Guria
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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 Guria include civic education activities in schools in Naruja, Laituri, Kvemo Natanebi, Nasakirali, Chisubani, Zpti, Zemo Chibati, Nigvziani, Supsa, Ozuregeti, Chokhatauri, and Lanchkhuti.
Good Governance in Georgia (G3)
Timeline: Feb 2011 – Mar 2014
G3 addresses the diverse challenges and shortcomings in governance at the national and local levels. The program will improve 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 will promote improved public administration, advancing public sector reform in target institutions using human and institutional capacity development approaches. At the national level, the program will promote more responsive, professional, and engaged local governance. The project also provides spaces for civic engagement in ten cities across Georgia. At the municipal level the program will promote more responsive, professional, and engaged local governance in Ozurgeti. In addition, a Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) in Ozurgeti will provide a public gathering space dedicated to civic discourse.
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 training in media law for media representatives in Guria. The project also supports the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and Georgian Regional Media Association in the area, as well as projects that support local broadcast and television programs.
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. G-PAC supports strategic planning efforts for local self-governance in Ozurgeti. The project also works to increase public participation in the local decision-making process, and to raise the social and economic potential of villages throughout Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti municipalities.
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 a sub-grantee in Ozurgeti.
In addition to the projects above, national Democracy and Governance projects including Political Party Strengthening, Increased Trust in Electoral Processes, and Advancing National Integration serve the region.
Economic Growth
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 Guria, EPI is conducting training for 180 mandarin farmers at EPI’s Knowledge Plot on pruning, orchard floor management, integrated pest management and harvesting/post-hard handling. In addition, farmers from the region have attended greenhouse study tours conducted by the project. EPI is also supporting the apparel sector in Guria to upgrade the technical and human capacity of Horizonti Vocational College by introducing three industry-oriented vocational programs to meet the workforce needs of the apparel industry with specialized skills.
Agricultural Mechanization Project
Timeline: Sept 2009 - Mar 2012
This project establishes institutions and systems for a private sector-driven, sustainable small holder approach to providing mechanized agricultural services that are supportive of increased agricultural sector productivity, competitiveness, and profitability. Grants and limited technical assistance is 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 Guria, the service center in Ozurgeti is expected to create 12 permanent jobs and benefit 400 farmers.
In addition to the projects above, national Economic Growth projects, including loan guarantees through the Development Credit Authority, serve in the region.
Energy and Environment
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 Guria, a hydropower study is being conducted.
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 Guria, the HIV project conducts capacity building training, counseling and testing in Ozurgeti.
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 Ozurgeti and Lesa.
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. In Guria, the activity supports maternal and child health services and a rural health family planning center for best practices in Ozurgeti, and contraceptive education and distribution 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. This project supports small group homes in Lesa and Ozurgeti.
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.
