Annex - Sida Supported Grants 2013

Sida Supported Grants
January 1 December 31, 2013

1
Active Grants in 2013

OPEN DOOR
Grantee Institution:
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Implementation Dates:
Georgia Arts and Culture Center

Development of Entrepreneurship of Crafts based
NGO for the Social Improvement of Cultural Sector of
Dusheti Region
28,717 USD
February 15, 2011 December 15, 2012
Georgian Arts and Culture Center (GACC) will implement an 8-months project aimed at improved
social-economic situation in Dusheti region through support income generation activities among
local cultural institutions and local craft-based NGOs. Within the project, the grantee will provide
three workshops/trainings to local NGOs and individual craftsmen in social entrepreneurship, as
well as NGO development, management, fundraising, and business plan development. Special
attention will be paid to establishing a craft business and developing its marketing and promotion
strategies. In addition, GACC will provide technical assistance to one of the local NGOs, Georgian
Center for International Collaboration and Steady Development (GCICSD), so that it succeeds in
becoming a sustainable social enterprise. As a result of this project, GCICSD is supposed to serve
as a reliable partner for other local NGOs and individual craftsmen in marketing their products
through GCICSD facilities, such as specially created show-room. The grantee will also work on
developing partnerships with local and international tour operators, in order to include specially
developed cultural tourist and crafts routes in their recreational products. The income generated
from these activities will be used for employee salaries and will be reinvested to expand the
organizations activities.
Meskheti Development Center
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Social Enterprise - producing dried fruits

35, 656 USD
July 15, 2011- August 20, 2012
To Establish Dried
In cooperation with institute Optica and GCT Holding, Meskheti Development Center will
implement a 12-month-long project aimed at introducing Social Enterprise (SE) as a viable model in
support of vulnerable households living below the poverty line and population heavily affected by

Following the P&P Manual, a grant remains active under EPF grant and program managers, as well as senior
management, complete the grant closeout process. This involves collecting and reviewing final program and financial
reports, as well as completing internal closeout procedures that will document the outputs and outcomes reached as a
result of the project. Once the closeout is complete, EPF is able to develop a (public) statement about the achievements
of the project, as well as identify reasons because of which the grantee was not able to meet the targeted results.
Closeout procedures take some time, as a result of which some of the grant projects can appear as active for several
reporting periods.
the August 2008 War. Within the framework of the project, two dry-fruit producing enterprises are
planned to be established. Sound marketing strategy and proper advertising campaign is expected to
add to sustainability of the SEs and expand their activities in line with their social missions.
Moreover, successful implementation of the project will contribute to creation of two additional
success cases, which in itself will further promote social enterprise concept in Georgia.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Liberal Academy Tbilisi

Who is Who in Brussels on Georgia and the South
Caucasus
40, 703 USD
September 1, 2011- October 15, 2012
The project aims to enhance capacity of all concerned stakeholders (CSOs, media, government,
political parties, students) in Georgia to better guide themselves in the political and expert scenery of
the EU in Brussels through development of a comprehensive and user-friendly online analytical
manual. As a result of the project, a valuable reference point for guidance on EU institutional
arrangement as relevant to Georgia will be produced, which will result to enhanced direct
communication of Georgian stakeholders with key institutions and policy centers in Brussels.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Tusheti PA Friends Association

Friends of Tusheti Protected Areas
4, 553 USD
August 10, 2012 April 9, 2013
The project is awarded under the small-grants competition to support institutional capacity
strengthening of newly established regional CSOs. The project aims at strengthening the institutional
capacity of Association of Friends of Tusheti Protected Areas as a sustainable membership-based
civil society organization (CSO). Within the project, the Association plans to enlarge its
membership base through recruiting and training volunteers to serve as young forest rangers to care
for the protected territories of Tusheti. At the same time, the grantee will work to raise the local
communitys awareness of Tusheti environmental issues and to mobilize them for the efforts to
foster inclusive decision-making about Tusheti Protected Areas. The project will contribute to the
development of volunteerism in the region, improve the Associations public image locally, and
assist the grantee in building new partnerships with other CSOs.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Georgian School Students Unions Alliance

Empowering Students for Democracy
4, 657 USD
September 1, 2012 May 31, 2013
The project will contribute to the institutional strengthening of the newly established Alliance of
Georgian School Students Unions (AGSSU), so that it is better able to represent the interests of
secondary school students in Georgia. To do so, the project will contribute to equipping the
Alliance staff and its members with the needed knowledge and skills to engage effectively in school
affairs by equipping them with the needed knowledge. In addition, the project will provide the
grantee with an opportunity to develop a two-year organizational development strategic plan and
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organize its first General Assembly to elect the governing board and the audit commission. By
creating a website, translating and disseminating the Manual for School Students (developed by the
Organizing Bureau of European School Student Unions), and adopting a two-year strategic plan
tailored to the needs and goals of the AGSSU, the grantee will improve its institutional capacity and
contribute to democratic governance in the secondary schools of Georgia. The project is
implemented in partnership with the Georgian Ministry for Sports and Youth Affairs and the
Organizing Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU).
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Parsa
Nothing for Us without Us
21, 823 USD
November 1, 2012 September 30, 2013
The grantee will implement an eleven-month long project, to (1) promote the concepts of accessible
tourism and universal design in Georgia and (2) encourage the development of tourism
infrastructure and customer service that are friendly to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The
project will target two regions of Georgia: Adjara (Batumi and Kobuleti) and Samegrelo-Zemo
Svaneti (Zugdidi and Anaklia). To achieve the project objectives, the grantee will assess the
accessibility of local infrastructure and create a database of companies (hotels, restaurants, etc.) that
are accessible for persons with disability. Following the assessment, the grantee will acknowledge
well-adapted buildings at an award ceremony, which will be organized in cooperation with the
Department of Tourism and Resorts of Adjara. Furthermore, the grantee will partner with relevant
European and American networks to devise guidelines that reflect international standards and
practices on accessible tourism and universal design. The grantee will actively participate in the
work of the Coalition for Independent living and take a lead on advocating for inclusion of
recommendations on accessible tourism in the 2013-2016 National Strategy and Action Plan on
Social Integration of PWDs. In addition, the grantee will train its staff members and five persons
with disability on what the concepts entail, so that they then inform various stakeholders (from
public, private, and non-governmental sectors) about the utility of universal design and the need for
accessible tourism. Together with a targeted public outreach campaign, these efforts will lead to
improved stakeholder cooperation and enhanced public understanding of the concepts of accessible
tourism and universal design. As these concepts become mainstreamed in tourism industry, the
grantee will be able to generate additional income from providing consultancy to interested
companies and individuals, which, in turn, will contribute to its long-term sustainability.
Association of the Greens Movement of

Georgia/Friends of the Earth-Georgia
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Supporting Civil Monitoring

20,281 USD
December 1, 2012 - September 30, 2013
To Establish Dried
The project aims at promoting participatory civic monitoring and advocacy in Racha region so as to
devise environmentally friendly solutions to the countrys energy needs. To do so, the grantee and
its partner organizations will mobilize the local communities and monitor the construction of
hydropower stations on the river Rioni, namely in Oni and Sori areas. The monitoring sites were
selected following the preliminary environmental assessments, according to which the construction
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of hydropower plants there may have irreversible environmental and social impact. The project
team will provide Oni, Utsera, and Sori residents information about the planned projects, so that
they are better informed about the planned activities and are able to advocate for their rights and
legitimate interests. The grantee will mobilize Rachas local communities to undertake participatory
civic monitoring and advocacy activities, ensuring that these communities are involved in the
decision-making process and are able to get their voices heard. The projects expected outcomes
include improved capacity of the grantee to conduct participatory civic monitoring and advocacy,
better awareness and engagement of citizens in local and national decision-making, and increased
responsiveness of public authorities to civic monitoring and advocacy campaigns.
Proposal Title:
Association for People in Need of Special Care

(APNSC)
2010-2012 Government Action Plan for Social Integration of
Grant Amount:
Disabled People
19, 145 USD
December 1, 2012 - October 20, 2013
To Establish Dried
The project aims at contributing to improved inclusion of persons with mental disabilities in all
aspects of public life, thus, fostering democratic development in the country. To do so, the grantee
will assess the content and the implementation of the 2010-2012 Action Plan on the Social
Integration of Persons with Disabilities, to ascertain the extent to which it addresses the specific
needs of mentally disabled persons. In addition, the grantee will create monitoring groups
(consisting of members with mental disability) to conduct monitoring of health and educational
institutions in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Telavi, Batumi, Sighnaghi, Zugdidi, and Gori to inform the assessment
of the 2010-2012 Action Plan and the recommendations developed for future considerations by the
Government. The grantee will also conduct public outreach and advocacy campaign to ensure that
the 2013-2015 Action Plan on the Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities is more responsive
to the special needs of the mentally disabled citizens of Georgia, so as to contribute to their
improved social, political, and economic inclusion in public life.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Peaceful and Business Caucasus

Deepening the process of Georgian-Abkhazian and GeorgianOssetian Integration in the Civil Sector through the support
of coalition and network cooperation
65, 193 USD
December 1, 2012 - September 30, 2013
To Establish Dried
The grantee aims to build on the earlier projects supported by Eurasia Partnership Foundation
(EPF) by implementing confidence building activities involving Georgians, Abkhazians, and South
Ossetians, in order to maintain and enhance the achieved results. Additionally, the grantee will take
steps for enhancement of its institutional capacities following the program management and board
governance capacity reporting prepared by EPF after diagnostic of the grantees level of
organizational development by Capacity Mapping Initiative tool.
Responding to the needs of the beneficiaries participating in the previous confidence-building

project, the grantee will be conducting trainings to mobilize Georgian, Abkhaz and Ossetian
communities in the conflict zone to relieve restrictions on freedom of movement through the
demarcation line. the project will work with Abkhaz, Ossetian, and Georgian entrepreneurs to
develop business plans for joint ventures, which will then be submitted to various micro-finance
institutions and donor organizations to secure funding on business plan development and small
business management, so that the participants are able to produce joint micro-business projects to
seek funding from microfinance organizations. Specifically, The functionality and the demanddriven nature of this assistance will likely lead to increased interest from other members of these
communities and contribute to the peace building process currently under way in Georgia. The
project will strengthen capacity of the resource centers in Khurcha and Perevi and the community
centers on the Abkhaz-controlled territories in Gali, Ochamchire, and Tkvarcheli (Abkhazia) and in
Kardzmani (Tskhinvali region) created within the previous project by equipping them with
respective facilities (computers and office supplies) and training of the centers members. The
community centers will serve as means for Georgian-Abkhaz rapprochement through implementing
joint activities in the areas of mutual interest and for dissemination of information among the
Abkhaz and Ossetian communities. The project is the next step for increasing the scope and profile
of the grantees activities in the area of two-track diplomacy and for achieving the lasting effect in
the confidence building process.
Social-Educational Association Hereti
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Discover Your Kakheti's Interior and Exterior

18, 331 USD
January 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013
To Establish Dried
The proposed project aims at conducting journalistic investigations aided by citizens monitoring to
assess the extent to which the results achieved through rehabilitation works are commensurate with
the funds spent or whether the planned works are in line with community needs and priorities. The
priority will be given to assessing those rehabilitation projects that are historical in nature, such as
Gremi complex, downtown Telavi and Sighnaghi, Telavi Museum, Telavi Theater, Lagodekhi central
garden, which have drawn high public attention. To do so, the grantee will create three investigative
groups (aided by relevant experts) to assess the programs implementation. Kakhetians will be able
to voice their concerns and priorities during public meetings and journalistic investigations to be
undertaken by the project team, as well as through the website (www.heretifm.com) and facebook
page of Radio Hereti (www.facebook.com/radiohereti). It is hoped that Kakheti residents will
continue to be active in monitoring the work of public authorities and ensure that their needs are
taken into account when planning or implementing various public works projects. The stories
prepared during the project will be disseminated in Kutaisi, Poti, and Zugdidi through the Georgian
Regional Radio Network (GRRN), which should foster replicability of good practices throughout
the country.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Helping Hand
Developing Volunteerism for Civil Changes
4, 023 USD
January 29, 2013 July 31, 2013
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The project aims at contributing to youth volunteering and community engagement, through
supporting organizational capacity-building of the grantee CSO to attract and manage volunteers in
a sustainable and professional manner. The project envisions mobilizing around 50 volunteers to
survey students enrolled at Georgian universities about their knowledge of and interest in
volunteering opportunities. In addition, the grantee will survey its own volunteers (current and past)
to learn about their experiences and the ways in which the organization could improve its volunteer
management practices. In addition to conducting these surveys, the grantee will produce a Georgian
language reader on best practices of volunteer management and conduct training on this subject for
interested CSOs and individuals and counsel them afterwards. In these tasks, the grantee will be
aided by Peace Corps volunteers and the Slovak Centre for Communication and Development.
Once trained, the volunteers will serve as a resource for the grantee organization to streamline
volunteer activities and will increase the grantees capacity in volunteer management.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Foundation for Economic Education in Georgia

