Projects

Project title: Overcoming disinformation and nostalgia surrounding Stalin: A new identity for the city of Gori - Stage 2

Supported by: Georgian Information Integrity Program(GIIP) / USAID

Budget: GEL 47,310

Duration: 02.05.2022 -  26.07.2022

Disinformation narratives that are primarily based on the sentiments and nostalgia towards Stalin in Shida Kartli have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to play a key role in the region's identity and self-identification. Due to the constant instrumentalization of Stalin's legacy, the region is still nurtured by the myths surrounding Stalin.

Considering the above-mentioned issue,  it is important to contribute to the de-escalation of the deepening nostalgia towards Stalin and Soviet times and to intervene in passing on these views to future generations without any critical approach. The identity of Gori being this intertwined with Stalin’s figure (both internal and external perceptions) does not allow the citizens to imagine a different positioning of their region or alternative means of developing its tourism potential. The project’s approach is to not only deliver the idea to the local population but more importantly, to incorporate them, as the main audience of the project, in creating and upholding this renewed narrative.

As an outcome, an alternative visual platform will be created. Hence, the project will highlight hitherto unknown people, locations, places of memory of trauma and triumph, and important moments in the (pre-Soviet or independent to Soviet regime) history of the city. While creating and promoting the materials, the local youth and vulnerable groups (e.g.IDP people) will be engaged and informed on the development of the project making their city’s historical identity relevant for them. As a result, the local stories, merits, narratives of trauma, and victories become important driving forces and the central element of social identity in the center of Shida Kartli.

In the second stage of the project, the short stories will be created based on the research materials collected by now. Moreover, the visual materials will be incorporated into the short infographic videos based on the stories and archival research. The second stage of the project will provide the materials that will then be printed and located around the city, marked with QR codes. The online and physical spaces are meant to popularise the alternative and at times forgotten history of the city/region among the local population and the guests of the city.

The project will also contribute to the generational dialogue, engaging the teachers and students in discussing their city, its unique history, and alternative identity. The “identity map” and corresponding informational banners/items displayed across the town will serve as a starting point for kicking off the dialogue.

The product of the project will be sustainable insofar as the physical map will be disseminated in public and so will be the digital map. The product  ( in a physical form across the city and online format) will be available for the tourist groups, local teachers and interested part of the society at any given moment.

Project Objectives

- Contribute to the greater knowledge of and awareness about the alternative history of Gori / Shida Kartli and replacing the figure of Stalin as an element of pride;

- new identity map and narratives have a long-standing impact on the stories that are told about the region and the locations and items throughout the city become to serve as a starting point for the dialogue about the city’s alternative (from that where Stalin is the central figure)  history;

- Create a new (online and physical) “identity map” based on the city’s history, superseding the figure of Stalin as the most important source of pride;

- Engage locals in re-discovering city’s new identity;

- Highlight hitherto unknown people, locations, places of memory of trauma and triumph, and important moments in the (pre-Soviet or independent to Soviet regime) history of the city.

Project activities:

- Researching the history of Shida Kartli and its inhabitants, important historical events, and places;

- Compose short stories based on historical and sociological research;

- Record the local respondents to be incorporated in the short videos (2 videos);  Production of the Videos and infographics (5 videos);

- Hold meetings/discussions with the local community about the identified stories/places; 

- Create an online host platform (entry on the website);

-  Identifying the relevant locations in the city with the local representatives and researchers;

Contract

Project title: Analysis of Russian Capital in Georgian Business - Stage 2

Supported by: Georgian Information Integrity Program(GIIP) / USAID

Budget: GEL 46,800

Duration: April 18, 2022 – September 1, 2022

In March 2022, IDFI published a study - Russian Capital in Georgian Business: A First Overview of the Communications, Banking and Mineral Water Sectors - which included the above sectors.

In the second phase of the project, IDFI intends to review and publish a new report detailing the work, resources and connections of Georgian companies owned by Russian citizens in the following sectors: electricity, oil and gas.

