Samtskhe-Javakheti
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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 Samstkhe Javakheti include civic education activities in schools in Adigeni, Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, Akhalsitkhe, Borjomi, and Ninotsminda.
Good Governance in Georgia Project (G3)
Timeline: Feb 2011 – March 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 promotes more responsive, professional, and engaged local governance in Akhaltsikhe. Akhaltsikhe municipality representatives participated in the trainings focused on transparency and accountability of local governance organized by G3 program. In addition, a Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) provides a public gathering space dedicated to civic discourse in Akhaltsikhe, which was formally inaugurated on February 2, 2012. The public and the media attended the event to discuss community involvement in the local implementation of projects under the village support program initiated by the Georgian government.
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 critical and creative thinking curriculum programs at Akhaltsikhe State Education University and Akhalkalaki Higher Education Institution.
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 "Samkhretis Karibche" in Akhaltsikhe and the Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters and Georgian Regional Media Association in the area.
Advancing National Integration (ANI)
Timeline: Oct 2011 – Jan 2015
ANI aims to strengthen national integration in Georgia, particularly involving ethnic minorities. It will work with young people across Georgia through practice and participation; increase public awareness of diversity; and support mechanisms for interaction between the government and ethnic minorities. ANI will work with a number of municipalities, schools and youth groups throughout the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
Increased Trust in Electoral Processes (ITEP)
Timeline: Aug 2010 – July 2014
Activities address the longer term negative effects of the electoral system on the enabling environment by focusing on election law reform between election cycles; building the capacity of the election administration; building the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to provide oversight over election cycles; increasing public awareness about election related issues and processes; and addressing short-term electoral system issues during a particular election cycle by through pre-election training and monitoring for 2012 Parliamentary elections, the 2013 Presidential election, and, with limited resources, the 2014 local elections. In Samstkhe-Javakheti, ITEP aims to increase active participation of ethnic Armenian minorities in elections, increase civic involvement, and promote involvement in the decision making process in Akkhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, and Ninotsminda.
In addition to the projects above, national Democracy and Governance projects including Political Party Strengthening, Advancing National Integration, and the Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project, serve the region.
Economic Growth
Agriculture Mechanization Project
Timeline: Sept 2009 – Dec 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 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that received land from the Government of Georgia. In Samtskhe-Javakheti, USAID has established agriculture mechanization centers in Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, and Akhaltsitkhe that have created a combined 20 new jobs and provide 1,700 small farmers with access to fee‐based and geographically specific machinery services.
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. Projects in the Samstkhe-Javakheti region focus on the agriculture sector. Currently, USAID is operating two large demonstration plots to train 1,200 root crop farmers modern agricultural techniques and practices, including agriculture inputs selection, production, and post‐harvest handling. In addition, EPI is working with State Procurement Agency (SPA) to develop an online supplier guide that will acquaint potential suppliers with the Georgia’s state procurement processes. Alongside with Georgian and English, the guide will be available in Armenian, specifically for the Armenian ethnic minority and will be publicly accessible through various governmental and nongovernmental websites.
Municipal and Internally Displaced Persons Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project
Timeline: Feb 2011 – Feb 2014
This project aims to: 1) develop and rehabilitate municipal infrastructure in certain municipalities affected by the 2008 conflict, including significant irrigation infrastructure; 2) upgrade the homes constructed by the Government of Georgia for persons displaced during the August 2008 conflict; and 3) rehabilitate buildings for use as durable housing for IDPs from previous conflicts and help ensure overall sustainability of interventions. In Samstkhe-Javakheti, a hospital in Borjomi will be rehabilitated into apartments for approximately 18 IDP families. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2012.
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 Samstkhe-Javakheti, experts are conducting analyses to identify needs and appropriate interventions after 1,000 hectares of forest in Borjomi was burned during the August 2008 conflict. Erosion and landslides increased following the fires and several communities in the area are at risk. In addition, the project is working with Akhaltsikhe University to implement pilot projects including a laboratory for wastewater, air quality, and soil productivity tests. The students will provide recommendations to farmers based on the results. The project will also support the university in the rehabilitation of the meteorological station in order to begin collecting historical weather data and complete analysis on climate change and air quality. The analysis will be used to identify climate change trends and provide advice to farmers.
Support for National Parks Reform
Timeline: Sept 1999 – June 2014
In partnership 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. This project has assisted Borjomi National Park in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
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
Public Hospital Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Timeline: Mar 2010 - Feb 2012
The project undertook the renovation of badly deteriorated public hospitals in Ninotsminda, Akhalkalaki, and Akhaltsikhe. USAID also supports loan portfolio guarantees that are intended for private health sector borrowers for the construction, renovation, and equipping of hospitals and clinics throughout Georgia.
Job Counseling and Referral Center
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 Samstkhe-Javakheti, the Job Counseling and Referral Center (JCRC) in Akhaltsikhe provides job applicants with information about available jobs, training is job search, interviewing and résumé writing skills, as well as vocational education. The center screens the data of applicants and refers them to potential employers. The JCRC works very closely with businesses and local government employers. Since 2010, the center in Akhaltsikhe has provided job counseling to more than 1019 individuals and market-oriented vocational education to more than 281. The center has helped more than 767 beneficiaries gain employment.
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 a school in Ninotsminda.
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. This activity supported maternal and child health centers in Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe and has supported sustainable family planning throughout the region.
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 project is active in Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.
In addition to the activities listed above, national Health and Social Development programs, including the Health System Strengthening Project and Hepatitis B Catch-up Vaccination project, serve the region.