Tourism Development Network
3, 873 USD
January 30, 2013 July 31, 2013
The project aims at contributing to volunteering and improved hospitality management in rural
Georgia, through supporting organizational capacity-building of the grantee CSO to attract and
manage volunteers in a sustainable and professional manner. The project envisions a partnership
between the grantee CSO and two partner organizations, REGNET and the European College for
Tourism, Regional Development and Informational Technologies (EURcc). To achieve the
projects objectives, the grantee will mobilize and train around 65 volunteers (30 of whom are
members of the REGNET) to survey the residents of Kakheti, Imereti, Mtkheta-Mtianeti, Shida
Kartli, and Guria regions and ascertain their need for information relevant to becoming engaged in
the hospitality sector. In addition, these volunteers will conduct an informational campaign on how
to set up a guesthouse, attract more visitors, improve the quality of hospitality services rendered to
the visitors, and generate more income. In addition to these activities, the grantee will design and
implement institutional capacity-building action plan in volunteer management, so as to more
successfully mobilize and manage volunteers the organizations long-term objectives. As a result of
the project, the partner organizations will set up a volunteer network TURINET, to unite individuals
and businesses interested in developing sustainable tourism opportunities in Georgia.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Biological Farming Association Elkana

Monitor impact of central and local government politics
on agriculture and country development on the example
of Gori municipality
27, 830 USD
February 1, 2013 September 30, 2013
The project aims at contributing to participatory and needs-based policy making in Georgia through
strengthening civil societys capacity to mobilize constituency and engage in policy dialogue. To this
effect the grantee will conduct comprehensive assessment of the 2012-2016 National Rural
Development Strategy and its implementation. The assessment, which will focus on the situation in
Ozurgeti and Akhaltsikhe municipalities, will be conducted following the Participatory Learning
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Action (PLA) methodology, which the grantee has been using for the past several years. In addition,
with support from a gender expert, who will also be engaged as one of the project working group
members, Elkana will ensure that the assessment looks into gender aspects of rural policy making.
The assessment will allow the project partners to develop recommendations for future
improvements, which they will advocate through various means, including media programming and
stakeholder meetings both in the regions and Tbilisi. These efforts, together with the creation of
civic platform Georgian Village, will foster wide citizen participation in the grantees advocacy
efforts and contribute to participatory decision-making in this policy area.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Media Portal
With my Eyes
21, 467 USD
March 12, 2013 July 31, 2013
The project aims at developing the practice of citizen journalism in Georgia, where community
members are actively engaged in collecting, analyzing, reporting, and disseminating news and
information about the various events affecting their lives. To do so, the grantee will identify and
train Batumi, Gori, and Kutaisi residents interested in becoming citizen journalists and engaging in
their communities lives. During the training, the selected citizen journalists will be exposed to the
objectives and ideals of citizen journalism, learn how to use the new media tools, and gain traditional
journalistic skills of identifying and interviewing sources, researching issues, etc. The trainees will be
able to utilize these skills throughout the project, with the grantee ensuring that their stories are
disseminated partner print, online, and electronic media outlets. An impartial jury will identify best
performing citizen journalists, who will be awarded equipment to prepare professional reports well
after the end of the EPF-funded project. Citizen journalism is one of the modern methods of
community mobilization and citizen engagement in local socio-economic and political processes,
which is not well developed in Georgia and has a potential of being replicated throughout the
country.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
C and B Hepatitis Patients Group

Education Program for C Hepatitis Patients
39,595 USD
March 29, 2013 September 30, 2013
The project will contribute to improved healthcare policies and public attitudes toward patients with
Hepatitis C. To achieve this goal, the grantee will work with Hepatitis C patients (1) to advocate for
better public policies and (2) to teach them how to overcome stigma and manage their disease. The
project team will build capacity of 240 patients by providing trainings on how to manage their
disease, as well as raising their awareness about their rights and their own perceptions that deter
them from waging effective advocacy campaigns. The grantee will use mainstream and new media
tools (from PSAs to blogging) to mobilize the patients and inform the larger public about the disease
and its treatment/prevention. To ensure sustainability of project results, the grantee will train up to
four local trainers to lead disease management and awareness raising workshops, so that they are
able to continue patient mobilization after the end of the project. The grantees advocacy efforts
will contribute to the adoption of national guidelines on Hepatitis C, as well as to earmarking funds
for the treatment of the disease in the 2014 state budget.
7

Charlotte Lundqvist 14-7-22 13:43

Kommentar [1]: where did this demand come
from? grantee ifself of epf?<

Kommentar [2]: where is there demand for
citizen journalism?
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Ltd. TV Radio Company Rioni

Informed Citizen - Protected Consumer
7, 818 USD
April 1, 2013 September 30, 2013
The project aims at increasing public awareness about food related threats, food related consumer
rights, and ongoing or planned reforms in the food safety field. To achieve these objectives, the
grantee will produce in-depths reports, interactive TV talk-shows, and informational programs on
most salient for the time food safety issues. As a result of the project, grantee will prepare 24 media
products to enhance the knowledge of Imereti residents about food safety issues, which, in turn, will
contribute to increased public participation in food safety reforms in Georgia. The project is funded
in the framework of the grant competition Information and Advocacy Campaigns on Food Safety
Issues aimed at mobilizing consumers throughout the country and enabling them to protect their
interests.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Youth Center Progress

Be Informed -Stay Protected!
7, 272 USD
The project aims at increasing public awareness of Chokhatauri residents about food related threats,
food related consumer rights, and ongoing or planned reforms in the food safety field. To achieve
these objectives, the grantee will train local trainers and target Chokhatauri schools, kindergartens,
and cafes to provide local students, parents, teachers, and cooks basic information about food safety
and consumer rights. In addition, the grantee will wage a broader information campaign through
publishing newspaper articles and organizing public information actions. The grantee, with support
from project partners, will also provide on-demand consultations on food safety and consumer
rights issues. The project will enhance Chokhatauri residents knowledge of food safety issues,
which, in turn, will contribute to increased public participation in food safety reforms in Georgia.
The project is funded in the framework of the grant competition Information and Advocacy
Campaigns on Food Safety Issues aimed at mobilizing consumers throughout the country and
enabling them to protect their interests.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Georgian Association Regional Broadcasters

Information and Advocacy Campaigns on Food
Safety Issues though Regional TV and Radio
7, 712 USD
The project aims at increasing public awareness about food related threats, food related consumer
rights, and ongoing or planned reforms in food safety field. To achieve these objectives, the grantee
will produce in-depths reports, TV talk shows, and a public service announcement on most salient
for the time food safety issues. Majority of these media products will be broadcast during the
weekly information-analytical program Polygon developed by the Georgian Association of Regional
Broadcasters (GARB) and broadcasted on 20 regional TV and 5 regional radio channels (majority of
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which are members of the Association), as well as on Palitra TV. As a result of these broadcasts, the
Georgian populations knowledge of food safety issues will be enhanced, which, in turn, will
contribute to increased public participation in food safety reforms in Georgia.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Penal Reform International

Increasing Civil Society Engagement
Organizations for Prevention
12, 992 USD
May 28, 2013 October 31, 2013
in
Penal
The project will contribute to better human rights protection in Georgia, through advocacy to
improve the treatment prisoners. To achieve this goal the grantee will partner five local CSOs to
survey the prisoners and conduct monitoring of 12 prisons in eastern Georgia, including one
womens prison. The report of these monitoring activities will be discussed with relevant public
agencies (the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance, the Ombudsmans Office, etc.) and
provided to all stakeholders, in order publicize the findings and advocate for further penal reform.
The need for penal reform will be explained to the wider public through publication of articles, radio
broadcast, TV PSA on prisoners rights, and public lectures at local institutions of higher education.
It is envisioned, that the advocacy waged by the grantee and five other experienced CSOs will lead
to penal reforms designed to improve the treatment of prisoners, contribute to improved awareness
and engagement of civic sector in the reform process, and enhance accountability and transparency
of public authorities to monitoring and advocacy campaigns.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Association of Small Group Homes Service Providers

Strategic Development of the Organization
3, 882 USD
May 31, 2013 September 30, 2013
The project will strengthen the institutional capacity of the newly established Association of Small
Group Homes Service Providers and support its development as a strong membership based civil
society organization, capable of improving the lives of the vulnerable children. As a result of the
project, the Association will identify those health insurance related issues that require attention from
public authorities and insurance companies and wage an advocacy campaign to improve the lives of
the vulnerable children in foster care. To do so, the grantee will (1) conduct training of trainers,
who will then transfer their knowledge to the group home caregivers, (2) develop strategic advocacy
plan, and (3) wage advocacy to effect change. The project is awarded within the small grants
competition, which aims at institutional capacity strengthening of newly established regional CSOs.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Zestafoni Civic Assembly

Civil Society Monitoring in Local Self-Governance
Activities
3, 703 USD
June 24, 2013 September 24, 2013
The project will contribute to the institutional strengthening of the newly established Civic Assembly
of Zestaponi and support its development as a strong civil society organization, capable of
9

mobilizing local communities and advocating for participatory policy-making. With EPFs support,
the Assembly will be able to gain experience in running donor-funded projects, improve the capacity
of its staff and members in designing and waging advocacy campaigns, and contribute to positive
changes in 18 communities of Zestaponi municipality. It will do so, in part by taking up local causes
and informing the communities on the planned self-governance reform. In addition, the Assembly
will work with its members to develop and adopt a strategic action plan, to be followed after the end
of the project, in order to continue on the path of organizational development and in this process
foster civic engagement in Zestaponi municipality.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Association Atinati
Public Engagement in Democratic Self-Government
58, 888 USD
July 1, 2013 May 31, 2014
The project aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Association Atinati, in order to
increase public awareness about the pending local self-governance reforms and contribute to
informed citizen participation in public policy making. To do so, the Association will partner with
Tbilisi- and Zugdidi-based civil society organizations, to benefit from their experience and advice on
how best to foster citizen participation and to create a coalition of local organizations dedicated to
improving civic engagement in local decision making, through weekly radio program on local selfgovernance issues, public lectures and competitions among students enrolled at Zugdidi institutions
of higher education, seminars on civic participation and advocacy, and community mobilization to
monitor the work of Zugdidi municipality, the grantee will increase public awareness about civic
engagement and local government reforms. In addition, the grantee will receive the much needed
institutional capacity strengthening assistance through EPFs organizational development initiative
and will acquire new equipment to improve its social media platform and create multimedia/video
live stream to reach broader audience and foster informed citizen participation in public decision
making.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Social Defense League

Georgia without Boarders, Map for Disabled Persons
23, 924 USD
July 16, 2013 December 23, 2013
The project aims at contributing to improved social and economic integration of persons with
disabilities (PWDs) by creating a sustainable open-source online platform to collect and locate user
reports on a map, which will identify facilities (both public and private) equipped with handicapped
access. The project will cover four cities in Georgia: Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, and Tbilisi. To
achieve its objective, the grantee will mobilize volunteers to identify and document buildings with
proper wheel chair ramps, so as to include them in a project database and upload information about
these buildings on the online map. For this purpose, the project will create a map interface using
Open Layers tool. The map created by the project will be an analogue of Google Map and
synchronized with World Map, so that the new information charted on Google Map will be
automatically reflected on the on the map created as part of the project. The grantee will conduct
active public information and outreach campaign to ensure better citizen involvement in the project
and create a comprehensive database and online platform informing the stakeholders both about the
10

map and the obstacles faced by PWDS and their families. It is hoped that the map will help the
beneficiaries in accessing public spaces throughout the four targeted cities, thus, contributing to
improved integration of PWDs in the Georgian society.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Human Rights Center

Expanding Ombudsmans Office in Kakheti region
through appointment of Ombudsmans Contact Person
12, 191 USD
July 16, 2013 January 7, 2014
The project aims at contributing to equal access to justice and better human rights protection for the
residents of Kakheti, through improving information flow about possible human rights violations to
the Ombudsmans Office. With support from EPF and in coordination with the Ombudsman, the
Human Rights Center will select qualified legal professionals to staff its Gurjaani office, so that they
link local population to the Ombudsmans office. The selected staff will be trained by the
Ombudsman representatives on human rights monitoring and documentation, they will canvas the
region through weekly site visits and hotline operation to gather the information about human rights
situation in Kakheti and develop analytic reports, which will feed into the annual Ombudsmans
Parliamentary and special reporting. To increase the projects effectiveness, the grantee will ensure
regular interaction with local CSOs, media outlets, and public authorities, as well as well implement
public awareness raising activities. The grant was awarded as a result of the competition to increase
representation of Ombudsmans Office in Kakheti and Guria announced in consultation with the
Ombudsman.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Young Scientists Union "Intellect"