 The business is often related to socio-political actors and influences on public perceptions. We deem it important to closely investigate such links between political, civil and media actors and business companies owned by the citizens of Russia. This would give us a clear image of funding sources behind some malign political, media and civil actors that actively spread disinformation in the country. For this, IDFI will monitor the donations, lobbying cases and other types of connections between the companies and societal actors in order to map the network of Russian capital and political organizations in Georgia. As a result of the three stage project, IDFI plans to create a map of the Russian capital in Georgia, which will be integrated into the Georgian Disinformation Ecosystem Map.

Project Objectives

-  Investigation of Russian capital in the mentioned sectors of Georgian business and its impact on the political, media and civil sectors;

- Investigating and mapping the Russian capital in Georgian business and its impact on Georgian political, media, and civil actors;

- Revealing the connections between the companies owned by the citizens of Russia and political, civil, and media actors affiliated with the government of the Russian Federation;

- Creating an effective tool and source of verified information for the civil society and research organizations as well as for media outlets that are focused on Russian-Georgian relations, Russian propaganda and disinformation issues;

 -Providing the Government of Georgia with detailed information about the potential and/or existing malign influence of Russian capital on the Georgian political environment;

Project activities:

- In the second phase of the project, gathering information from public agencies, the Internet and other open sources in the following four areas: Electricity, oil and gas.

- Update the company information studied in 2015’s report.

-  Creating an analytical brief/interim report.

Project Activities and Budget  

Contract

Project title: Solidarity Branding - Promoting Entrepreneurs Living in the Shida Kartli Region, Next to the Occupied Territories – Stage 1

Supported by: Georgian Information Integrity Program(GIIP) / USAID 

Grant Number: GIIP-SK-IDFI-002

Budget: GEL 22,465

Duration: 28.03.2022 -  31.05.2022

Entrepreneurs in the Georgian agricultural sphere face common challenges in selling agricultural products: from the natural causes, related to finding markets, storage, and transportation. Citizens of the villages located next to the administrative boundary line (ABL) in Shida Kartli, in addition to these problems, face constant fears of illegal borderization and kidnapping from de-facto police or military forces. Also they feel abandoned by wider Georgian society and their efforts to repel Russian occupation are unsupported and unrecognized.

Some feel it is best to avoid antagonizing Russia – fearing that any actions perceived as anti-Russian may result in further negative consequences. Others feel that partnering with Russia is the best or only way to resolve the current situation. This is of course exploited by Kremlin-backed disinformation, which seeks to reinforce the idea that placating Russia will prevent the situation from worsening their circumstances and promotes a sense of defeatism.

The project aims to make residents living near the ABL more resilient to Russian hostile influence as a result of increasing perceptions of recognition and support from the rest of Georgian society. To do this, the initiative will build a new brand identity that expresses physical and emotional solidarity with people and communities near the administrative boundary line (ABL), as well as promotes products created along the area. This brand will include (a) the creation of solidarity label,' which will be applied to locally produced products and will appeal to citizens living in other parts of the country to support their struggles while protecting Georgian territory; (b) to ensure higher income for the population near ABL, the brand will support increased market access through quality assurance by supporting those citizens in applying for Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) certification (GeoGap standard) to increase their competitive advantage and the potential of entering new markets.

Overall Project Objectives:

- Entrepreneurs living in the Shida Kartli Region, next to the ABL feel supported by the rest of the Georgian population

- Beneficiaries feel the solidarity brand has contributed to the increase in their sales

- Increasing of the competitive advantage and the potential of entering new markets for the farmers living next to the ABL

- In the greater picture, decreased dependence on the Russian market

Stage 1 Activities:

- Meetings with companies and beneficiaries living next to the ABL; Introducing the GeoGap standard to them; Initiating and starting certification process

- Consultations with the larger distributors and market networks

- Creation of 1 interim article/blog based on the findings

Project Budget and Activities

Contract

Project Title:  DRIVE: Digital Research and Impact for Vulnerable E-citizens (in Ukraine and Georgia)

Supported by: e-Governance Academy and Luminate

Grant Amount: EUR 30,107.00

Grant Term: September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2023

Project Summary

In most countries around the world, the last year has caused the employment of digital and technological solutions at unprecedented speed across all sectors. Such rapid developments have led to many challenges. One of them is a fear of the widening gap between the developments and citizens. This unprecedented speed might have even caused a new set of marginalised citizens to emerge. Any innovation should precisely address that: future developments should not only be guided by the technologically feasible but by what is socially desirable and acceptable. Therefore the citizens’ engagement, particularly digital, in the decision-making in the sectors, services and ecosystems that affect their lives is crucial.

