Kakheti

Democracy and Governance

Applied Civic Education and Teacher Training (ACETT)
Timeline: July 2010 – July 2013
ACETT improves the quality and scope of school-based civic education to influence positively the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of youth, empowering them to be active participants in building a democratic society. ACETT is implemented nationwide in Georgia. It enhances civic education materials and approaches, establishes accredited courses for civic teachers, introduces practical application of classroom lessons, provides small grants in support of applied learning, maintains an interactive website, and promotes social-networking for teachers and students. ACETT activities in Kakheti include civic education activities in schools in Telavi, Akhmeta, Gurjaani, Dedoplistskaro, Lagodekhi, Sagaredjo, Sighnaghi, and Kvareli.

Good Governance in Georgia Project (G3)
Timeline: Feb 2011 – Mar 2014
G3 addresses the diverse challenges and shortcomings in governance at the national and local levels. The program improves transparency and institutional efficiency at all levels of government in providing better services to citizens, as well as improving communication channels between government institutions, stakeholders, civil society and citizens. At the national level, the program promotes improved public administration, advancing public sector reform in target institutions using human and institutional capacity development approaches. At the municipal level the program will promote more responsive, professional, and engaged local governance in Telavi. In addition, a Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) in Telavi will provide a public gathering space dedicated to civic discourse.

Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project (JILEP)
Timeline: Oct 2010 – Oct 2014
JILEP supports and strengthens the judiciary as an independent yet equal branch of government, and improves Georgia’s commercial law system. Activities aim to improve the process by which judges are appointed, trained and disciplined to increase their independence and professionalism. The project also further strengthens the state free legal aid system and the legal NGO community, and increases public understanding of the role of the judiciary. It contributes to improvement of legal education both for legal students and for practicing attorneys in Georgia. Finally, the project streamlines procedures for handling commercial cases and enforcing commercial judgments. JILEP supports legal aid, court monitoring, capacity building and state legal aid services through sub-grantee Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) in Telavi.

Political Party Strengthening
Timeline: July 2010 – Aug 2014
Political Party Strengthening activities will promote a more balanced and developed political party system in Georgia by building the capacity of political parties that have the potential to act as constructive forces in the Georgian political environment, including the need to encourage the growth of young political leaders. In Kakheti, the project conducted twelve weekend training sessions as part of the Young Political Leadership Schools (YPLS) initiative. The training is intended to increase the level and sophistication of young people in Georgian politics; integrate rural youth into Georgian national political youth structures; and provide the next generation of Georgian political leaders with the skills and education for supporting democratic governance.

Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA)
Timeline: Oct 2010 – Oct 2014
This project improves the public’s access to a range of news sources and information by developing a more politically balanced, editorially independent, and professional media able to deliver news, information, and analysis to audiences throughout the country. G-MEDIA is providing grants to improve the public’s access to a wider range of higher quality media content, and is reaching the public through emerging channels, including social media, internet-based, and wireless delivery systems, It provides practical, hands-on education of journalists at the university level, and targeted skills training in investigative and specific issue reporting; strengthens journalists’ capacity to monitor and respond to infringements on their rights; and works with individual media outlets to build their financial sustainability and to address barriers to attracting advertisers. G-MEDIA supports the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and Georgian Regional Media Association in the area, as well as projects that support investigative journalism and local print, television and broadcast programs, including “Farmer’s Time” and “The Voice.” In addition, the project supports Georgian Regional Radio Network in Lagodekhi. It also includes a project to monitor effectiveness of state education and healthcare programs in Kakheti.

Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development in Georgia (G-PAC)
Timeline: Oct 2010 – Oct 2014
G-PAC helps institutionalize more balanced and effective public oversight of and engagement with the government by strengthening Georgia’s civil society sector. It does this by implementing two interlinked and mutually supportive objectives to accelerate the development of civic leaders and organizations that will: (a) become effective advocates for an empowered citizenry, and (b) provide viable policy options to government reflecting citizens’ needs. In Kakheti, G-PAC activities support economic growth initiatives, equal rights for people with autism, vulnerable groups and populations living below the poverty line, accessibility for the disabled, and advocacy trainings for vulnerable groups in Gurjaani.

In addition to the projects above, national Democracy and Governance projects including Advancing National Integration and Increased Trust in Electoral Processes serve the region.

