Supporting civil society and empowering refugee voices in Georgia (2)
Democracy and Rule of Law
8VS1-VM-GE-VOORUD
Timeframe
01.04.2024-31.12.2024
Aktiivne
Target group
Gruusia kodanikud ja sisepõgenikud
Budget
46 153 EUR
Funders
- ESTDEV
Partners
Project objectives
The goal of this continuation project is to empower Georgia internally displaced people and refugees living in Georgia to solve their problems systemically and through civic action, all the while improving their representation and involvement and societal attitudes towards forced displacement.
Actions and results
- The voices of refugees living in Georgia and Georgia's own internally displaced people (IDPs) are heard, their concerns clearly expressed and systematically addressed.
- Preparatory activities. Conclusion of a cooperation agreement with the local partner, agreement on the work plan, conclusion of working arrangements, conclusion of contracts with experts. Planning the first visit.
- Election of members of the councils. Each council will have up to 20 members, and the follow-up project will organise new elections to ensure the openness of the councils and the democratic process. Existing members will also be able to stand for re-election and continue as members of the Councils. To be elected, a person's motivation to take part in the debates is important, as are letters of recommendation from other community members. The councillors elect a chairman/woman and vice-chairmen/women from among themselves. Membership is voluntary and is therefore a sustainable way of promoting local democracy and giving a voice to vulnerable communities.
- Meetings of the councils and outings. The advisors meet once a month (9 times in total for each advisory council during the project period) to discuss issues of importance to the communities and to make proposals to local authorities, public authorities, organisations; the advisors may also make joint trips to organisations, representatives of local authorities, public authorities, embassies to discuss concerns and proposals for solutions directly. They may also set up smaller thematic working groups on specific topics. Meetings of the advisory councils are facilitated by an expert with the relevant expertise; all meetings are minuted. The two councils will also meet each other and will have small budgets at their disposal to invite speakers, organise community events, solve minor community problems (so-called local initiatives, see below for more details) and cover the costs of council meetings and trips.
- Initiatives/small projects launched by councils. The councils will be given a budget (1000 EUR) to tackle problems that have emerged from the communities and council meetings, with practical and immediate solutions. Initiatives may be targeted at refugee communities themselves or at local authorities (e.g. translation of some information material into another language, training of local authorities on a specific issue, improvement of the living environment, e.g. through the construction of a library or a bus shelter, etc.). Initiatives will be carried out, where possible, in partnership with local authorities (possibly with their co-financing). The budget for the initiatives gives the councils the opportunity to carry out concrete actions and changes in a participatory way, thereby also setting an example to municipalities and public authorities.
- Evaluating results, reporting. At the end of the project, a final report will be compiled, the results of the project will be analysed and the results will be communicated to partners and the public.
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