This project, DRIVE, wishes to address this – its ultimate vision is that the vulnerable citizen groups in Ukraine and Georgia have a changed quality of life (better) by being digitally engaged in political decision-making (advanced policy development) and services, and having necessary conditions, awareness and skills for that.

Though a large number of different elements can contribute to a changed quality of life and digital engagement, the DRIVE project aims at one: public authorities and CSOs are aware of the digitally vulnerable groups and their needs, and have improved skills to engage these groups and to prevent the digital divide (further). For that, the project targets two specific outcomes: first, public authorities and CSOs are aware of the digitally vulnerable citizens (DVC), and know the needs and gaps in their digital literacy and access (tools and skills), and second, they are able to work together to design smart responses to address the needs and overcome the gaps, and to implement transparent, accountable and participatory e-governance (e.g. a new tools, platform, etc.). These form the key outcomes of the project. In addition, the collaboration between eGovernance Academy (Estonia) and the local partners (Georgia and Ukraine) aims to advance the capacity and aftercare so that the local partners can continue working for the same objectives, able to find necessary funding (joint projects for EU and Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for action proposals, and achieve the ultimate objective for the digitally vulnerable e-citizens.

Project activities include:

Stage 1: Preparatory activities

Stage 2: Hands-on activities to implement selected recommendations

 - Trainings and actions proposals

 - Pilot project or civic engagement/tech initiatives and regional outreach

Project Title: Core Support 

Supported by: Luminate, Global Philanthropic Organization

Grant Amount: USD 200,000

Grant Term: January 13, 2022 – December 31, 2023

The Goals of the Grant are: 

1. IDFI will continue their public spending and good governance watchdog role as well as analytical activities in Georgia.

2. IDFI will ensure systematic monitoring of public procurement, public spending and government programs in Georgia.

Contract

Project Title:  Improving Access of Media to the Public Information

Supported by: Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)

 Grant Amount: USD 14.000

 Grant Term: January 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022

Project Summary

Aim of the project is to improve media’s access to the public information and to promote evidence-based journalism.

In order to achieve this aim, IDFI will be offering full legal support to media and journalists in particular about issues regarding freedom of information. In the process of legal aid there will be identified systemic problems that hinder journalists’ access to public information. Methods of resolving of such systemic problems will be advocated through various methods, including strategic litigations and cooperation with Media Advocacy Coalition (“Mediacoalition”).

The project beneficiaries are media (implying both regional and national, TV, radio and online broadcasters) and individual journalists. During the course of the project journalists will be available to get full and qualified legal aid. In order to achieve project aims IDFI will be cooperating with Mediacoalition during this cooperating there will be identified systemic problems and advocating changes.

During the course of the project there will be implemented specific legal support suited for journalists and “maping” of practical-legal problems that journalists face in accessing public information

Main project activities

-  Granting full legal support to journalists about issues regarding freedom of information (preparing applications, complaints, claims; legal representation);

-  Strategic legal and/or non-legal response to detected systemic problems;

-  Documenting detected problems. Informing civil society, public defender, state bodies and international society.

Project Activities and Budget

Project Title: Support research and public campaign aimed to account needs of vulnerablegroups in Georgian educational system during the COVID-19 pandemic

Donor Organization: Open Society Foundation (OSF)

Project Contract Number: OR2021-82602

Total Budget: USD 38,200

Duration of the Project: December1, 2021-July31, 2022

Project Brief Descriptionand Goals

The aim of the project is to Advocate the needs of vulnerable groups of society and ethnic minorities to increase the accessibility and efficiency of public services in the Georgian Education System..

