Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development

Annual Report
2009

Contents

General information
Organisational development 2009
Program priorities
Projects

Attachment: CIPDD projects and activities in 2009

Address: 72 Akaky Tsereteli Av., II floor; Tbilisi 0154, Georgia
P.Box 101, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia
Tel: (995 32) 355 154
Fax: (995 32) 355 754
E-mail: info@cipdd.org
Website: www.cipdd.org

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) was founded in August 1992 in Tbilisi, Georgia, as a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation. CIPDD is a public policy think-tank – not linked to any political party – mainly active in Georgia. However, it is also involved in regional cooperative projects with the countries of South Caucasus, Black Sea and Balkan regions. CIPDD often works in partnership and coalition with other civil sector organisations, be they Georgian or foreign. On the other hand, CIPDD often cooperates with the Georgian government, political parties and international organisations. CIPDD is not neutral with regards to political values: if there is a need, it takes part in civic initiatives in support of liberal democracy. In such cases, CIPDD usually enters coalitions with like-minded organisations and individuals.

MISSION STATEMENT

We want democracy to be a process whereby citizens take responsibility for their political institutions rather than a new dogmatic ideology that the avant-garde of the society imposes upon their “backward” brethren. The Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development is a catalyst of public discussion: We gain knowledge on public problems, propose to the citizens their analysis, assessment and options for the solution, and broaden the circle of people who is willing and capable to debate public issues.

Major activities of CIPDD include conducting public policy research, publishing and disseminating its results, and organising different forms of debate – professional, political or public – around this work. In addition, CIPDD is involved in advocacy efforts, including public advocacy and lobbying, and training related to its work.

Ghia Nodia, the CIPDD chairman, provides general guidance of CIPDD activities. The six-strong administrative staff is managed by the executive director, Avtandil Jokhadze. CIPDD’s program activities are coordinated by the internal executive board, which includes the chairman, executive director and project coordinators.

CIPDD’s work is strategically guided and supervised by the external board made up of seven members:

- Ia Antadze
- Marat Baratashvili
- Olesya Vartanian
- Ghia Nodia
- Charles H. Fairbanks
- Emzar Jgerenaia (Chairman)
- Emilia Khalilova

FINANCES

CIPDD relies on sponsorship of donor organisations, and enthusiasm and responsibility of its staff, partners and colleagues. Only a small portion of its funds comes from other sources, such as, for instance, incomes generated by the sale of CIPDD publications (most of these publications are distributed for free). The CIPDD Budget 2009 totalled the equivalent of 74,300 USD.

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2009

PROGRAM PRIORITIES

CIPDD gave priority to three main research areas in 2009: public policy research, democratic institutions, and civil integration. Throughout the year its activities included contribution to the secondary education reform, training on standard mechanisms of public policy development, functional analysis of political institutions, facilitation of civil participation among ethnic and religious minorities, creation of and support for independent regional media networks, media monitoring, etc. 

DONORS

CIPDD projects were funded by the following donors in 2009:

- National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
- OSI Think Tank Fund - Budapest
- Open Society Institute (OSI)
- Open Society – Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
- European Commission (EC)
- Office of High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE 
- Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany)
- Black Sea Trust of the German Marshall Fund
- Council of Europe (CoE)

To implement its strategic priorities more efficiently, CIPDD set up three program divisions in 2009:

1. Support for Democratic Institutions and Processes (research areas: mass media, political parties, civil society, and local self-government) 

2.  Civil Integration (research areas: conflicts, protection of minority rights, support for cultural diversity, religion, and education)

3. European Integration 

Heads of program divisions are responsible for preparing action plans, project proposals, and fund raising. Other CIPDD staff also take part in planning/implementing its projects. Special emphasis is laid on publication/distribution of research results and advocacy efforts.

