural population. The meetings, envisaging the pandemic mode, were held in small groups.
Abrupt refusal to fund higher education tuition fee for students from Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities, living in villages along the conflict dividing line caused numerous socio-economic problems for them and their families. The recent emergency report of Fund “Sukhumi” highlights the main challenges caused by the cancellation of the “students grant” on the population, as well as provides specific recommendations to reduce the negative impacts.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On June 27-29, a training on “Gender Sensitive Local Social Policy” was held in Borjomi.
The training was attended by representatives of 10 municipalities of Western Georgia (Senaki, Zugdidi, Terjola, Tsalenjikha, Kobuleti, Samtredia, Vani, Bagdati, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri). The following issues were discussed: violence against women and domestic violence, as well as gender policy and local gender needs. Practical work – elaboration of model action plan and their presentation was carried out.
On the last day, representatives of Zugdidi, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Bagdati municipalities exchanged the best practices, experience, innovative programs in social directions, as well as in the field of health care, violence prevention and victims assistance.
My expectations were justified, I received a lot of new information, I wish such events in the future also...- this is how the members of Kutaisi youth initiative group expressed their opinions at the end of the training. On June 10, a training on “Analysis of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict” was held for the group.
On June 18, a meeting of Kutaisi Women Initiative Group was held, during which the participants listened to the results of a quantitative research of assessing the level of human security and gender needs. They chose a problematic issue from the recommendation proposals and will begin to work on advocating it. Plans have already been outlined and the members of the group are ready to get involved in the advocacy process.
The Fund “Sukhumi” actively cooperates with the partner international organization Kvinna till Kvinna to advocate the needs of IDP and conflict affected women and girls.
Project Coordinator Regina welcomes the advocacy initiatives of the Fund, which is identified on a bottom-up basis by women community active groups themselves, using the GREWS, and evidence-based information.
The initiative of the representative of the donor organization to be involved in international advocacy was good.
According her request, a package on the needs of IDP and conflict affected women and girls was prepared, which was based on the meetings in women's communities, research of the Fund in Zugdidi Municipality, and covers women’s vision regarding the measures needed to address them.
The preparation phase of the new component of the project, which envisages the introduction of the online platform "Voter Advice Application" (VAA) to Zugdidi voters, has been completed. The project team will clarify the final details of future activities during the consultations.
A questionnaire, which should be placed on the platform was prepared and agreed with the consultant. The location of the meetings, the target groups was defined, the specifics of the meetings during pandemic restrictions are envisaged.
The Fund “Sukhumi” has gained good experience in introducing similar platform during the parliamentary elections, which will help us in the implementation of the project.
A totally 50 meetings will be held within the framework of the project. The first meetings are scheduled for the end of June. Consultations with political parties will soon begin in order to familiarize them with the platform.