To this end, the major objectives of the project are:

• Developing FOI requests and analyzing statistical data, during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the pandemic period;

• Monitor the development of identified challenges facing different social groups in terms of the learning process within the scope of the pandemic and in the post-pandemic period;

• Concentrate on the issues of ethnic minorities, rural population and identify the problems of vocational education in Georgia;

• Develop action plan with the working group of experts and CSOs, prepare recommendations based on the good practice.

Activities

1. Preparing FOI Requests;

2. Preparing questionnaires, conducting focus groups in the regions and with the ethnic minorities and analyzing received information;

3. Meeting with the teachers in the regions, advocating the distance learning and identifying challenges of the rural population;

4. Analyzes of the data;

5. Meeting/workshop with the experts and representatives of CSOs and other stakeholders to present findings and develop action plan and policy recommendations;

6. Campaigning and PR activities;

7. The final reporting period.

Project Activities

Contract

Project Title: Study on Integrity in Civil Service – Georgia’s Challenges and the Best Practice 

Donor Organization: United Nations Development Program – Supporting Public Administration Reform in Georgia – Phase 2

Project Contract Number: 00121579

Total Budget: 17,420.00 USD

Duration of the Project: 1 September 2021 – 31 January 2022

Objectives

- to identify key challenges of Georgia in terms of civil service integrity and protection of whistleblowers;

- to analyze OECD-ACN and GRECO standards and recommendations; 

- to cooperate with the Administration of Georgia and the Civil Service Bureau as well as the ministries to better adopt to the national context the findings and recommendations of the study;

- to propose recommendations based on the above-mentioned analysis. 

Project Activities

1. Desk review – the research team will analyze the existing situation on integrity and whistleblowing issues by requesting relevant information and data from the public agencies, analyzing national legislation and OECD-ACN and CoE-GRECO recommendations on the issue. Statistical data requests from the agencies will pay attention to gender and socially disadvantaged groups. 

2. Online survey of the civil servants – based on the questionnaire prepared according to the final methodology with the involvement of a sociologist, the team will study the awareness and attitudes of civil servants on integrity and whistleblowing issues. The survey will be sent to the central agencies and municipalities (at lease those municipalities with ethnic minorities will be covered). Survey of public servants will be conducted using an e-mail database of HR units of the central agencies and municipality focal points, and within 90% of the reliability and error, a questionnaire completed by around 5% of total amount of civil servants will suffice. The data will be statistically counted and the awareness and attitudes of civil servants will be analyzed.

3. Focus Group Discussions with stakeholders – the first draft of the document and its findings will be shared with the Civil Service Bureau, Government Administration and other interested central agencies and municipalities to receive their opinions and to better adapt the document findings and proposed recommendations to the local needs and characteristics. The inputs received from the stakeholders will serve as a validation mechanism for both the data collected and preliminary recommendations developed. The recommendations prepared based on the analysis of the collected data will be directed to the Government of Georgia, the Civil Service Bureau, ministries and municipalities, however, final beneficiaries of the study are civil servants across the county and a wider public as the research project aims to contribute to the strengthening of integrity of the civil service. 

4. Closing event – the final study findings and proposed recommendations will be presented to the public to contribute to the civil service integrity.

Work Plan

Contract

Project Title: Localizing the 2030 Agenda in Georgia
Donor Organization: The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Total Budget: 162.750,00 GEL
Contract Number: 83383644
Duration of the Project:June 15, 2021- February 15, 2022

Summary of the Project

Georgia adopted a comprehensive Decentralization Strategy 2020-2025 in December 2019, making decentralization a key policy priority. This envisages the transfer of more powers and aligned finances to local authorities. If launched coherently, the localization of the Agenda 2030 will support and go hand in hand with the Decentralization Strategy – the latter of which likewise promotes greater citizen participation in decision-making processes to ensure transparency and accountability.

To start the localization process in Georgia, GIZ programme - Good Governance for Local Development (GGLD) - plans a comprehensive analysis of the local SDG-architecture in Georgia. Recommendations, based on this analysis and the detected gaps, shall guide the design and implementation of pilot activities in four selected municipalities to launch the localization process in Georgia. A long-term action plan and further recommendations based on the practically gained experiences through the pilot activities shall lay the grounds for a successful upscaling strategy to comprehensively localize the Agenda 2030 in Georgia. 