Monitoring of Accommodation Process of Eco-migrants
and Vulnerable Groups in Adjara Region
11, 983 USD
August 1, 2013 January 31, 2014
The project aims at contributing to developing a culture of participatory decision making in Adjara,
by waging an advocacy campaign for improving the living conditions of eco-migrants and socially
vulnerable groups residing in Khelvachauris Dream Town. To do so, the grantee will undertake an
alternative assessment of the housing situation of the Dream Town residents and analyze the
differences with the earlier conducted government assessment. In this process, the grantee will be
assisted by representatives of eco-migrants and socially vulnerable people, trained by the project in
supporting the envisioned alternative assessment efforts. The results of the assessment will be made
public through four public discussions and the media coverage, which will also involve the affected
population. The recommendations elaborated as a result of the monitoring efforts will be submitted
to the Government of Adjara and Khelvachauri municipality and advocated for both during and
after the end of the project.
ENGAGE AND MONITOR FOR CHANGE
Proposal Title:
Gori Community Development Union

Strengthen Gori Community Development
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Kommentar [3]: How large share of the open
door are by grants competitions been?
Grant Amount:
Union for Better Protection of Community Interests

5,151 USD
October 15, 2011 July 31, 2012
The project will strengthen the institutional capacity of Gori Community Development Union and
support its development as a strong civil society organization, capable of raising public awareness
about various pressing issues and galvanizing local communities to take civic actions to improve
their lives. The grantee, together with local youth and in partnership with three experienced CSOs,
will identify concrete problems facing 12 villages of Gori municipality and engage all stakeholders to
advocate for their solution. The project is awarded within the small grants competition, which aims
at institutional capacity strengthening of newly established regional CSOs.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
International Society for Fair Elections and

Democracy
Civic Involvement in the Decision Making
Process
21, 109 USD
January 20, 2012 December 31, 2012
The project aims at promoting democratic governance and inclusive decision-making at a local level
through supporting organizational and professional development of local CSOs and media outlets in
participatory monitoring and advocacy. The grantee will build on the results of its previous work
(funded by the European Union) to work with local communities and public authorities in
Akhaltsikhe, Borjomi, Gardabani, Khashuri, Tetritskaro, and Tsalka, to foster democratic decision
making in these municipalities. To do so, the grantee will train at least 100 CSO, media, and local
community representatives from the targeted six municipalities to conduct professional participatory
monitoring and advocacy. Then it will support six initiative groups to implement concrete actions
that will result in improved public service delivery and more transparent decision making. At the
same time, the project will lead to further capacity building of the grantee organization.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Movement for Accessible Environment

Persons with disabilities Advocating for
Positive Changes
18,412 USD
January 25, 2012 January 24, 2013
The grantee aims at contributing to improved inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all
aspects of public life, thus, fostering democratic development in the country. To do so, the grantee
will identify leaders among the persons with disabilities residing in Tbilisi and work with them to
increase their capacity in participatory civic monitoring and advocacy, so that they are better able to
protect their rights and participate in decision-making processes. Once trained, these individuals will
take part in a comprehensive monitoring and advocacy campaign designed and implemented by the
grantee to assess the implementation of the 2010-2012 National Strategy for Social Integration of
Persons with Disabilities. By conducting a baseline assessment of the situation with respect to the
inclusion of PWDs in various spheres of public life, by engaging media outlets to improve public
awareness of the problems faced by the disabled, and by working with public authorities on
12

addressing the identified problems, the grantee will contribute to improved social, political, and
economic inclusion of the disabled in public life.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Welfare Foundation
Promoting Civic Engagement in Health Reform
19,426 USD
February 1, 2012 November 30, 2012
The project aims at enhancing public oversight of the components of the healthcare system,
including the protection of healthcare rights, the provision of medical insurance and the
implementation of healthcare policy reforms on the local level. The project will achieve this aim by
promoting knowledge of recent changes and fostering cooperation among civil society organizations
(CSOs), the media and the public authorities to improve healthcare in Adjara, Samegrelo, and Shida
Kartli regions. The projects expected outcomes include increased capacity of the grantee to
monitor healthcare expenditures and provision, better awareness and engagement of citizens in
healthcare reforms, and increased responsiveness of the authorities to the citizens needs and
demands in the sphere of healthcare.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Union Lanchkhuti Information Center

Civic Lanchkhuti Monitoring for Positive
Changes
18,175 USD
February 1, 2012 January 31, 2013
The grantee aims at promoting participatory civic monitoring and advocacy in the underserved
constituencies of Lanchkhuti and Ozurgeti municipalities, thus, supporting the development of
participatory solutions to the problems facing these communities. To do so, the grantee will
organize civic monitoring and advocacy trainings for at least twenty community activists and media
professionals, equipping them with knowledge and skills to conduct participatory civic monitoring
and advocacy activities. At the same time, the project team plans to work with around thirty local
government officials to inform them about the methods that the community activists will be using
when conducting monitoring, so that the public sector is more receptive to their constituencies.
Close cooperation with local media outlets will support advocacy efforts, ensuring its visibility
through broadcasting ten reports and publishing ten newspaper articles detailing the projects
activities. As a result, the grantee will foster increased transparency and accountability of local
government bodies and support local communities involvement in public decision making.
Koda Community Education Center
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Volunteering for a Brighter Future

4,023 USD
January 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013
To Establish Dried
The project aims at contributing to volunteerism and increased civic engagement in Kvemo Kartli
region, through supporting organizational capacity-building of the grantee CSO to attract and
manage volunteers in a sustainable and professional manner. The project envisions mobilization
and training of at least 60 local volunteers, who will then become members of Community
13

Volunteer Clubs in Koda and Shaumiani. Together with the grantee, the Club members will
mobilize other community residents to engage in volunteer activities to address their communities
most pressing needs. During the project, the grantee will collaborate with the Shaumiani
Community Center and engage Peace Corps volunteers to share their expertise. The project will
result in improved awareness of local community members and stakeholders (such as other CSOs,
private businesses, and public authorities) about the need for and positive impact of volunteering, so
as to contribute to increased civic engagement in the region.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Coalition for IDPs Rights

Tserovani National Crafts Social Enterprise
9,230 USD
December 1, 2011 February 28, 2013
The project to be implemented by the Coalition for IDPs Rights aims at fostering social integration
of internally displaced persons (IDPs) through introduction of social enterprise (SE) as a viable
model for community mobilization and sustainable income generation. As part of the project, the
grantee plans to establish a local crafts workshop in Tserovani settlement, where initially it will
provide internship and training opportunities to 12 IDP women. Specifically, the women will learn
how to manufacture table cloths, scarves, handbags, and belts, all handmade and with exclusive
design After the completion of the training, half of the trained IDP women will be employed by the
grantee. As a result, six families will improve their socio-economic standing and become better
integrated into the society. Others will be supported to start their own enterprises, utilizing the
knowledge gained and skills acquired during the training provided by the grantee. The project will
be implemented in cooperation with the International Arts Center Istoriali, a leading player in the
field of traditional arts and crafts. Together with the training and consultancy, Istoriali will support
the grantee in developing and implementing a marketing and public relations campaign, including
arranging exhibitions to present its production to the public. The income generated from the sales
will be used to remunerate the employees and sustain the organizations activities.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Ternali +
Georgian Tea Distribution Social Enterprise
6,660 USD
December 10, 2011 August 14, 2013
The grantee will implement a project that aims at improving the lives of IDPs living in Kutaisi
(Imereti region) through creating new employment opportunities in the newly established social
enterprise. Ternali+ was established by several Kutaisi-based non-governmental organizations that
support the socio-economic integration of the IDPs residing in the region through providing them
with educational and employment opportunities. As part of the project, the grantee plans to develop
a fully functional tea distribution social enterprise, which will pack and sell Georgian tea. Initially,
the enterprise will employ ten to fifteen IDPs, who will not need specific skills for packing tea. As
the enterprise progresses, the number of employees will rise proportionally to the rate of annual
growth from sales. To ensure good sales, the grantee will design and implement an informational
campaign to popularize traditional products in general and Georgian tea in particular among the
14

residents of the region. The income generated from tea sales will be used sustain the organizations
activities, which includes the provision of adequate remuneration to the employed IDPs. In
addition, Ternali+ is expected to contribute to the creation a business incubator, which in turn will
support Kutaisi Education, Development and Employment Center (KEDEC) and Peaceful and
Business Caucasus in supporting further socio-economic integration of IDPs.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Abkhazian Blind and Deaf-and-Dumb Union Hera

SE - Hera Sound Recording Studio
7,502 USD
November 25, 2011 July 1, 2012
The grantee which staff is comprised mostly from IDPs from Abkhazia will implement a twelvemonth long project, which aims at fostering social integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
through introduction of social enterprise (SE) as a viable model for community mobilization and
sustainable income generation. The project envisages recording and distributing of audio-books.
The products will range from poetry and prose to fairytales. The books will be recorded by famous
Georgian actors and their voices will be accompanied with music and other special effects. They will
be displayed in different book-shops around the country and will be accessible in souvenir shops, as
well as in airports and railway shops. Braille font will be used on the CD covering that would enable
blind people to use independently. Therefore, within the project grantee will continue implementing
its main mission to provide help to blind people and improve their access to information and
education. The income generated from the sales will be used to remunerate the employees and
sustain the organizations activities. A strong marketing campaign and supply of meat at a reasonable
price will insure sufficient number of sales to enable the recording studio to become profitable and
reinvest the profits back into the social objectives of the business.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Ltd Giganti
Establishing a Social Enterprise - Rabbit Farm
in Senaki
7,565 USD
May 15, 2012 January 14, 2014
The grantee will implement a twelve-month long project, which aims at fostering social integration
of internally displaced persons (IDPs) through introduction of social enterprise (SE) as a viable
model for community mobilization and sustainable income generation. As part of the project, the
grantee plans to establish, a small rabbit farm in Senaki, where initially it will employ six IDPs, all
from different families. Once operational, the farm will support ten other IDP families from the
region in establishing their own rabbit farms. The farms will produce rabbit meat, fat, liver, and fur.
By introducing new methods of rabbit farming, the grantee will ensure the quality of the products
produced in these farms. The products will be supplied to restaurant chains in Kobuleti (tourism
zone), as well as farmers markets in Senaki and the surrounding area. The income generated from
the sales will be used to remunerate the employees and sustain the organizations activities. A strong
marketing campaign and supply of meat at a reasonable price will insure sufficient number of sales
to enable the farms to become profitable and reinvest the profits back into the social objectives of
the business.
15

Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Foundation for the Development of Human Resources

Social Entrepreneurship Education Program for IDP Children
and youth in Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Tianeti Regions
37,854 USD
October 1, 2012 September 30, 2013
The Foundation for the Development of Human Resources (FDHR) will implement a twelvemonth project, focused on fostering the skills necessary for social entrepreneurship and financial
management among young people in Georgia. Using the Aflatoun/Aflateen methodology, FDHR
will undertake a social and financial education program in public schools and youth centers in the
Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Tianeti regions, where children and young people displaced from the
Tskhinvali region are now enrolled. In addition, FDHR trainers will conduct a training of trainers in
using this methodology for 20 teachers from six schools and three youth centers. Through these
activities, a total of 200 children and adolescents between the ages of eight and 24 will take the
educational course in Children/Youth Social and Finance Education (CYSFE). FDHR will organize
the participants into twenty clubs, which will then compete with each other for funds to implement
micro-projects that employ the skills acquired in the CSFE course. FDHR will continue to negotiate
with TBC Bank and micro-finance organizations in Georgia to render support to the
implementation of micro-projects. FDHR will conduct a public-awareness and advocacy campaign
in order to expand the program to other schools in Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Tianeti and to other
parts of Georgia during project implementation.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
LTD Ertad (Together)

