In November, EWMI ACCESS launched a series of information meetings under the slogan “You Have the Right to Know” in the regions of Georgia. During the meetings CSOs, journalists, civic activists and other stakeholders learn about aims of ACCESS project, its achievements, challenges and future plans. Participants also share their thoughts and opinions about the problems existing in the Georgian civil society sector.
In November, such meetings were held at Centers for Civic Engagement in Rustavi, Telavi and Gori and involved more than 60 CSO representatives and active citizens. One of key topics that CSOs were mostly concerned about related to difficulty of getting donor funding, specifics of CSO-Donor cooperation and the bureaucratic barriers. Discussions also concerned the general problems caused by economic hardship in the country.
ACCESS Representatives shared their observations and recommendations with the participants with regards to project planning and proposal-writing, establishing closer ties with citizens for advocating their interests, and cooperation with donors. They also spoke at length about the upcoming Citizen Outreach Grants Competition to be announced in early December for regional CSOs.
Similar meetings will be held in Kutaisi and Zugdidi in December.