Main objectives: 

- Comprehensive Analysis of local context, gaps and recommendations on SDG localization in Georgian municipalities

- Implementation of first activities to launch the localization of SDGs in four pilot municipalities

Activities

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the following activities will be implemented:

1. Analysis of Current Situation in Georgia and identification of relevant municipal competencies for SDG implementation at the local level. It will contain the following parts:

a) Analysing existing regulations (laws and bylaws) on the role of municipalities in implementing Agenda 2030 at the central and local levels. 

b) The current level of awareness and state of implementation of Agenda 2030 on the local level in the four selected pilot municipalities

c) Monitoring and review at the local level.

d) Studying the best international practice

e) Based on the analysis, gaps and needs in Georgia’s current SDG architecture will be identified at the central and local levels.

f) Recommendations - Most importantly, based on the revealed gaps, challenges, international practice and prospects, practical and evidence-based recommendations will be elaborated.

2. Implementation of pilot activities in the four pilot municipalities (based on recommendations of the analysis)

3. The final report of the project will be prepared

4. The final presentation will be organized to present the prepared analysis and elaborated policy recommendations with the participation of wider audience.

Planned Activities and Project Budget

Contract

Project Title: Global Data Barometer
Donor Organization: Latin American Open Data Initiative (ILDA)
Total Budget: $ 15,400
Duration of the Project:June 9, 2021-April 30, 2022

Summary of the Project

The Global Data Barometer is constituted as a project of the Latin American Open Data Initiative (ILDA) and funded by IDRC under the Open Data for Development (OD4D) partnership/program.

The purpose of this project is to deepen and strengthen the strategic partnership between the Parties for the purpose of providing effective support and contribution to the first edition of the GDB study design, implementation and more specifically, around Data Collection Phase across countries in Eastern Partnership and Central Asia. 

The Global Data Barometer will produce a unique global and regional view of data for public good across a wide range of sectors. As a high-profile study, it aims to influence policy debates at country, regional and global levels - and to support advances in a range of data for development initiatives. 

Activities and Phases

 - Field work, data collection, peer review/thematic review - June 1 - August 31st, 2021

Contract

Project Title: Promoting PPD in Georgia through Monitoring and Awareness Raising
Donor Organization: Deloitte Consulting LLC, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), within the auspices of the Economic Governance Program 
Project Contract Number: R-2010-00014
Total Budget:GEL 136,742
Duration of the Project:April 5, 2021 - April 4, 2022

Project Brief Descriptionand Goals

The project aims to continue the operation of the PPD Quality Tracking Mechanism, expand its use in regions outside the capital and raise awareness on PPD among state and non-state actors as well as the wider society. Selected draft laws and regulations will be evaluated based on the extent and quality of inclusive consultation.

The evaluation of the extent and quality of PPD will be based on four pre-identified phases of policy development: policy design and development, legislation drafting, circulation and public comments, and ex-ante regulatory impact assessment (RIA), namely:

- Policy Design and Development - criteria to evaluate the extent and quality of relevant non-government stakeholder (private sector, business, civil society, affected party) or expert (professors/academia, lawyers, economists, think tank, NGOs, international donor organizations) input that government policymakers received in the initial formulation of the underlying policy behind proposed legislation (initial formative stage), at the very first stages of consideration before the commencement of drafting any legislation.

- Legislation/regulation drafting - criteria to evaluate the extent and quality of relevant non-government stakeholder (private sector, business, civil society, affected party) or expert (professors/academia, lawyers, economists, think tank, NGOs, international donor organizations) input in the actual creation of draft legislation.

- Ex-ante Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) - criteria to evaluate the extent and quality of the RIA performed related to the legislation.

- Circulation and public comments - criteria to evaluate the (i) extent and quality of efforts to publicize, circulate, and distribute the proposed draft legislation to the public and stakeholders (private sector, business, civil society, affected parties and the public at large); and (ii) the adequacy and extent of efforts to solicit and consider public feedback.