Production of Svanetian Salt Zesko
8,882 USD
January 1, 2013 September 30, 2013
The project Production of Svanetian Salt Zeskho, which became the winner of the competition
Students for Social Enterprise (implemented by EPF in cooperation with Center for Strategic
Research and Development of Georgia - CSRDG and the British Council) is a demonstration of
successful multi-stakeholder public-private partnership, namely four leading business school
students vigorously engaged in finding business solutions for NGO community, non-profits willing
to start Social Enterprise to reinvest in their social mission, business community and associations
contributing by recognizing students teams achievements by providing prizes and internships, free
consulting on tax and legal issues, and Tbilisi municipality facilitating low interest bank credit to a
newly established social enterprise (SE) . Project aims at fostering social integration of the disabled
through introduction of SE as a viable model for sustainable income generation. In addition to the
EPFs grant funding, additional financial recourse of about 10,000 GEL will be received through the
Tbilisi Municipality and EPF joint initiative in the form of concessional credit. SE Ertad (together)
launched by the organization Accessible Environment for Everyone, initially will employ six people,
out of which three are disabled. The enterprise will produce Svanetian salt, which according to the
market research conducted by the organization Accessible Environment for All and its partner
student team, is in high demand in Tbilisi. In accordance with the business plan, salt will be sold in
grocery stores and supermarkets in Tbilisi and around the country. The product will be distributed
by Georgian distribution company GDM. The income generated from the sales will be used to
remunerate the employees and sustain SE activities in the long run. A planned marketing campaign
16


Kommentar [4]: will fdhr provide micro-grants?
and supply of quality salt should ensure financial profits for the SE. At the same time SE will be
promoted as viable model for social-economic integration of people with disabilities. The grantee
plans to explore possibilities of exporting salt in the neighboring countries In the long run, in case
of successful export, generated income will be used for employment of additional staff with
disabilities.
YOUTH INTEGRATION
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Svaneti Youth Bank

Svaneti Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/5
1,830 USD
July 1, 2013 December 31, 2013
The goal of the Svaneti Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active citizens in the
development of their communities by providing leadership opportunities, building capacity among
the young grant makers, and creating space for youth initiative groups to engage in community
development activities. The project will enable the Youth Bank members to take responsibility for
making decisions over grants and be accountable for how the money is spent. Through a gender
sensitive needs assessment, the Svaneti Youth Bank members identified the following major
problems faced by the people residing in the area: (1) lack of healthy life-style among youth (2)
environmental degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the Youth Bank
announced a micro grants competition for the local youth (aged 16-24) to tackle the abovementioned problems. The Youth Bank received 12 applications and selected five projects for
funding.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Tkibuli Youth Bank

Tkibuli Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/6
2,541 USD
October 1, 2013 March 31, 2014
The goal of the Tkibuli Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active citizens in the
the young grant makers, and creating opportunities for youth initiative groups to engage in
community development activities. The project will enable the Youth Bank members to take
responsibility for making decisions over grants and be accountable for how the money is spent.
Through a gender sensitive needs assessment, the Tkibuli Youth Bank identified the following major
problems faced by the people residing in the region: (1) drug abuse and addiction, (2) environmental
degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the Youth Bank announced a
micro grants competition for the local youth (aged 14-24) to tackle the above-mentioned problems.
The Youth Bank received twelve applications and selected five projects for funding.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Martvili Youth Bank

Martvili Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/6
2, 823 USD
October 20, 2013 December 20, 2013
17
The goal of the Martvili Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active citizens in the
Through a gender-sensitive needs assessment, the Youth Bank members identified the following
major problems faced by the people residing in the region: (1) drug abuse and addiction, (2)
environmental degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the Martvili Youth
Bank announced a micro grants competition for local youth (aged 16-24) to tackle the abovementioned problems. The Youth Bank received nineteen applications and selected seven projects
for funding.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Khobi Youth Bank

Khobi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/6
2, 727 USD
October 20, 2013 December 20, 2013
The goal of the Khobi Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active citizens in the
major problems faced by the people residing in the region: (1) healthcare, (2) environmental
degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the Khobi Youth Bank announced
a micro grants competition for local youth (aged 16-24) to tackle the above-mentioned problems.
The Youth Bank received eighteen applications and selected seven projects for funding.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Akhmeta Youth Bank

Akhmeta Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/6
2, 661 USD
November 25, 2013 March 31, 2014
The goal of the Akhmeta Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active citizens in
the development of their communities by providing leadership opportunities, building capacity
among the young grant makers, and creating opportunities for youth initiative groups to engage in
major problems faced by the people residing in the region: (1) lack of healthy lifestyle among youth,
(2) environmental degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the Akhmeta
Youth Bank announced a micro grants competition for local youth (aged 15-24) to tackle the abovementioned problems. The Youth Bank received seventeen applications and selected six projects for
funding.
Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank

18
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 5/6

2, 661 USD
November 25, 2013 March 31, 2014
The goal of the Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank is to enable young people to participate as active
citizens in the development of their communities by providing leadership opportunities, building
capacity among the young grant makers, and creating opportunities for youth initiative groups to
engage in community development activities. The project will enable the Youth Bank members to
take responsibility for making decisions over grants and be accountable for how the money is spent.
Through a gender sensitive needs assessment, the Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank identified the
following major problems faced by the people residing in the region: (1) low youth involvement in
group sports, (2) environmental degradation, and (3) low levels of general education. As a result, the
Youth Bank announced a micro grants competition for the local youth (aged 14-24) to tackle the
above-mentioned problems. The Youth Bank received twelve applications and selected seven
projects for funding. Of the selected seven projects, six were approved by EPF.
Grants Closed during January 1 December 31, 2013
OPEN DOOR
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Center of Environmental Law

Forming the System of Civic Monitoring of the
Environmental Changes in the Industrial Zones
17,595 USD
January 17, 2011 February 20, 2013
Environmental awareness among Georgian citizens remains low. Majority of Georgian population
is unaware of their rights and responsibilities, as well as methods of protecting these rights and
advocating for their interests. The residents of Kaspi industrial zone, which hosts several enterprises
that process and or manufacture cement, brick, rubber and other materials, are no exception to the
rule. This lack of awareness in Kaspi residents leads to civic disengagement, which, in turn,
contributes to consistently deteriorating ecological conditions in the area. To address these issues,
the grantee conducted a study of the ecological situation in the Kaspi industrial zone and formed an
11-member monitoring group of local community leaders to support participatory civic monitoring
and advocacy efforts. Once competing the training on civic monitoring and advocacy methods, the
group targeted ecologically hazardous enterprises located in the area and supported civic education
and public awareness campaigns to galvanize the local communities. As a result the grantee
succeeded in addressing two of the four environmental issues identified by local residents. For
example, as a result of the project, Heidelberg-Caucasus cement factory started to use special
containers when collecting industry hazardous waste, while Kaspi municipality addressed the issues
of irrigation and water treatment. The grantees public outreach campaign, which included
dissemination of leaflets and brochures about local ecological problems and methods of citizen
participation, improved awareness of at least 300 local residents, who despite the initial reluctance
joined in to implement monitoring and advocacy efforts. The eco-lessons envisioned as part of the
project ensured that 45 students from Kaspi public schools improved their understanding of
ecological problems. Through the hotline, the grantee provided free legal advice on how to protect
19

their environmental rights and interact with local authorities. The grantee continued to maintain the
hotline and engage in campaigns to protect the environment after the end of the grant period. As
part of its post-grant period efforts, the grantee conducted monitoring and advocacy on
deforestation in Kakheti and brought a civil action against Tbilisi City Hall for elimination of
recreation zone on the territory of Tbilisi race track.
Proposal Title:
Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research

Guidebook on Monitoring of Local Self-governance for
Regional Non-governmental Organizations and the Media
To Establish Dried
Grant Amount:
27,763 USD
December 10, 2011- July 9, 2012
Georgian civil society continues to face the challenge of limited access to reliable information, elitedriven political processes, and low government responsiveness to public concerns. Citizens are
apathetic and do not take action to protect their rights and interests and, as a consequence,
government is not held accountable. However, there are CSOs and citizens that are active both in
Tbilisi and in the regions, but they often lack the knowledge and tools necessary to influence public
decision making. To address this issue, EPF provided grant support to the Caucasian Institute for
Economic and Social Research to engage experienced self-governance and civil society experts to
develop a comprehensive Georgian language guidebook detailing modern methods of conducting
high-profile civic monitoring and advocacy campaigns in all the basic spheres of local selfgovernance, including legal, administrative, and economic activities. The guidebook, which
incorporates 36 detailed examples of best local and international practive of civic monitoring and
advocacy, also provides information on how to engage local communities in various types of
monitoring and advocacy efforts. The grantee published and disseminated 500 copies of the
guidebook,
with
e-version
being
posted
on
the
grantees
website
http://www.ciesr.org/files/Monitoring%20Guide_CIESR_2012.pdf
and
at
http://www.csogeorgia.org/uploads/library/69/Monitoring_Guide_CIESR_2012ge.pdf. The draft
of the guide was unveiled at a conference of civic monitoring practitioners and experts (total 50
representatives), who provided their critique and recommendations, which were reflected in the final
publication. The publication represents an important addition to the previous EPF-funded
guidebook, which was published in 2007 and dealt with only general principles of civic monitoring.
Written in a user-friendly language and adjusted to the Georgian context, the guidebook is a practical
instrument for experienced civic watchdogs, as well as a useful learning tool for the grassroots CSOs
and the media outlets.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Georgian Institute of Russian Studies

Analytical Video Internet-Journal
8,742 USD
February 1, 2011 February 26, 2013
Over the past years, objective and balanced news coverage of the international context of RussoGeorgian relations was hard to find in the Georgian media. To address this issue, the Georgian
Institute for Russian Studies (GIRS) created a web video journal, through which it disseminated
interviews with experts and public figures on various aspects of Russo-Georgian relations.
20

Supported by two journalists and a cameraman trained within the project, the grantee prepared and
posted 67 analytical video journalism pieces. In addition, the GIRS organized two roundtables,
during which foreign policy practitioners and theorists discussed the relations between the two states
and addressed the importance of understanding the main directions of Georgian foreign policy
toward Russia. Throughout the project, 21,500 unique visitors and 51 subscribers viewed the video
journals generated by the grantee and posted on YouTube (GIRS-TV-YouTube). More than
190,000 views of and 600 comments on the GIRS materials have been reported through the various
websites that posted the grantees programming. One of the GIRS video journals on the role of
Christian orthodoxy in Georgian-Russian relations was used by the local Russian-language TV
company PIK in its analytical program entitled the Land of Democracy. These successes
notwithstanding, the grantee was unable to improve its institutional capacity and maintain the
achieved results.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Peaceful and Business Caucasus

Building capacity of Georgian-Abkhaz and
Georgian-Ossetian business people by business partnership
43,882 USD
The 2008 war with Russia and the latters recognition of independence of the breakaway territories,
caused further disintegration of relationships, including by reducing already narrow space for
people-to-people (P2P) contact. Over the past several years, there has been virtually no progress in
either the political dialogue or in transforming the community-level grievances and animosities
underpinning the conflicts between Georgians, Abkhazs, and Ossetians. In this situation, it is
important to support for civil society organizations to create safe spaces and to engage in
confidence-building efforts to restore mutual trust. With support from EPF, the grantee engaged
most active Georgian, Abkhazian, and Ossetian participants from the previous project to build on
the results achieved earlier. To deepen P2P contacts, the grantee trained 30 Georgian, 20
Abkhazian, and 14 Ossetian beneficiaries in business plan development, so as to ensure that the
ideas for joint ventures developed during the previous project could come to fruition. Business
plans were developed for 16 Georgian-Abkhaz and 6 Georgian-Ossetian business projects focusing
on beekeeping, provision of ambulatory services, petty trade, etc. All Abkhaz-Georgian and
Ossetian-Georgian business ideas were supported by International Red Cross, in the form of
technical assistance. Four Abkhaz-Georgian joint ventures were able to find support from microfinance organizations and private donors. The grantee also succeeded in creating community
centers in Gali, Ochamchire, Tkvarcheli, Khurcha, and Kardzmani. The centers in Khurcha and
Kardzmani (near the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian administrative boundary lines
respectively) have become safe spaces were Georgians, Abkhazians, and Ossetians come together to
discuss collaboration to support their business interests or resolve common issues (e.g. provision of
medical services). Only during the project, the community centers served as many as 194 Abkhazian
and Ossetian beneficiaries, providing service ranging from seeking medical help to receiving
Georgian passports. Presently, this Georgian-Abkhazian-Ossetian network unites seven community
centers in Khurcha, Ochamchira, Tkvarcheli, Chkhortoli (village in Tkvarcheli), Gali, Kardzmani,
and Tskhaltubo.
Caucasus Peace Support Center

