The meeting of Bagdati working group was devoted to the consideration of a working version of the anti-corruption regulation. This document was created in the framework of a small project of the partner organization "Civic Spectrum - Equality". The regulation is quite massive and meaningful. The anti-corruption vision is given in eight directions in it. In the process of approving the anti-corruption regulation, Bagdati working group is considered as a lobbyist. Based on this, the stages the document should go through was agreed in order to approve it in September.
The project is implemented with the support the European Union - #EU4Georgia
It all started like this:
Our partner civil society organizations created a youth initiative group In Bagdati municipality in frames of a small project. With the support of the Fund "Sukhumi", this group was formed into a non-governmental organization and became known as "Solidarity - XXI".
Then the new organization independently took part in the grant competition, and the commission approved their small project “Know your rights for a better future”.
Young people started the activities of the project: informing of mothers with many children, single parents and youth, regarding the issues of public administration reform.
The results of the three-month project (May 10 - August 10) are following: the youth participating in the information meetings actively disseminate information in their communities. The level of use of e-services of local self-government has increased.
The project is implemented with the support the European Union - #EU4Georgia
Dachi is a smart and businesslike person. He was born this year, in early April. He often "works" with his mother. He helped her even before he was born. So, the residents of Bagdati should be grateful to Dachi for the preparation of serious documents.
If anyone thinks that this is a joke, I cannot agree. Because Dachi actually works with her mom. Dachi's mom is a young, beautiful and clever woman. She graduated from school in the village Dimi, and then graduated from the Faculty of Law and the Master's program of Tbilisi State University.
When the implementation of our project started in Bagdati, City Council members were invited to the working group. Guram Kiknavelidze, the chairman of the commission on financial - budgetary issues, was elected as the chairperson of the group. The second member is Gvantsa Grdzelidze, chairman of the legal and procedural commission. In short, both are necessary people, now the group has its own financial and legal lobbyists. That is why, Bagdati working group is distinguished by its activity and is successfully implementing the Public Administration Reform.
Members of the Bagdati working group, representatives of local self-government and civil society organizations, as well as experts from the municipalities of Tskaltubo and Khoni participated in the debates, which was held online.
Local partner organizations spoke about the results of their small projects, presented a needs research, carried out in Bagdati municipality.
During the debates, special attention was paid to the discussion of the experience of Tskaltubo Municipality in terms of civil budgeting. The topic of the e-petition was also important for the participants. The web page has this function, but it has not been used until now. Khoni practice showed how this issue can become relevant for the population.
Ordinary working meeting in Bagdati was devoted to the results of the research conducted by the CSO member organization "Equality Now" and also to the recommendations that will be prepared during the analysis of the research.
The research reflected the womens needs and its recommendations should be reflected in the Gender Equality Action Plan.
The head of the partner CSO “Civic Spectrum-Equality”, presented a working version of the anti-corruption regulation. Bagdati working group is considered a lobbyist in the process of approving the regulation.
“Equality Now” and “Civic Spectrum – Equality” were two local civil society organizations that assessed the needs of the population in Bagdati Municipality. In order to obtain more extensive information, various forms of research were used: questionnaires, individual interviews and focus groups. Representatives of the organizations included in the research examined and assessed the effectiveness, transparency and inclusiveness of the services provided by Bagdati local self - government to the citizens of the municipality.
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”.
A roundtable discussion was held in Bagdati with participation of the representatives of local self-government and civil society. During the meeting, a presentation was made on Bagdati working group, its activities and results. The report on the needs assessment and recommendations of the population in the process of public administration reform in the municipality has aroused great interest. Participants also learned about the work of civil society organizations registered in Bagdati in direction of informing the local population about public administration reform.
Interesting accents were placed on the round table, especially regarding the barriers that hinder the use of electronic services. According to the participants, this is related to the low level of awareness and the problem of internet providing. Special attention should be paid to these issues.
The members of Bagdati working group discussed the problems identified during the first local needs research and how to reflect these issues in the working group plan. Recommendations that need to be implemented were highlighted and prioritized. During the meeting of the working group, they also talked about the process of updating the website of the municipality, and got acquainted with the recommendations of the third monitoring of the implementation of the public administration reform. It was planned to approve the updated action plan at the next meeting, where all issues will be envisaged.
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”.
The Fund "Sukhumi" has 10 Women Support Centers in Terjola, Vani, Tkibuli, Bagdati, Chokhatauri, Samtredia, Kobuleti, Zugdidi, Senaki, Tsalenjikha municipalities. A two-day workshop was held for the updated staff of mobilizers. All discussed topics were necessary and relevant: selecting target groups, working with the audience, identifying problems, filling in a victim questionnaire and responding to it, conducting advocacy campaign, legal mechanisms for victim support, working with local governments, municipal programs and state services for violence prevention and victim assistance, informing, self-presentation, facilitation and moderation.
“The work of the mobilizer seemed difficult to me, but now I already know how to go step by step. The workshop showed me the sequence of the process”, mentioned one of the mobilizers at the end of the workshop.
City Council of Bagdati municipality approved the code of ethics and rules of behavior for public officials.
The document was drafted by the chairman of the legal and procedural committee, who is a member of the working group, established in frames of the project. Before the presentation at City Council meeting, the document passed all the procedures, it was posted on the website of the municipality and everyone had the opportunity to familiarize with it. As a result of lobbying from the side of working group members, the document was approved.
On the one hand, the code defines a common standard of ethics and behavior for public officials based on general principles (fairness, responsibility, professionalism, efficiency, objectivity, political neutrality, informing the population about the powers they have in communication with public officials) and, on the other hand, together with protecting the interests of public officials, the decree serves to raise trust towards local government and public service.