As a result of the grant activities, the project team will prepare a methodology for evaluating the quality of  PPD in the regions of Georgia, as well as a methodology for evaluating PPD quality in regard to regulations.

The representatives from key governmental institutions as well as the selected municipalities will be better equipped with relevant knowledge and information on high-level PPD. In order to achieve this goal, IDFIwill conduct information and training sessions in the regions of Georgia.

Activities (start date of activities May 01, 2021):

1) Preparatory stage: elaborating a comprehensive methodology and submitting FOI requests

2) Conducting interviews and training sessions

3) Inception study of selected three municipalities

4) Preparing a monitoring report

5) Developing and finalizing PPD quality tracking report

6) Final presentation of the report and social activities

Activities

Contract

Type of grant activity: Building Sustainable Human Capacity in Fighting Corruption

Donor institutions: Foundation to Promote Open Society

Total grant amount: USD 70,064.21

Project number: OR2020-70662

Implementation period: February 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022.

Project Goals

The goal of the project will be to build a community of corruption hunters who will be leaders in prevention of corruption; will be able to manage the risks of corruption; will be involved in defining the corruption cases; and will become active members of the anti-corruption community and society as general.

The first goal of the project is to successfully implement the program, while increasing its sustainability. The modules of the program will be transformed in two academic courses of Bachelor’s Degree which will be offered for 4th year Bachelor’s students at the School of Arts and Sciences. Therefore, the new program will enable ISU students to acquire the academic credits (ECTS) while taking the courses of the program. At the same time, modifying the current modules in academic courses will increase the sustainability of the program, as the academic courses on anti-corruption practices will become a part of the curriculum of the university degree program. Becoming part of the Bachelor’s Degree courses, won’t reduce the ability of the new program to recruit course participants from the private and public sectors, or from other universities. The course participants who are not ISU Bachelor’s Degree students, will receive the certificates for successful completion of the program courses.

The second goal of the project is to elaborate and implement a set of awareness raising, and team building activities which on one hand will increase the visibility of the project and raise the awareness of the society on corruption, and on the other hand strengthen the collaboration among the anti-corruption community and enable the formation of an active alumni network. The last segment of the team-building activities will consist of presenting the sub-projects (ideas) by the course participants which will be awarded based on the project outlines and the analytical papers.  

Expected Impact

Short-term impact: Enabling the ISU students to gather necessary ECTS for studying the modulestransformed in academic courses; engaging the prominent local and international experts in delivery of the course; graduates of the second cohort are becoming the members of the alumni network.

Medium-term impact: equipping the course participants with the necessary knowledge and skills, which will enable them to act as role models and change agents at their work, or through various projects that they will chose to engage with; enlarging and strengthening the anticorruption community by implementing team building exercises, planning, executing joint projects, and improving the visibility of the program and its activities.

Long-term impact: contribute to development of a community of like-minded progressive professionals, who are capable of recognizing opportunities for corruption and preventing corruption, as well as who will uncover corrupt practices and form a critical public opinion about the real human cost to corruption.

Planned Activities

Project Budget

Contract

Project Title: Core Support

Supported by: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Grant Number: No. 13382

Budget: SEK 9,100,000 (Swedish kronor)

Duration: January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022

Objectives of the Core Activities

The overall objectives of the Core Activities are Supporting Democratic and Good Governance in Georgia through evidence-based research, monitoring and advocacy by a) Promoting Open Governance; b) Strengthening the Anti-Corruption System; c) Social and Economic Policy; d) Rule of Law; e) Facilitating the Decentralization Process; f) Supporting the Process of Democratic Transition in Georgia; g) Media and Freedom of Expression; h) Internet and Innovations.

Project Summary

Despite overall progress in terms of building a democratic state and improving the effectiveness, transparency and fairness of governance in Georgia over the past 20 years, these processes have slowed and are currently facing serious challenges, such as informal governance, concentration of power, lack of judicial independence, high-level corruption and lack of political will to continue with important reforms, as well as poverty, external political and economic pressure from the Russian Federation that negatively affects democratic processes in the country. Reputable international organizations as well as prominent Georgian civil society organizations have gone as far as to say that Georgia shows signs of state capture. While the Government of Georgia declares that country irreversibly keeps pro-Western, Euro-Atlantic, democratic course, these worrying trends show a clear necessity for civil society to focus on these direction and support Georgia’s democratic and pro-western development as much as possible within its competence.