Economic Growth

Agriculture Mechanization Project
Timeline: Sept. 2009 – Mar. 2012
This project is establishing institutions and systems for a private sector-driven, sustainable small holder approach to the provision of mechanized agricultural services that are supportive of increased agricultural sector productivity, competitiveness, and profitability. Grants and limited technical assistance are being provided to private sector organizations to procure tractors and related equipment and deliver market-based mechanized services to smallholder farmers. Farm services are made available to IDPs that received land from the Government of Georgia. In Kakheti, USAID will support four agriculture mechanization centers in the following districts: Dedoplistskaro, Akhmeta, Gurjaani, and Sighnaghi. The centers in Kakheti are expected to create a combined 40 new jobs and provide benefits to 2,780 farmers.

Economic Prosperity Initiative (EPI)
Timeline: Sept 2010 – Sept 2014
This program will improve Georgia’s overall economic competitiveness through assistance designed to: 1) expand and deepen the country’s economic governance capacity; 2) improve agriculture sector productivity; and 3) strengthen targeted non-agricultural value chains that have the highest growth potential. In support of access to finance and agriculture, EPI conducted leasing promotion and outreach through Farm Service Centers in Kakheti to 30 farmers and processors. EPI’s continued outreach will target 150 potential lessees. EPI also conducted financial outreach through a matchmaking effort in Telavi, linking more than 150 SMEs and agricultural producers in the region with financial institutions and EPI financial advisors. The project is also working with wineries to improve the experience for wine tourists with several operational changes, including for example offering tastings without appointment. EPI is also conducting customer service oriented trainings to 28 hospitality staff from 11 Kakheti-based hotels and restaurants.

Women's Economic Independence in the Post-Conflict Zone and Remote Regions of Georgia
Timeline: Sept 2009 – Dec 2012
The project aims to stimulate women entrepreneurs in Georgia by helping rural women develop business skills and start their own businesses. Innovative training courses and small grants are provided for female IDPs in the Shida Kartli region, as well as for women residing in the remote regions of Georgia, including northern Kakheti and mountainous Imereti and Racha. In Kakheti, training will be conducted in 2012.

Municipal and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project
Timeline: Feb 2011 – Feb 2014
This project will 1) develop and rehabilitate municipal infrastructure, in five municipalities affected by the 2008 conflict; 2) upgrade the existing cottages constructed by the GOG for IDPs from the August 2008 conflict, redevelop buildings for use as durable housing for IDPs from previous conflicts, and ensure overall sustainability of housing solutions. In Kakheti, the project will rehabilitate a building expected to house approximately 484 IDP families in Gurjaani.

In addition to the projects above, national Economic Growth projects, including loan guarantees through the Development Credit Authority, serve the region.

Energy and Environment

Strengthening Local Capacity and Developing Structured Dialogue for Climate Change Adaptation, Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Post-Conflict Environmental Rehabilitation in Georgia
Timeline: Sept 2009 – Sept 2012
This project develops flexible and resilient societies in the rural areas of Georgia to be capable of coping with the impacts of current climate variability and future climate change. Specifically, the project works to reduce the susceptibility of local communities in select rural areas of Georgia to the negative climate impacts through post-conflict environmental rehabilitation, natural disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. In Kakheti, the project is working with communities in Sagarejo and Dedoplistskaro municipalities to identify climate change issues and implement pilot interventions to adapt to climate change. The project developed an “Environmental Protection and Climate Change” supplementary book for schools, delivered lectures, and will train approximately 6-8 school teachers to use the book and educate students about climate change issues.

Integrated Natural Resource Management in Watersheds
Timeline: Sept 2010 – Sept 2014
This program will introduce innovative approaches to the sustainable management of natural resources to Georgia, and aims to ensure needed environmental resources and services are sustained for Georgia’s long-term ecological health and rural development. It will reinforce Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources (MEPNR) efforts to reform practices in ways that ensure more sustainable resource use for future generations. The program will use technical best practices from internationally accepted integrated natural resource and watershed management approaches and address government structures. It will especially emphasize the balance between economic uses and benefits of water and other natural resources in watersheds with principles of ecosystem protection and sustainable use. In Kakheti, integrated natural resource management planning and implementation will engage the local communities of the Alazani watershed areas. Up to 60 target communities will be selected in four pilot watershed areas, and 30-40 small community grants will be implemented.

Support for National Parks Reform
Timeline: Sept. 1999 – Sept. 2014
Through an Interagency Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, USAID assists Georgia to enhance the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia to manage and commercialize national parks and promote tourism opportunities. Technical assistance and training is provided to Ministry officials, as well as the employees of protected areas throughout Georgia. In Kakheti, the project is working with Akhmeta, Tusheti and Vashlovani protected areas to coach local protected area officials on park management, development of management plans, and tourism interpretation.