21
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Overcoming the Informational Vacuum in Abkhazia through

an Abkhaz-Language Internet Portal
5,388 USD
August 1, 2011- February 11, 2013
Following the 1992-1994 conflict in Abkhazia, regular connectivity across the conflict divide was
essentially severed. The communities from both sides of the divide lack information about each
others lives, which creates ample room for exaggerating and often erroneous reporting. This
creates additional barriers for conflict transformation and confidence building between the separated
communities. With this problem in mind, the project created an Abkhaz language web portal,
www.newsinabkhazian.com, to serve as a source of unbiased information for the Abkhazian
communities living on the other side of the ABL. The web portal posted 70 Abkhaz language
translations of socio-economic and political articles published by leading Georgian newspapers and
magazines, thus, contributing to reducing the longstanding informational vacuum in the breakaway
territories of Georgia (Abkhazia) about the major events and trends experienced by the rest of
country. However, the website did not succeed in serving as a trustworthy source of unbiased
information for the Abkhazian communities living in the occupied territories of Georgia.
Throughout the duration of the project the grantee improved the website, added new functions (e.g.
online quiz) and managed to establish relations with several Abkhaz organizations, as well as Abkhaz
public figures.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Organization of Tbilisi Caregivers

Discover Your Tbilisi
24,224 USD
The construction boom in Tbilisis historical center raised many unanswered questions about the
City Halls vision of the citys future and the rationale behind issuing construction permits by the
relevant public authorities. Tbilisi residents were often unaware of what might be at stake and those
affected by the construction were unable to get their voices heard. Tbilisi Caregivers mobilized the
public to monitor the rehabilitation works implemented by Tbilisi City Hall in the historical part of
the capital (the Bread Square, Gudiashvili Square, the so-called Imeli building, which used to
house the Constitutional Court of Georgia), to promote transparency and ensure broad public
participation in the process of preserving the citys cultural heritage. By developing the legal and
architectural assessment of the rehabilitation works undertaken, conducting on-site observations,
and implementing targeted public information campaigns, the grantee succeeded in its efforts.
Notably, it was able to stop the demolition of the Imeli building by the foreign investor and to date
continues advocacy efforts to preserve the facade of the building. The findings of the monitoring
and expert recommendations both in Georgian and English were gathered on CD ROMs, with 100
copies distributed to the stakeholders. The grantee mobilized about 1,500 participants for the
advocacy action to preserve the historical value of the Gudiashvili square. This was made possible,
in part, by the media coverage garnered by the grantee and highly effective social networking, which
reached at least 3,000 citizens. During the project period, the grantee was successful in ensuring that
the rehabilitation works on the buildings located around the Gudiashvili Square maintained their
historical architecture. Tbilisi Caregivers continues to monitoring the rehabilitation works in the
post-grant period as well.
22

Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Radarami
Read and Connect
50,748 USD
September 6, 2011 - March 7, 2013
According to date, around 60% of Georgias population does not speak English and cannot afford
much Internet time. As a result, they are unaware and uninformed about international trends and
debates on various socio-political issues, such as democratization, sustainable development, global
economic crisis, etc. The grantee addressed this issue by providing Georgian leaders high quality
translations of some of the most prominent non-fiction works that have shaped the current global
debate on democracy. The project, which was implemented with co-funding from the Black Sea
Trust for Regional Cooperation, succeeded in translating and publishing four book titles (5,000
copies each). The translated works were selected by the members of the International Book
Selection Committee (created by the grantee specifically for the project) and included such titles as
Jonathan Wattss When a Billion Chinese Jump, Kathryn Schulzs Being Wrong: Adventures in the
Margin of Error, Joseph Stieglitzs Globalization and its Discontents, and William Antholis and
Strobe Talbots Fast Forward. In addition to translating and publishing the books, the grantee
organized 3 discussions and presentations in 8 regions of Georgia, attended by as many as 280
individuals from various walks of life, including the academia, civil society, and high school teachers.
The grantee also introduced SMS notification about publishing the next book to increase the
audience and galvanize interest in the translated works. By the end of the project, around 3,000
copies of each work were sold and/or distributed not only in the capital, but also in Kakheti, Shida
Kartli, Guria, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samegrelo, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Adjara. The project garnered
wide media coverage, increasing the grantees visibility and contributing to increased public interest
in the translated works. The project idea was well liked by other donors, including the US
Embassys Democracy Support Program, which is currently funding the translation of two
additional book titles.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Union of Blind in Georgia

Common Problem, Common Goal
15,260 USD
June 15, 2011 January 28, 2013
In Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, blind and visually impaired people are socially excluded due to
the lack of living skills that are necessary to engage in activities of daily living and to lead full and
productive life. To fulfill this need, the project targeted 42 blind and visually impaired young people
from the three South Caucasus countries to organize a living skills and intercultural awareness
training program for them. Throughout the grant period, the grantee provided training and
education opportunities for the selected youth (14 from Georgia, 14 from Armenia, and 14
Azerbaijan) during 10-day summer camp. As a result of these activities, the grantee supported the
participants in developing skills that are necessary to engage in activities of daily living to promote
their integration in the society. At the same time, the project contributed to confidence-building and
the creation of favorable conditions for an effective dialogue among Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri
youth. The project was implemented in cooperation with EPF Armenia and EPF Azerbaijan, which
23

provided grant support to conduct in-country conflict management workshops and to cover travel
and insurance costs for Armenian and Azeri participants.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Alliance Goodwill Mission - Missionaries

The Way to the Future
7,280 USD
September 12, 2011 January 15, 2013
In almost every household, community, and institution in Georgia, unspoken gender norms shape
the essence of the decisions made and the ways in which young people interact with the rest of the
world. The issue of gender inequality is particularly problematic in ethnic minority populated areas
of the country, where local cultural and social norms create the power dynamics in households and
communities that prevent young womens meaningful participation in community life and limit their
opportunities for self-realization and growth. To foster ethnic minority young womens participation
in local community life, the grantee organized gender training program, as result of which 49
participants (around 80% of the total) acquired basic understanding of the notion and practice of
gender equality and questioned their long-held attitudes toward gender roles and relationships.
ENGAGE AND MONITOR FOR CHANGE
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Coalition for IDP's Rights

Development of the Community Suffered by Military
Conflict
4,992 USD
October 1, 2010 April 14, 2011
Several years after the 2008 August conflict with Russia, which resulted in a new wave of IDPs, the
problems facing communities in the villages bordering the breakaway Tskhinvali region remain
largely unsolved, with the IDPs worried about unemployment, social benefits, and low levels of
socio-economic integration with the host communities. These concerns notwithstanding, the
residents of targeted villages acutely lack the knowledge and skills necessary for civic engagement so
as to promote positive change. With support from EPF, the grantee was able to enhance civic
awareness of and mobilize the IDP communities in the 8 frontline villages of Nikozi, Ergneti, Ditsi,
Mereti, Koshka, Kere, Flavi, and Mejvriskhevi. Specifically, the grantee conducted trainings in civic
monitoring and advocacy, so that local community members could better identify issues of concern
and develop projects to address them. Eight community leaders trained initially were able to
disseminate their knowledge to additional 120 individuals, so that together they could address
community problems. As a result, at least 100 IDPs were provided assistance and four projects were
developed by local community members, ranging from the creation of information-consultation
center in the buffer zone to mutual security measures for Georgian and Ossetian villages. These
ideas were shared with local authorities and used in the advocacy campaigns waged by the grantee.
During the project lifecycle, only one of the identified problems related to water supply has been
resolved (though partially). In addition, the project resulted in the creation of Gori Community
Development Center, with a clear strategy and its implementation action plan. Two of the Centers
projects have since been funded by EPF and the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF).
24

Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Center for Protection of Civil Interests

Initiative - Monitoring of land reform in
Khelvachauri municipality
19,534 USD
October 1, 2010 February 28, 2012
Transparency and lawfulness of land privatization and land reform processes in the underserved
regions is a subject of constant concern for local communities and civil society organizations. The
stakes are particularly high in resource rich areas, such as Adjara, where government competes with
citizens for land ownership. With support from EPF, the grantee monitored the land privatization
process in Khelvachauri municipality of Adjara to assess the lawfulness of the actions undertaken by
local authorities and to help local residents in advocating for the protection of their rights and
interests. The grantee selected 75 community leaders from 79 villages of the municipality and
trained them in participatory monitoring. It also surveyed 457community members to ascertain
their knowledge and concerns with respect to land reforms (current and pending), as well as
conducted multiple meetings about these reforms to inform the population (including through
dissemination of 2,000 copies of brochures) and learn about their needs. In addition, the grantee
provided legal and other consultations to 130 local residents, who had questions and/or problems
related to land privatization and ownership. The grantees public information campaign was
supported by local newspaper Batumelebi. Increased civic awareness facilitated the formation of a
mobile monitoring group composed of most proactive community leaders and youth volunteers.
The group supported the grantees efforts to detect abuses in the process of granting or depriving
land ownership rights. The findings along with recommendations for addressing the detected
problems were provided to both local and national authorities and led to greater responsiveness of
Khelvachauri authorities, especially the Sakrebulo Commission for Recognition of Land Property
Rights, which started to ensure transparency of discussions by inviting the project representatives
and by providing public information in a timely manner.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Tserovani Community Organization Side by Side

Institutional Development of the Community
Organization in the Tserovani IDP Collection Center
5,145 USD
October 15, 2011 April 15, 2012
Socio-economic hardships and problems with reintegration are still high on the agenda of the IDPs
from the August 2008 war. The IDP Collective Center in the village of Tserovani accommodates a
sizable group of internally displaced persons (about 6,000 households), who lost their houses and
livelihoods during the conflict. The efforts by the Government of Georgia, local civil society, and
the donor community to support these individuals have been marginally successful, as the majority
are still marginalized from the society at large and face multiple economic hardships. As time lapses,
the only sure way to ensure better socio-economic integration of IDPs is to improve the latters civic
awareness and support their efforts directed toward addressing their most pressing needs. For this
to happen, it is necessary to support institutional capacity building efforts of those grassroots
organizations that support or are created by the representatives of the most vulnerable groups. With
EPF support, Tserovani-based Union Side by Side was able to improve its institutional capacity,
while at the same time advocating for the protection of the IDP rights and fulfillment of their needs.
25

The grantee, together with the local community and experienced partner CSOs (namely, the
Coalition for IDP Rights, For the Better Future, and Tskhinvali House), implemented advocacy
campaigns designed to foster the socio-economic integration of IDPs residing in the Tserovani
Collective Center. For this purpose, the grantee trained 12 selected leaders in civic monitoring and
advocacy, as well as in project development and fundraising. They advocated for the interests of 50
IDPs, who had various unresolved issues with public authorities, including IPD status documents,
social assistance, and environmental degradation that affected their living conditions. One of the
notable successes has been in relation to the Natakhtari Beer Company, which was forced to install
purification filters in its discharging tubes and clean up the environmental damage already caused by
the plant. The knowledge, skills, and resources acquired during the project implementation has
helped the grantee to establish new partnerships with experienced civic organizations, including a
Czech CSO, Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU), which continues to counsel the grantee and
include it in its fundraising efforts. As a result of the project, the grantee has also been able to more
than double its membership and attract around 100 volunteers, who support the grantees efforts to
address the needs of the IDPs.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Medical Workers Initiative

Improve social environment together!
19,882 USD
February 1, 2012 November 30, 2012
EPF has been consistent in supporting local CSOs in developing skills and creating opportunities to
engage stakeholders in policy dialogue and advocacy. The grant provided to the Medical Workers
Initiative helped this regional CSO to improve its civic monitoring and advocacy efforts and, in this
process, assist socially vulnerable residents of Kutaisi to improve their living conditions. In
particular, the grantee set up civic monitoring groups in five territorial units of Kutaisi, to ascertain
the problems in medical service and social assistance delivery and to advocate for their solution. To
contribute to participatory decision making, the project reached out to representatives of public
authorities (local government and the Public Defenders Office), doctors, and social agents,
involving them in monitoring and advocacy trainings together with civic leaders. As a result of the
project, the grantee trained 90 individuals (70% women) in civic monitoring and advocacy methods,
of which 30 formed civic monitoring groups to assess the situation on the ground and to wage
dialogue with public authorities (through closed-door and roundtable meetings). The projects
outreach was ensured with the media campaign implemented through Radio Dzveli Kalaki (8
programs), TV-Rioni (2 talk-shows), and the newspapers Akhali Gazeti and Rezonansi. The
grantees advocacy efforts contributed to tangible positive outcomes for the target population, with
four socially vulnerable families succeeding in reclaiming their social assistance allowance.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Transparency International Georgia