Having 10 years of experience working on improving democratic processes and promoting the principles of good governance, IDFI intends to counteract the existing challenges facing democratic and good governance through evidence-based research, monitoring and advocacy. More specifically, IDFI will work towards key objectives of combating corruption, improving transparency of public institutions, increasing citizen engagement in decision-making processes, achieving higher standards of rule of law, promoting more inclusive economic policies, facilitating the democratic decentralization and the democratic transition processes, upholding media and human rights, and promoting innovations to solve outstanding problems.

To achieve these objectives, IDFI will work with all relevant public, private, and civil society stakeholders. The organization will also make active use of various national and international networks and platforms in order to achieve positive change in target areas. Finally, special attention will be paid to achieving results at scale, by engaging important cross-cutting issues, such as education, environment and gender.

Budget 

Contract

Project Title:  Promoting Open Governance Principles at the Parliament of Georgia and Supreme Council of Ajara (SCA). It is part of a broader initiative of the EU-UNDP project - “Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia”.

Funded by:  The European Union with a co-share from the Parliament of Georgia and SCA

Project Number: 00113526

Total Budget: EUR 290,000.00

Duration: November 11, 2019 – April 30, 2022

EU-UNDP project “Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia” contributes to improved democratic governance in Georgia through strengthening the performance of the Parliament of Georgia and the Supreme Council of Autonomous Republic of Ajara (SCA) within the new context of constitutional and legislative framework.

In the framework of the project, UNDP is collaborating with the IDFI to promote open governance principles in the work of the Parliament of Georgia and SCA in order to enhance openness, transparency and accountability of the institutions, including through greater citizen engagement.

The cooperation aims at (1) enhanced public engagement in parliamentary processes through:

- supporting the operation of the Permanent Parliamentary Council on Open Governance

- supporting the Council in monitoring the implementation progress of Open Parliament Action Plans

- supporting the Parliament in raising public awareness on openness reforms and promoting citizen participation in legislative processes

- building the capacity of the Communications Teams of the Parliament on social network content management and tools

- supporting the building and reinforcing partnerships between the Parliament and other OGP member parliaments

and (2) SCA’s increased institutional openness, transparency and citizen engagement through:

- facilitating the institutionalization of a legislative openness mechanism in the SCA

- providing support to the SCA’s working group on legislative openness

- supporting the SCA’s working group in developing and monitoring the implementation of openness action plans

The project targets: members and staff of the Parliament of Georgia and SCA, civil society organizations, youth, ethnic minorities, academia, media, and the public in general.

Contract

Budget

Planned Activities

Project Title: Good Governance for Georgia (3G)

Supported by: Luminate, Global Philanthropic Organization

Grant Amount: USD 390,000

Grant Term: January 1, 2019 – April 30, 2022

Project Description

Project aims at increasing public oversight of state institutions, and increasing transparency and accountability of the government of Georgia.

IDFI plans to accomplish this goal by conducting oversight activities related to monitoring of effective, responsible, transparent, ethical and accountable governance and public procurement activities, preparing investigative analyses, and increasing capacity of journalists, CSOs and activists to enhance their oversight skills and methods in the respective areas.

Initially, the project will pilot in Tbilisi (capital of Georgia) and gradually move to the rest of the country during the second and third years.  

The project will include the following activities:

- Promote anti-corruption agenda, access to public information, government transparency and accountability by preparing monitoring reports and in-depth analytical papers about implementation of fiscal policy at central and local government levels in Georgia;

- Based on IDFI’s practice, develop a practical toolkit about the use of open data and existing online and offline resources and mechanisms for government oversight;

- Hold practical trainings and workshops for the project’s target groups: journalists, local CSO representatives, activists and business sector representatives;

- Launch a monitoring process with the participation of trained journalists, CSO representatives and activists.

Project Budget 

 Contract