PROJECTS

CIVICUS – Civil Society Research in Georgia

The overall goal of the project, funded by Open Society – Georgia Foundation, is to create active and effective national and international platforms for knowledge-based actions for the strengthening of civil society. As part of the project CIPDD carried out a research, which resulted in the creation of Civil Society Index, a tool which enables to assess the current state of the Georgian civil society and formulate a comprehensive strategy for the development of this sector. The research was based on a methodology developed by CIVICUS (World Alliance for Citizen Participation – www.civicus.org) and covered the following dimensions of civil society: civic engagement, level of organisation, practice of values, perceived impact, and external environment. In 2009 research activities aimed to gauge the strength of civil society organisations and find out how they are viewed by wider society. To this end CIPDD organised ten focus-groups discussions in Tbilisi and different regions, and carried out four case studies: attitude of the business community to non-governmental organisations and corporate responsibility; the level of organisational development of regional NGOs (the case of Akhaltsikhe-based civil society organisations), accountability in Georgia’s civil society organisations – forms and processes, motivation of the young members of political parties.

Based on the research outcomes, CIPDD will produce a research report and a policy brief. A 12-member Advisory Committee, made up of civil society representatives, was set up to oversee the project. It will take part in the preparation of recommendations for the development of civil society in Georgia and assist in the publication/distribution of the research report and policy brief, which will be available in Georgian and English. A conference is planned at the end of the project.

Nation wide CSO network

The project is supported by German Marshal Fund – Black Sea Trust, and aims to increase policy analyses capacity and advocacy skills of local communities, advance understanding of legal framework of civil participation, foster communication and cooperation between local civil society representatives and local authorities on regional development issues, and encourage partnership relations between CSOs from different regions and exchange of best practices among them. Ten regional CSOs of Georgia were selected, on contest basis, for the project. Their representatives received training in various areas of policy analysis (theoretical knowledge, research, report writing skills, data summary/analysis, and cooperation with local self-governments). As a result of the project, beneficiaries – young NGO activists from Tbilisi and different regions – have gained sufficient knowledge of regional problems, acquired analysis and advocacy skills, and enhanced their ability to cooperate with local self-governments and assume responsibility for dealing with social problems.

Political institutions in Georgia

The project began in 2005 and continued throughout 2009 with financial assistance provided by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) through Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). In 2009 the project was focused on the ways to ensure involvement of political parties in constitutional reforms and help them analyse and assess the constitutional amendments. The project implies cooperation and interaction with all major political parties of Georgia and aims to analyse their attitude towards ongoing constitutional reforms and identify the problems that the parties consider most urgent. The project results will be made available to the constitutional commission.

Improving environment for minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms in the school education system

The project is funded by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany), and aims at improving conditions for minority involvement in Georgia through support of reforms in the public school system. The overall goal is to ensure adequate participation of the citizens of Georgia in public life and protection of their civil and political rights regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds. 

In 2009 the project activities included training workshops for teachers of public schools, which were designed to improve their skills and capacity to promote tolerance and respect for ethnic and religious diversity. Special training modules were also prepared in the framework of the project to increase efficiency of school boards. Some project activities aimed at engaging various ethnic and religious communities in public life. A new training module was worked out to teach how to respect and accept cultural diversity. Trainers were selected in different regions of the country and trained, and the first round of training workshops was completed. 

The selection contest for the authors of the textbook on the history of religions ended in February 2009 with two winners – David Tinikashvili and Zurab Jashi. Besides, an advisory board was established to provide general advice and oversight. It is made up of philosophers, historians, theologians and education experts.  

In the framework of the project CIPDD launched a contest for the best methodology to organise and celebrate a Cultural Diversity Day in school. On the basis of the winner project CIPDD prepared a guide for teachers and school administrations to help them arrange and carry out various educational activities on Cultural Diversity Day and designed a respective poster.

A new training methodology – Capacity Building of School Administrations and School Boards – was also created in 2009. Regional trainers were selected on contest basis and the winners received training in Tbilisi. Apart from increasing capacities of regional NGOs, this component of the project has enabled to provide regional-level training in minority languages, i.e. in Armenian and Azeri. At the initial stage local trainers were under guidance and oversight of CIPDD staff. At the next stages they worked independently.