Fix My Street
19,862 USD
Research on civic culture has demonstrated that one of the best ways to foster civic engagement is
to mobilize people around the issues that they care about and to ensure that they are able to see
tangible results of their activism. With support from Eurasia Partnership Foundation, TI Georgia
26

was able to utilize innovative methods of online monitoring to mobilize citizens and address one of
the most pressing needs of Tbilisi residents. Specifically, the grantee adapted open-source software
to create a website www.chemikucha.ge, so that with just a few clicks, citizens can report problems
with local municipal infrastructure directly to the city government and then monitor the response.
The grantees successful collaboration with Tbilisi City Hall ensured that only during the project
period 809 of the 1,220 reported problems with Tbilisi Streets have been fixed. As a result of using
innovative civic monitoring techniques, the grantee was able to achieve sustainable positive impact
on hundreds of Tbilisi residents. The website was mentioned in a hearing of the US House of
Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs during a discussion on the State of Democracy and
Freedom in Eastern Europe on July 26, 2011. In his testimony, Stephen B. Nix, the Director of the
Eurasia Division of the International Republican Institute highlighted the website as a positive
development
of
a
CSO-government
dialogue
in
Georgia
(http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1333). The website www.chemikucha.ge is
still operational, with Tbilisi residents continuing to post their issues and the City Hall responding to
the needs. Thus, during 2012, the website received 466 notices from the public, of which 198 have
been resolved by the municipality. The grantee has launched the replication of the innovative
practice in Rustavi, Gori and Ozurgeti.
Democratic Development Union of Georgia
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Public Initiatives for Democracy

19,882 USD
????? ?? ???? ?
Local self-governance reforms initiated in 2006 did not lead to the desired results. The links
between citizens (especially, those residing in remote areas) and local authorities remain weak, as a
result of which local decision-making is largely unresponsive to the populations needs. To address
this problem, the grantee focused on citizen mobilization to monitor local public expenditure and
assess the quality of service delivery by Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri municipalities. To achieve the
projects goal and objectives, the grantee trained Tkhinvali, Makvaneti, Chanieti, Kokhnari, Khevi,
and Khidistavi residents on civic monitoring and advocacy methods. Twenty-five community
members and five local journalists learned about conducting community needs assessment, problem
analysis, and methods of monitoring and advocacy, which allowed them to wage constructive
dialogue with local authorities when advocating for needs-based decision making. The grantee
succeeded in setting up Public Advisory Assemblies to Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri Sakrebulos
(elected local councils), thus, institutionalizing the grantees participatory monitoring and advocacy
efforts. Created by the decisions of Sakrebulo, the Assemblies are composed of representatives of
CSOs, local authorities, community leaders, and journalists, and have continued to advocate for
improved budget planning and municipal service delivery in the post-grant period. The trained
community members and Public Advisory Assemblies succeeded in addressing 15 of the 19
identified local problems, ensuring repairs of sewage system, paving of local roads, building bridges,
etc. Following the grantees recommendation, Ozurgeti Gamgeoba (local executive body) amended
its Decision #10, which created an obligation for the Gamgeoba to conduct local needs assessments
to determine budget allocations among the villages. The project greatly benefited from partnership
with local media outlets, such as Guria News (newspaper) and Guria TV, as the media partnership
ensured that the regions population was aware of the waged monitoring and advocacy campaigns.
27

Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)

Promoting Civic Engagement in Village Aid Program
19,895 USD
September 15, 2010 February 20, 2013
In 2009, the Government of Georgia (GoG) began implementing the national rural assistance
program, for which it allocated GEL 100 million. But the much advertised program, initiated to
improve local infrastructure and strengthen local self-governance, was widely criticized for not
contributing to the publically declared goals. With support from Eurasia Partnership Foundation,
the grantee mobilized local communities in fifty villages of Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti,
Kakheti, Ajara, and Imereti regions to engage in civic monitoring efforts and assess the programs
implementation. To support these efforts, EPRC surveyed 300 households in the targeted regions to
learn about their knowledge and perception of the rural assistance program. Both the survey results
and the grantees monitoring efforts revealed that despite the fact that the program was supposed to
address local needs, citizen engagement in decision-making on allocation of funds was low. The
grantee partnered with local media outlets (P.S. in Imereti, Southern Gate in Akhaltsikhe,
Batumelebi in Ajara, Spektri in Kakheti, and www.kvemokartli.ge in Kvemo Kartli) and trained their
journalists on civic monitoring and advocacy. These journalists cooperated with fifty community
leaders (one per targeted village), who were also trained by the grantee on community mobilization
and civic monitoring methods. This cooperation resulted in fifty informative articles about the
various aspects of the programs implementation, which not only raised public awareness, but also
contributed to resolving some of the longstanding local issues. For example, the plight of Zesopeli
residents (a village in Ajara), which was showcased in one of the articles published in Batumelebi,
was successfully addressed by Keda municipality and the community was finally able to connect with
the rest of the region via well-paved road. In addition to working with the media outlets, the trained
activists mobilized around 1,000 local residents for discussions of the Rural Assistance Program and
disseminated EPRC primer on the Program to 5,000 residents in the targeted areas. The grantees
main recommendation to ensure local needs-based decision-making within the rural assistance
program was considered by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, but no
specific action was undertaken to address the situation. The grantee maintained its partnerships with
the regional media outlets after the end of the EPF-funded project and contributed to the
professional coverage of rural development issues by them.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Public Union The Young Scientists' Club of Ozurgeti

Monitoring Legal Entities in Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti
22,963 USD
Since 2009, local self-governing units have been delivering various services through nonentrepreneurial legal persons established on the basis of Article 7 of the Law of Georgia on Local
Self-Government. In Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti municipalities such entities have been receiving
approximately one third of the local budget, with little public awarness and accountability. To
address this issue and ensure civic engagement in local decision making, the grantee trained sixteen
community leaders (from Ozurgeti and Chokhatauri municipalities) and two journalists (from Guria
TV and Guriis Moambe) to conduct civic monitoring of the work undertaken by eight nonentrepreneurial legal persons (NELPs) established by Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti municipalities.
28

Based on the monitoring results, the grantee grantee developed 76 recommendations on improving
the NELP management, their transparency and quality of service delivery. According to the grantee,
80% of the recommendations have been accepted by the targeted NELPs. Three of the eight
targeted NELPs have already drafted strategic development plans and submitted to the Municipal
Council for approval. The other five NELPs are also working with local population to develop their
strategies based on the local needs. The wide media coverage provided by Guria News and Guria
TV contributed to improved citizen awareness of the work conducted by the NELPs and supported
the grantee in its advocacy for more transparent and needs-based service delivery. As a result,
Ozurgeti Agri-Business Center created an informational stand describing its activities and conducted
several meetings with the village communities to learn about this needs. As part of the project, the
partner media outlets featured eight documentaries and published ten newspaper inserts on the
monitoring results. In addition, Guria TV developed four feature programs about the project, which
Guriis Moambe posted the project findings on www.guriismoambe.com, which had 100 unique
visitors daily. The project succeeded in creating partnerships among Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti
CSOs, as well as the grantee and local media outlets.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Library Cultural Center for the Disabled - Tanadgoma

Lets Build the Future Together
5,984 USD
June 1, 2010 February 28, 2013
The issue of rehabilitation and social integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs), especially
children and youth, is still salient in Georgia. It requires multi-dimensional effort of state and nonstate actors to ensure that persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities to participate in the
countrys social, economic, and political life. Tanadgoma Library and Cultural Center for the
Disabled implemented a project aimed at introducing income-generating activities to foster the
organizations sustainability and contribute to the achievement of its mission, namely social
rehabilitation and integration of the disabled youth. With EPF support, the organization trained six
PWDs from socially vulnerable families on using equipment to produce handicrafts, such as paper
gift bags, souvenir cups, and postcards. The grantee also developed paid services, including printing
business cards, laminating, copying, and binding hand-outs and workshop materials, to generate
income and employ the beneficiary PWDs. Three of the trained PWDs continue to be employed by
the grantee fulltime, while two others are invited to work on special orders. According to the FY
2012 financial report, the grantees social enterprise has reached a breakeven point. As a result of
the project, Tanadgoma was able to leverage funds, raise in-kind contributions and, in cooperation
with its business-partner, expanded service offerings to its customers (mostly NGOs and
international organizations).
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Healthy Environment Ltd. established by NGO Child and

Environment
Social Enterprise - Car Washing Facility
5,781 USD
July 1, 2010 February 28, 2013
29
The issue of social-economic integration of street children, especially of those who have to leave
special institutions after reaching the age of 18, is still salient in Georgia. To improve socioeconomic status of Tbilisis street children, Healthy Environment, Ltd. set up a car wash to provide
employment to those youngsters, who are faced with harsh reality of having to leave their modest
shelter without employment. Since its establishment in July 2010, the social enterprise periodically
employed eight youngsters and five adult family members. Because some of the beneficiaries did
not take this assignment seriously, turnover rate was very high and the enterprise was forced to
provide full-time employment to two at-risk youth and one professional washer. As a result of
concentrated marketing and public relations efforts using social media, the grantee succeeded in
attracting individual and corporate customers. In December 2011, the social enterprise reached a
break-even point. The generated profits, together with funds raised from another donor, enabled
the grantee to expand the services offered. Despite the fact that the car wash was closed for six
months in 2012 due to extensive road construction works, the business was able to maintain its
customer base. By the end of the year, all three boxes operated in full, with the number of corporate
clients reaching seven. This has allowed the management to plan on offering oil change services to
the motorists, which will further contribute to the employment of at risk youth.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Association Woman and Development

Social Enterprise Bakery in Gori
6,005 USD
July 1, 2010 February 28, 2013
In order to integrate the IDP women into the society, Association Women and Development
established a small bakery in Gori as a social enterprise that employs IDP women. The products
offered by the enterprise are made from natural ingredients and their prices are lower than the
existing prices in the region. The bakery offers customers Georgian baked goods as well as
hamburgers and sandwiches. After EPF-organized training at Entre, the leading baking chain in
Georgia, the enterprise added croissants to its menu. With the success of the bakery, the social
enterprise which was established as an Ltd has diversified its services and currently offers other
services including drug packing for women. The bakery has five full-time IDP women employees
who work in baking and distribution and five additional IDP women who work on a contract basis
on other services offered by the enterprise. The enterprise has reached a break-even point in June
2011. To compare with 2011 year results, in 2012 social enterprise received twofold income in an
amount of about 12,000 GEL. Earned income was used to remunerate employees and sustain the
enterprise activities. In the future, the enterprise is planning to become more active in advertising
their products and services.
YOUTH INTEGRATION
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Aspindza Youth Bank

Aspindza Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 4/5
1,729 GEL
October 15, 2012 April 15, 2013
30

To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Aspindza community
and find solutions to the problems faced by people residing there (such as, poverty, lack of youth
civic activism, and low levels of general education), Aspindza Youth Bank funded two youth-led
initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition. One of the youth-led initiative
groups organized cultural evenings in Aspindza and showcased the works of their peers from
different schools and villages of Aspindza municipality and used the funds raised through these
events to help three vulnerable families residing in their community. To promote healthy life-style,
another youth-led initiative group organized a soccer tournament for young people residing in eight
villages of Aspindza municipality. Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives,
the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, organizing a volleyball
tournament for the 9th and 10th graders enrolled in Aspindza public schools, through which the YB
mobilized around 40 community volunteers.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Chokhatauri Youth Bank

Chokhatauri Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/5
2,932.26 GEL
September 15, 2012 June 20, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Chokhatauri

community and find solutions to the problems faced by people residing there (such as, violation of
human rights, environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Chokhatauri Youth
Bank funded four youth-led initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition.
One of the youth-led initiative groups purchased up-to-date academic literature for library of one of
the schools in Chokhatauri to improve the access of local youth to contemporary educational
materials. With the same goal in mind, the Youth Bank supported young people to purchase a range
of basic chemistry laboratory equipment for another Chokhatauri school, which enabled the
students to conduct various experiments and contributed to improving their knowledge of
Chemistry. To set an example for environment friendly practice to local youth, another youth-led
initiative group purchased a lawn mower and renovated the football stadium of the Chokhatauri
Public School #2. The fourth youth-led initiative group formed football, volleyball, and basketball
teams to support physical education at schools. Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led
initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, celebrating the
International Earth Day by organizing a street action to motivate local community members to take
care of the environment.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Khobi Youth Bank

Khobi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/5
3,141.29 GEL
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Khobi community
and find solutions to the problems faced by people residing there (such as, drug abuse and addiction,
environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Khobi Youth Bank funded five
youth-led initiatives that were submitted to the YB following the grant competition. One of the
youth-led initiative groups promoted health education among the local youth, through conducting
first aid training for youth peer trainers, who then trained other youth in the provision of first aid.
31

