On November 26, 2015 EWMI ACCESS announced a call for proposals for the Citizen Outreach Grants program (COG). The COG program aimed to support projects that ensure increased, effective, and sustained citizen engagement with CSO activities in the regions of Georgia. In light of the ongoing local self-governance reform, one of the key focus areas of the RfA was to encourage citizen engagement with local governments through establishing and/or strengthening of the Civic Advisory Councils.
Out of the 43 submitted project proposals, EWMI ACCESS Grant Review Committee (GRC) selected 4 for funding. All 4 projects aim to promote public engagement in local self-government, in particular:
- Civic Activities Center (Gurjaani) – engaging local CSOs and the citizens living in the high-mountainous regions of Georgia in addressing their primary problems through working with the local government institutions; supporting the formation and effective functioning of the Citizen Advisory Councils. The project target area covers the villages of Tusheti, Pankisi Gorge, Ukana Pshavi, Khevsureti and Gudamakari.
- Civil Society Institute (Batumi Branch) – introducing a viable public engagement model in the local self-government process in the city of Batumi; strengthening the Citizen Advisory Council and introducing the new ways of citizen engagement; increasing public awareness about the role and responsibilities of local self-government institutions through innovative campaigns.
- Local Development Agency – Georgia (Kutaisi) – increasing public engagement in the local decision-making in all 12 municipalities of the Imereti region; developing comprehensive guidelines on citizen engagement; supporting the formation of the Citizen Advisory Council; increasing interaction between local CSOs and their constituents; advocating for solving local problems through civic participation.
- Young Scientists’ Club of Ozurgeti (Ozurgeti) – fostering citizen engagement in the local self-governance processes through establishing and building capacities of local advisory groups; setting up and launching an SMS-based platform for informing interested citizens about the upcoming Sakrebulo (i.e. local council) hearings and activities; working with the Sakrebulo to improve existing public information policies.
EWMI ACCESS thanks all organizations for their interest and participation in the COG contest. For regular updates on the COG-supported activities, please visit EWMI ACCESS website and Facebook page and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
