Meetings with capital-based stakeholders were organized within PMMG operated program on the development of civil society in ethnic minority regions

On 9-13 February, 2015 PMMG has organized number of meetings of civil societal actors from Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda (Samtskhe-Javakheti region) as well as Tsalka (Kvemo Kartli region) municipalities with capital-based stakeholders within PMMG operated project “Development of civil society in ethnic minority populated regions of Georgia” supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The meetings aimed to improve their understanding about the civil society works, as well as to make contacts with capital based stakeholders and therefore bring local needs, constraints, problems and challenges to the capital based interested parties. The agenda of the meetings was jointly developed by the project team in conjunction with target groups.

 

The following meetings were organized: Giorgi Gvakharia, Business Ombudsman of Georgia; Ketevan Vashakidze, Director of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation; Davit Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia; Gubaz Sanikidze, by that time Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of Diaspora and Caucasus Issues; currently Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia; Ruslan Pogosyan, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Civic Integration; Gocha Tsopurashvili, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia; Lika Gigauri and Giorgi Sharvashidze, Deputy Ministers of Education and Science of Georgia; Tamar Manjavidze, Head of Executive Office of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia; Irakli Zhorzholiani, Director of the LEPL “Children and Youth Development Fund” functioning under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia; Nugzar Kandelaki, Head of Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia; Tinatin Ghogheliani, Head of Civil Integration Division at the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality; Koba Chopliani and Bella Osipova, Coordinators of the National Minority Council functioning under aegis of the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia; Ivane Kiguradze, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture, as well as five MPs, members of the same Committee.

The meetings resulted in concrete actions and initiatives between governmental representatives and project participants. In addition, an excursion to the Parliament, as well as to the Sports Museum functioning at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia was organized.

Within the framework of the visits target groups also got acquainted with the works of PMMG, how it is organized, who are the major donors, how the organization is being institutionally constructed and operated etc.

 

To remind, the project is specially designed to strengthen the role of civil societal actors in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda (Samtskhe-Javakheti region) as well as in Tsalka (Kvemo Kartli region) municipalities in advocating, sensitization and lobbying the issues, problems and challenges vulnerable groups are facing in the local areas.

Press-service

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