In addition, the Youth Bank supported young people to purchase a range of chemistry laboratory
equipment for the Khobi Public School #1, thus, enabling the students to conduct various
experiments and contributing to improved levels of general education among the local youth. To
motivate youth to learn, another youth-led initiative group organized intellectual games for the
students of all Khobi public schools. To foster environment friendly practices among the youth, the
forth youth-led initiative group mobilized volunteers to construct a mini park/square in the yard of
Pirveli Maisi village school. The youth-led initiative group that was to create a school radio in Kheta
could not implement the activities, as with the change in the head of local government they were not
able to receive in-kind contribution from the municipality. Apart from funding and monitoring these
youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity,
organizing street event to raise awareness of the Khobi Commity on HIV/AIDS.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Marneuli Youth Bank

Marneuli Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 4/5
2,682.66 GEL
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Manreuli community
and find solutions to the problems faced by local residents (such as, unemployment, environmental
degradation, and low levels of general education), Manreuli Youth Bank funded five youth-led
initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition. Given the election year, the
competition RFA also called for election related project proposals. One of the funded youth-led
initiative groups mobilized volunteers to clean up the village of Tamarisi and planted trees there. To
improve the access of local youth to contemporary educational materials, another youth-led initiative
group purchased up-to-date academic literature for the library of Public School #5. The third
youth-led initiative group organized private classes in math and Georgian literature for socially
vulnerable students, residing in Tsereteli village. To introduce various election-related issues to the
voters, including their electoral rights and duties, the forth youth-led initiative group organized
seminars for the youth of Marneuli. With the same goal in mind, the fifth youth-led initiative group
organized mock elections and a talk-show, as well as produced election-related flyers in Georgian
and Azeri languages). Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth
Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, organizing a charity event to provide
assistance to the residents of the Bolnisi shelter house for the elderly.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Martvili Youth Bank

Martvili Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 1/5
2,968.00 GEL
September 15, 2012 July 29, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Matvili community
and find solutions to the problems faced by local residents (such as, drug abuse, environmental
degradation, and low levels of general education), Martvili Youth Bank funded five youth-led
initiative groups mobilized volunteers to clean up the banks of the River Tsachkhura. To improve
the access of local youth to contemporary educational materials, another youth-led initiative group
32

purchased up-to-date academic literature for Salkhino Village library. The third youth-led initiative
group whitewashed the tree barks, so as to protect century old trees of village Salkhino from
harmful pests. To enhance environmental awareness of local youth, the fourth youth-led initiative
group mobilized volunteers to construct a mini park/square in the yard of the Didi Chkhoni public
school. With the same goal in mind, the fifth youth-led initiative group constructed a mini square in
the yard of Salkhino Village Cultural House. Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led
initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, organizing a
charity event to provide assistance to the students of Taleri village kindergarten. In addition,
Martvili YB participated in another EPF initiative designed to support the creation of young
constituency for pease across the South Caucasus and Turkey. To establish constructive
relationships among their peers across borders, Martvili YB members participated in various
activities, including two cross-cultural communication trainings, an exchange visit to Armenia, and a
conference in Istanbul.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Zugdidi Youth Bank

Zugdidi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 5/5
2,025.00 GEL
September 15, 2012 September 19, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Zugdidi community
degradation, and low levels of general education), Zugdidi Youth Bank funded five youth-led
initiative groups organized a demonstration, as well as distributed flyers, to challenge the Zugdidi
residents to care for environment. To improve conflict management skills of IDP and socially
vulnerable youth, another youth-led initiative group organized training on conflict management.
The third youth-led initiative group mobilized volunteers to construct a mini park/square in the
schoolyard of Zugdidi Public School No. 3. To raise awareness of IDPs on gender related issues,
the forth youth-led initiative group organized trainings in Potskho village and Shota Meskhia
Zugdidi Univerity. The fifth youth-led initiative group promoted health education among local
youth, through engaging paramedics and ER doctors to conduct first aid trainings for youth peer
trainers. Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank
successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, organizing a charity event to provide
assistance to the socially disadvantaged youth residing in Tsalenjikha orphanage house. In addition,
Zugdidi YB participated in another EPF initiative designed to support the creation of young
constituency for pease across the South Caucasus and Turkey. To establish constructive
relationships among their peers across borders, Zugdidi YB members participated in various
activities, including two cross-cultural communication trainings, an exchange visit to Armenia, and a
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Gori Youth Bank

Gori Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 5/5
3,487.56 GEL
September 15, 2012 November 19, 2013
33
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Gori community and
find solutions to the problems faced by local residents (such as, drug abuse, environmental
degradation, and low levels of general education), Gori Youth Bank funded four youth-led
initiative groups mobilized volunteers to clean up the IDP settlement located in Gori. To improve
the access of local youth to contemporary educational materials, another youth-led initiative group
purchased up-to-date academic literature for Zemo Khviti village library and organized book
presentations with participation of local youth. To enhance youth environmental awareness, the
third youth-led initiative group mobilized volunteers to construct a mini park/square in the yard of
the Tirdznisi village school. The forth youth-led initiative organized a photo contest for the young
people residing in Gori, depicting polluted and cleaned up parts of the municipality, and invited the
amateur photographers to attend two-day training on environmental issues. Apart from funding and
monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF
funded activity, organizing a charity event to provide assistance to the disabled children of Gori day
center. In addition, Gori YB participated in another EPF initiative designed to support the creation
of young constituency for peace across the South Caucasus and Turkey. To establish constructive
relationships among their peers across borders, Gori YB members participated in various activities,
including two cross-cultural communication trainings, an exchange visit to Armenia, and a
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Batumi Youth Bank

Batumi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/5
1000 GEL
September 15, 2012 November 19, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Batumi and find
solutions to the problems faced by local residents (such as, unemployment, environmental
degradation, and low levels of general education), Batumi Youth Bank funded two youth-led
initiative groups conducted a survey to assess the knowledge of elections related matters among local
youth, in order to share the findings with their peers and hold informed discussions about elections.
Another youth-led initiative group organized intellectual games for the 9th and 10th graders enrolled
in Batumi Public School #9 on environmental issues. In addition, Batumi YB members participated
in another EPF initiative designed to support the creation of young constituency for peace across
the South Caucasus and Turkey. To establish constructive relationships among their peers across
borders, Batumi YB members participated in various activities, including two cross-cultural
communication trainings, an exchange visit to Armenia, and a conference in Istanbul. The YB was
not able to fund the third youth-led initiative.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Lanchkhuti Youth Bank

Lanchkhuti Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 1/4
2,985 USD
October 10, 2011 November 12, 2012
34
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Lanchkhuti

community and find solutions to the problems faced by youth and adults residing there (namely,
environmental degradation, and low levels of general education, lack of recreational opportunities
and/or cultural events), Lanchkhuti Youth Bank funded four youth-led initiatives. One of the
youth-led initiative groups renovated the stadium of Japana Village and organized football
tournaments there. Another youth-led initiative group organized an art exhibition, where young
painters had an opportunity to showcase their works to their peers and to celebrate the local talent.
To promote the healthy lifestyle among youth, another youth-led initiative group supported the
reconstruction of Ghrmaghele village stadium. The more than 70% of funds needed to reconstruct
the stadium were raised from the Ghrmaghele village municipality. Another youth-led initiative
group purchased musical instruments and formed a folklore group to raise interest of local youth to
cultural events. Even though Lanchkhuti YB selected five projects for funding, the YB could not
manage to fund the fifth project, because the grant period expired. Apart from funding and
funded activity, joining other YBs to celebrate the International Earth Day by organizing a photo
exhibition, conference, and tree planting in the local park, so as to motivate their community
members to care for the environment.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Rustavi Youth Bank

Rustavi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/5
1,374 USD
May 15, 2013 November 14, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Rustavi community
degradation, and low levels of general education), Rustavi Youth Bank funded two youth-led
initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition. One of the funded youth-led
initiative groups mobilized around 50 volunteers and enlisted help from Rustavi Youth Center to
clean up and renovate parts of Rustavi Central Park. To encourage local youth to exercise and
practice healthy lifestyle, another youth-led initiative group organized football and volleyball
tournaments for the 9th and 10th graders enrolled in 10 public schools of Rustavi. More than 130
students enrolled in 10 public schools of Rustavi participated in the tournaments, which have since
been made annual, so as to bring together local youth. Apart from funding and monitoring these
youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank members implemented one non-EPF funded project, training
their peers in project writing and volunteerism.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Tserovani Youth Bank

Tserovani Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/5
639 USD
October 1, 2012 April 1, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Tserovani community
degradation, and low levels of general education), Tserovani Youth Bank funded two youth-led
35

initiative groups mobilized volunteers to clean up the surroundings of Tserovani IDP Settlement
and promoted environment friendly attitudes and practices among their peers through printing and
distributing flyers on environmental issues. To enhance environmental awareness of local youth,
another youth-led initiative group mobilized volunteers to clean up Tserovani village. Apart from
funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one
non-EPF funded activity, celebrating the International Earth Day by organizing a street action to
motivate local community members to take care of the environment.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Bolnisi Youth Bank

Bolnisi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 3/4
1, 720 USD
March 1, 2012 January 9, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Bolnisi community
and find solutions for the problems faced by people residing there (namely, drug abuse,
environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Bolnisi Youth Bank funded three
youth-led initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition. One of the youth-led
initiative groups mobilized volunteers to plant pine trees near Kazreti Public School. To motivate
youth to participate in the elections, another youth-led initiative group conducted the training for the
first time voters about the importance of voting. The third youth-led initiative group mobilized
local community members to clean up territory around Bolnisi Church and plant trees there. Apart
from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented
one non-EPF funded activity, organizing clean up activity in the central park.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Ninotsminda Youth Bank

Ninotsminda Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 1/4
2, 813 USD
November 9, 2011 January 10, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Ninotsminda

community and find solutions to the problems faced by youth and adults residing there (namely,
unemployment, environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Ninostminda
Youth Bank funded five youth-led initiatives, of which four were later implemented by the local
youth. One of the youth-led initiative groups organized skills training for young people to improve
their employment chances. Another youth-led initiative group mobilized volunteers to clean up
Ninotsminda main square, motivating Ninotsminda residents to take care of their surroundings.
The third youth-led initiative group organized informational campaign about the availability of
simplified admissions procedures for ethnic minority youth to Georgian institutions of higher
education of Georgia, thus, contributing to integration of ethnic minorities in the Georgian society.
Setting an example of environment-friendly practices, the fourth initiative group mobilized
Ninotsminda public school students and administration for cleaning up the school yards. Apart
from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented
one non-EPF funded activity, organizing clean up action in Ninotsminda.
Proposal Title:
Khulo Youth Bank

Khulo Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 1/4
36
Grant Amount:
3, 005 USD
September 28, 2011 January 14, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Khulo community
and find solutions to the problems faced by youth and adults residing there (namely, lack of
recreational opportunities, environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Khulo
Youth Bank funded five youth-led initiatives. One of the youth-led initiative groups set up a mini
park with a small fountain close to the Gurto village public school building. Another initiative group
mobilized volunteers to renovate the path to the Vardtsikhe Castle, located in the village of
Khikhadziri and mount an information stand about the historical significance of the monument.
Setting an example of environment-friendly practices, the third youth-led initiative group mobilized
volunteers to plant 114 walnut trees along the Zomleti-Khulo segment of the highway. Another
youth-led initiative group purchased up-to-date academic literature for the Kedlebi Public School
library to improve the students access to contemporary educational materials. The fifth youth-led
initiative group equipped the Dzerkvadzeebi village gym with arm wrestling equipment to encourage
local youth to work out and practice healthy lifestyle. Apart from funding and monitoring these
youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity,
mobilizing the local community to clean up the territory of Daba Khulo.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Rustavi Youth Bank

Rustavi Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 1/4
2,307 USD
May 10, 2012 February 14, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Rustavi community
and find solutions to the problems faced by youth and adults residing there (namely, drug abuse,
environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Rustavi Youth Bank funded four
youth-led initiatives. One of the youth-led initiative groups renovated the gym of Rustavi Public
School No. 18 and organized football, basketball and volleyball tournaments there. Another youthled initiative group mobilized volunteers to raise awareness of Rustavi population on environmental
issues. To improve the educational opportunities for students with special needs, another youth-led
initiative group supported the installation of ramps at Public School No.18 and equipped a
classroom with developmentally appropriate books and toys. The more than 40% of funds needed
to install the ramp were raised from the school. Another youth-led initiative purchased up-to-date
academic literature for one of the Rustavi Public Schools library to improve the students access to
contemporary educational materials. Apart from funding and monitoring these youth-led initiatives,
the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity, organizing literature
evening for the students of Rustavi Public School No. 18.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Akhmeta Youth Bank