Hydropower Investment Promotion Program (HIPP)
Timeline: Mar 2010 – Mar 2013
HIPP collaborates with the Government of Georgia and hydropower investors to attract investments into Georgian hydropower development. HIPP is expected to help attract local and foreign investment to Georgia’s energy sector to add 400 megawatts of clean, green renewable power to the Georgian grid. This new energy will help move Georgia closer to energy independence and serve as a profitable export to rapidly increasing yet underserved energy markets in Turkey and Eastern Europe with a view toward regional economic growth. In Kakheti, a hydropower studies are being conducted in the Telavi region.

In addition to the projects above, national Energy and Environment projects, including New Applied Technology Efficiency and Lighting Initiative, GNEWRC Partnership Program, and Black Sea Regional Transmission Planning Project serve the region.

Health and Social Development

HIV Prevention Project
Timeline: Feb. 2010 - Dec. 2014
The HIV Prevention Project supports HIV prevention among high-risk groups in Georgia in order to avert the spread of HIV to the general population. It focuses on: prevention in primary risk groups; interventions with secondary risk groups most likely to be infected next (youth); and stigma reduction. In Kakheti, training has been conducted in Telavi and18 individuals have received assistance, including 11 participants in voluntary counseling and training.

Social Infrastructure Project
Timeline: July 2010 – Mar 2012
The Social Infrastructure Program provided enhanced learning and living conditions for orphans and vulnerable children. The project also improved the short-term economic status of ethnic minorities, IDPs, and graduates of the Vocational Education Programs by employing them in the rehabilitation of schools in Jokolo, Birkiani, Dumasturi, Sanavardo, Tsitskanaantseri, Kuchatani, Chikaani, Tivi, Saruso and Omalo and rehabilitated small group homes in Baisubani, Vardisubani, and Kurdghelauri.

Supporting Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities
Timeline: Sept. 2006-Sept. 2012
The project aims to foster the conditions for equal opportunities and full participation of people with disabilities in the political, economic, and social life of Georgia. It does this through strengthening the institutional and advocacy capacities of disabled persons’ organizations and improving coordination between the government and local and international organizations to develop policies to address disability issues. In Kakheti, since 2010 individual service plans have been developed for 30 children with severe disabilities. All 30 receive services from trained caregivers, 6 children have improved so well that they have joined formal education, and 4 have begun classes at social service centers. In addition, USAID support has helped to mobilize parents’ associations in Telavi.

Job Counseling and Referral Project
Timeline: Mar. 2010 – May 2012
This activity provided job counseling, referral, and placement of the unemployed in Georgia, with particular outreach to internally displaced persons (IDPs). The activity created job counseling and referral centers, facilitated outreach to employers, and placed beneficiaries in vocational education programs. In Kakheti, the project supports a JCP in Telavi and a small training center that provides training in job search and interview skills. Since 2010, the center in Telavi has provided job counseling to more than 802 individuals and market-oriented vocational education to more than 40. The center has helped more than 452 beneficiaries gain employment.

Nursing Vocational Education Project
Timeline: Oct 2009 – Oct 2012
The immediate goal is to improve the competencies of nurses currently practicing in Georgia through an intensive training program. An important segment will be teaching leadership and management skills to key nursing staff, and demonstrating how to provide continuous in-service education in their respective hospitals. A long-term goal is to establish a degree-granting school of nursing in cooperation with the Government of Georgia that will help to improve the nursing profession in Georgia. This activity is active in Gurjaani.

Georgia Sustaining Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health Services Project (Sustain)
Timeline: Oct 2009 – Oct 2014
Sustain meets critical maternal and child health and family planning needs while laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable family planning and maternal and neonatal health programs in the private sector. Through private insurance industry plans, existing health clinics and planned health training units, it also promotes a broader range of contraceptives available in pharmacies throughout Georgia. Sustain supports maternal and child health centers in Sagarejo and Telavi and sustainable family planning throughout the region.

Strengthening Childcare Services and Systems
Timeline: Aug 2010 – Aug 2013
This activity focuses on the following areas: improving access to social benefits for vulnerable groups; improving alternative care and expansion of family support services; strengthening policy, oversight and accountability in the childcare system; and addressing the issue of domestic violence. The activity supports small group homes in Baisubani, Vardisubani, and Kurdghelauri.

In addition to the activities listed above, national Health and Social Development programs, including the Health System Strengthening Project, Tuberculosis Prevention Project, and Hepatitis B Catch-up Vaccination project, serve the region.

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Kakheti