On March 24, 2016 participants of the competition, announced by Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and the ltd. DEVEL, were awarded.

The competition “Innovations and Technologies – Strengthening Civil Society Engagement” was announced by the initiative of DEVEL and support of IDFI. The competition was intended to embrace the ideas that aimed at improving the standard of living with the use of modern technologies, would assist the government in fulfilling its obligations/activities and grow the sense of responsibility in regular citizens.

Three ideas were named winner. The first place was held by the project “ARGE – Online platform of volunteers” suggested by the ltd “Balbs”. The representatives of the “Balbs” – Davit Gogolashvili and Alexander Tkeshelashvili were awarded with 1,000 GEL. “ARGE – Online platform of volunteers” intends to create a web-platform, where the initiators of volunteer activities will be able to voice their ideas. On the other hand, the individuals registered on the platform and indicate about their interests of volunteering, will receive information and join an initiative interesting and relevant to them.

Award for holding 2nd place – 700 GEL was delivered Ioseb Iordanashvili. Ioseb intends to create an online platform to showcase problems (infrastructural, cleaning, information about vulnerable people, etc.) of the regions/cities/villages of Georgia. Problems will be marked on the map of Georgia. Any individual will be able to use the platform and voice their problems to the governmental structures or private companies.

Third place winner Ana Mosiashvili was awarded with 500 GEL. Ana has an idea to create a smartphone application “Budget Map”. The application will be attached to the Google Maps technical base and will assist interested individuals in obtaining the information about budgets of the municipalities. Information on the application will be broken down in categories, such as: how much is spent on wages, social programs, infrastructural programs, etc. The application will also provide a brief description of the programs financed by the budget and s/he will be able to comment or post a photo about the problems detected in the carried out project.

The competition “Innovations and Technologies – Strengthening Civil Society Engagement” initiated by the ltd. DEVEL was finished by the award ceremony. IDFI and ltd. DEVEL are ready to assist the winners of the competition, during the implementation process of their ideas, within their resources and capabilities.