Akhmeta Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/4
1,920 USD
November 7, 2011 May 5, 2013
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Akhmeta community
and find solutions to the problems faced by youth and adults residing there (namely, environmental
37

degradation, low levels of general education, and drug abuse), Akhmeta Youth Bank funded three
youth-led initiatives. One of the initiative groups sought to motivate Akhmeta residents to engage in
environment friendly practices and mobilized local youth to clean up three districts of Akhmeta. To
promote learning and development, the second youth-led initiative group organized intellectual
games for the 9th and 10th graders enrolled in Akhmeta public schools. The third youth-led
initiative group mobilized volunteers to clean up the yard of Alvani village school and create a mini
park, so as to promote the youth activism in environmental protection. Apart from funding and
funded activity, joining other YBs to celebrate the International Earth Day by mobilizing local
community members to organize an exhibition of paintings, depicting littered and cleaned up parts
of Akhmeta municipality, distributing flyers to motivate the community to take care of the
environment, and cleaning the local park.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Tkibuli Youth Bank

Tkibuli Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 2/5
2,705 USD
To enable young people to participate as active citizens in the development of Tkibuli community
and find solutions to the problems faced by local residentse (such as, drug abuse and addiction,
environmental degradation, and low levels of general education), Tkibuli Youth Bank funded five
youth-led initiatives, submitted to the YB as a result of the grant competition. Given the salient
election year, the competition RFA also called for election related project proposals. One of the
youth-led initiative groups mobilized volunteers to clean up one of the most littered streets in
Tkibuli (Tkvarcheli Street) and planted eucalyptus trees there. To improve the educational
opportunities for students with special needs of Gelati village, another youth-led initiative group
equipped a classroom with developmentally appropriate books and toys. With the same goal in
mind, the Youth Bank supported young people to purchase a range of developmentally appropriate
books, classroom decorations, and supplies for Orpiri Village Public School, which enabled all
students to learn effectively and participate equally in classroom activities. The fourth youth-led
initiative group organized seminars, introducing to the youth of Orpiri village election related issues,
such as electoral rights and duties of voters, electoral procedures, and voters lists. To motivate
youth to live a healthy lifestyle, another youth-led initiative group conducted training for students of
Gelati Public School on the harms of drug addiction and abuse. Apart from funding and monitoring
these youth-led initiatives, the Youth Bank successfully implemented one non-EPF funded activity,
organizing charity event to provide assistance to a burn-victim in Tkibuli.
EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB)

TV-Radio Project European Choice
49,846 USD
January 1, 2011 October 31, 2012
Despite the fact that European integration is one of the major foreign policy objectives of Georgia,
majority of Georgian citizens do not have sufficient understanding of the European Union and what
38

it could mean to become more integrated with the EU. To foster wider public debate about and
contribute to improved public understanding of European integration issues, EPF announced a
grant competition for developing and broadcasting TV-radio talk shows focused on highlighting
Georgias efforts to approximate EU standards and policies. The Georgian Public Broadcaster
(GPB) was one of the grant recipients under the competition. A weekly TV program, European
Choice, was aired on Chanel 1, covering all important issues relevant to Georgias European
integration efforts (e.g. European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan, DCFTA, food safety
regulations, Visa facilitation and Readmission Agreement, employment rights and labor law,
intellectual property law, judicial reform, human rights protection, etc.). A total of 49 talk-shows
were aired, as well as uploaded on GPBs web-site and Facebook page of the program. The talk
shows gathered diverse group of discussants from public authorities, civil society, diplomatic corps,
and the media. Many participants of the shows expressed their special appreciation that such
professional debates were conducted on important themes. Some civil society representatives
underlined that they were grateful to this program, as it has been quite some time since they have
been invited by the GPB to voice their opinions. It is notable, that several TV shows garnered as
much as 12-16% viewers share index, which is an impressive showing, considering the fact that the
political talk-shows of a similar format get between 2% to 6% of share index.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Association Green Wave

Wide Europe
30,493 USD
January 1, 2011 March 31, 2012
Despite the fact that European integration is one of the major foreign policy objectives of Georgia,
majority of Georgian citizens do not have sufficient understanding of the European Union and what
it could mean to become more integrated with the EU. To foster wider public debate about and
contribute to improved public understanding of European integration issues, EPF announced a
grant competition for preparation of TV-radio talk shows focused on highlighting Georgias efforts
to approximate EU standards and policies. The Association Green Wave was one of the grant
recipients under the competition. The radio program Europe in Georgia was aired throughout the
year, covering all important issues relevant to Georgias European integration efforts (e.g. European
Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan, DCFTA, food safety regulations, Visa facilitation and
Readmission Agreement, employment rights and labor law, Erasmus Mundus Program, etc.). A
total of 48 broadcasts (all in talk show format) were aired, as well as streamed live on the Radio
Green Waves website www.livestream.com and Facebook page. The talk shows gathered diverse
group of discussants from public authorities, civil society, diplomatic corps, and the media. Many of
the participants, including the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and other
high officials, noted their appreciation that such professional debates were conducted on important
themes. To solicit feedback from the listeners/viewers of the broadcasts and provide another venue
for debate and dialogue, the project team created a special Facebook page and organized working
group meetings with participation of project beneficiaries. The project achieved its goal and
objectives. It ensured regular and professional coverage of Georgias European integration related
issues during a year and it gathered various groups of relevant stakeholders including high officials.
The Center for Strategic Research and

Development of Georgia (CSRDG)
39
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Consumers control food products

37,969 USD
August 1, 2011- February 11, 2013
To contribute to improvements in food safety regulation and practice and to galvanize citizens to
protect their consumer rights, EPF supported the Center of Strategic Research and Development of
Georgia (CSRDG) to set up an effective consumer assistance service and raise public awareness on
food safety and consumer protection issues. To do so, the grantee created an interactive consumer
assistance website, www.momxmarebeli.ge, which allows concerned citizens to report possible
violations of the existing food safety standards. In addition to the website, CSRDG waged an active
public outreach campaign to inform Georgian citizens about the existing food safety standards and
how to protect their consumer rights when they believe that such standards are violated. Through
this campaign CSRDG became one of the leading consumer rights organizations in Georgia which
to this day operates an effective consumer assistance service. Only during the grant period the
project website registered 196,627 page loads and 54,463 unique visitors. With more than 106
complaints received through the website, Facebook page, and the hotline, the project team revealed
49 cases of violation of food safety standards and product falsification. Information about the
findings was made public through 89 newspaper articles and 25 TV/radio programs (or segments in
the programs), garnering wide national coverage. As a result of the grantees advocacy efforts, 11
enterprises revised their practices to better comply with food safety standards. Some of the steps
undertaken include introduction of hygiene rules, indication of the date of production on food
products, and removal of unsafe food from the distribution chain. In addition, CSRDG actively
participated in the EPF-led working group on food safety and consumer protection that resulted in
the legislative changes (the adoption of the nine recommendations fully and four partially) for a
balance between consumer protection and business interests.
MEDIA INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
Newspaper Batumelebi Ltd

Increasing the Access to the Coverage of Regional
Issues for the Georgian Population
24,136 USD
December 1, 2011 August 31, 2012
There is very little coverage of regional issues in the Georgian media. In cases, when the news from
the regions are published/broadcasted, they are mostly sensational, dealing with such issues, as
crime, natural disasters, unexpected events, leaving behind the coverage the everyday lives and
problems of the population. With more than two-thirds of Georgian population living in the
regions, the news coverage is disproportionately skewed toward events that take place in the capital
city. This situation is partially caused by the fact, that many media outlets do not have financial
capacity to have reporters based in the regions. To address this issue, EPF provided grant support
to the newspaper Batumelebi, so that the paper and its online edition, www.netgazeti.ge, could
provide comprehensive coverage of day-to-day lives of Georgian citizens residing in the regions.
With EPF support, the grantee created a network of contributors (stringers) from nine regions of
the country (namely, from Ajara, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,
Samegrelo, Samtskhe-Javakheti, and Shida Kartli), who regularly contributed to the project with
40

print and multi-media stories from their communities.

Throughout the project, the grantee
developed 92 in-depth reports (20 on ethnic minority problematic), all posted on www.netgazeti.ge,
as well as published 36 newspaper articles on regional issues in Batumelebi. The vast majority of
the published stories had contributions from the network of stringers, which made a total of 92
submissions throughout the project cycle. According to the statistics by Google Analytics, the
interest in the materials produced within the project was high. Specifically, during the grant period,
www.netgazeti.ge had 941,523 visits, 13,447 unique visitors for the articles developed as part of the
project, and 42,288 unique page views. Some publications resulted in positive changes. For
example, two articles prepared as part of the project (Formula of Poverty and Coastal Zone
Turned into Disposal Bin) helped two socially vulnerable residents of Batumi in successfully
appealing of their social assistance cases and prompted local authorities to clean the polluted
sections of the coastal zone.
Proposal Title:
Grant Amount:
The Center of Democratic and Civil Integration

Our Georgia (Chveni Sakartvelo)
25, 788 USD
December 1, 2011 February 27, 2013
Georgian national broadcasters pay little attention to the coverage of regional issues and of lives of
ethnic and religious minorities residing in Georgia. When broadcasts or publications focus on the
news from the regions, they often deal with crime, natural disasters, or similar unforeseen events, as
opposed to providing coverage of everyday lives and problems of these groups. With support from
Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the grantee was able to produce and broadcast a weekly radio show
(36 programs in total) focusing on the regional and minority issues. The program entitled Our
Georgia, which aired on Radio 1 of the Georgian Public Broadcaster and was uploaded on its
website and Fecebook page, focused on giving voice to the people residing outside the capital city
and highlighting the various social and economic problems they face in their daily lives. Around 10
listeners per month provided their feedback during the live radio shows or through the website or
Facebook. Many requested that the topics for each show be announced well in advance, in order to
allow the interested listeners to participate in the discussions. This particularly concerned those
programs that were devoted to the plight of ethnic minorities. The radio broadcasts created a good
practice of regional news coverage by national broadcasters.
41

Annex - Sida Supported Grants 2013

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Annex - Sida Supported Grants 2013

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Sida Supported Grants

January 1 December 31, 2013

Active Grants in 2013

Georgia Arts and Culture Center

Meskheti Development Center

Social Enterprise - producing dried fruits

Liberal Academy Tbilisi

Tusheti PA Friends Association

Georgian School Students Unions Alliance

Association of the Greens Movement of

Supporting Civil Monitoring

Association for People in Need of Special Care

Peaceful and Business Caucasus

Responding to the needs of the beneficiaries participating in the previous confidence-building

Social-Educational Association Hereti

Discover Your Kakheti's Interior and Exterior

Foundation for Economic Education in Georgia

Biological Farming Association Elkana

C and B Hepatitis Patients Group

Charlotte Lundqvist 14-7-22 13:43

Charlotte Lundqvist 14-7-22 13:44

Ltd. TV Radio Company Rioni

Youth Center Progress

Georgian Association Regional Broadcasters

Penal Reform International

Association of Small Group Homes Service Providers

Zestafoni Civic Assembly

Social Defense League

Human Rights Center

Young Scientists Union "Intellect"

Gori Community Development Union

Charlotte Lundqvist 14-7-22 14:38

Union for Better Protection of Community Interests

International Society for Fair Elections and

Movement for Accessible Environment

Union Lanchkhuti Information Center

Koda Community Education Center

Volunteering for a Brighter Future

Coalition for IDPs Rights

Abkhazian Blind and Deaf-and-Dumb Union Hera

Foundation for the Development of Human Resources

LTD Ertad (Together)

Charlotte Lundqvist 14-7-22 15:30

Svaneti Youth Bank

Tkibuli Youth Bank

Martvili Youth Bank

Khobi Youth Bank

Akhmeta Youth Bank

Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank

Dedoplistskaro Youth Bank's Micro Grants Cycle 5/6

Center of Environmental Law

Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research

Georgian Institute of Russian Studies

Peaceful and Business Caucasus

Caucasus Peace Support Center

Overcoming the Informational Vacuum in Abkhazia through

Organization of Tbilisi Caregivers

Union of Blind in Georgia

Alliance Goodwill Mission - Missionaries

Coalition for IDP's Rights

Center for Protection of Civil Interests

Tserovani Community Organization Side by Side

Medical Workers Initiative

Transparency International Georgia