Independent media for civil integration

In the framework of the project, funded by the delegation of EU commission to Georgia, CIPDD continued to work towards the main objectives of the project in cooperation with its partners – Civil Integration Foundation (Georgia), Research Centre, REGION (Armenia), and the Committee for Protection of Journalists of Azerbaijan (RUH) (Azerbaijan). In 2009 the project activities focused on steps to facilitate civil integration of the non-Georgian populations in Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions, including the development of efficient local community media. In particular, CIPDD provided technical assistance and training for the journalists of the above-mentioned regions. They were also given access to the Caucasus Journalists Network as a source of valuable information. The expected results of the project are:

- Enhanced outreach of (and coverage by) the media in the South Caucasus            countries to the target districts in Georgia
- Improved professional capacity of journalists in the target districts
- Improved infrastructure and capacity of the Caucasus Journalists Network

To achieve these results, internet-clubs (media centres) were set up in target municipalities (Marneuli, Gardabani, Akhalkalaki, and Akhaltsikhe) and local journalists were interviewed about what problems they faced and what assistance they needed to improve their professional skills and qualification. The journalists were also invited  to provide opinions on how to develop and enhance cooperation between local and central newspapers. Two training programs were produced on the basis of the interviews: in effective communication, which included such topics as active listening and obstacles to communication, and in news reporting. The training provided a useful opportunity to discuss specific cases based on ideas of the journalists themselves about the problems that local journalists face nowadays in the regions. Training workshops on news reporting were conducted in Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, and Marneuli. The training in effective communication was carried out in Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe. In addition, CIPDD organised a special training seminar on occasion of International Human Rights Day. 
 
Other project activities included four on-line discussions (4-6 days each) on regional (South Caucasus) and national problems at the website of the Caucasus Journalists Network – www.caucasusjournalists.net – with participation of journalists from the target regions and invited experts. 

The next stage of training for the journalists of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli began in October 2009. The training topics included project management, strategic planning, organisational development, and practical application of innovative approaches (training materials are available at http://www.caucasusjournalists.net/article.asp?idarticle.; interviews with ten invited experts are also published at the website).

An independent organisation – Foundation for the Development and Mutual Assistance of Regional Media – was established at the end of the project. The Foundation offers its members financial assistance – grants for small-scale projects – and advice (mutual consultations) to strengthen their financial sustainability.      

Conflicts: monitoring and analysis

In 2009 CIPDD continued the project “Research and analysis of the situation in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti”. The project began in 2000 and has been financed by the Office of High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE, all along. In the framework of the project, CIPDD prepares monthly reports in Russian and English on political, economic, socio-cultural, and institutional indicators in the region, on the basis of monthly reports from local correspondents and reviews of the Georgian media coverage of the problems of Samtskhe-Javakheti.   
 
In 2009 CIPDD launched a new project, titled “Development of an early warning system in conflict-affected Shida Kartli region of Georgia”, in cooperation with Pro NGO! e.V. (Germany) and with financial assistance of the European Commission. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the peace building process and stability in Georgia in general, and the region in particular. Specific objectives include:

1. Establishing a mechanism for revealing conflict potential developments in the conflict affected region Shida Kartli adjacent to South Ossetia through setting up an early warning system

2. Engaging civil society actively in discussions concerning conflict prevention, peace building and crisis management

3. Strengthening the capacity of EU's relevant institutions for conflict prevention and crisis response with regard to Georgia

4. Fostering partnership between the EU and local civil sector in the field of crisis management and peace building.

In the framework of the project the situation in the region is constantly monitored and analysed, and the analysis results are made available to all stakeholders (the government, Georgian NGOs, and international organisations, especially European structures, such as EUMM – European Union Monitoring Mission – and European Commission). Besides, the project provides for information sharing and networking among organisations involved in dealing with IDP problems.

At the initial stage six local correspondents were selected and tasked with preparing monthly reports on the latest developments in the region. On the basis of their reports and Georgian media materials about the situation in Kvemo Kartli CIPDD researchers produce monthly analytical reports about major political, economic, social and institutional indicators. The reports are regularly published at the CIPDD website. Quarterly round-table discussions are another main component of the project.

At the end of 2009 CIPDD began another new project – “Promoting a broad and informed dialogue on the problems of peace, security and conflicts in Georgia”. The project is funded by the European Commission and implemented in cooperation with Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Saferworld (UK). The main objectives of the project are to facilitate the development of civil society in Georgia and improve analytical skills of the Georgian civil society organisations in the fields of peace, security and conflict-settlement. 

In the framework of the project, four regional forums, meaning dialogue between local civil sector groups, will be set up in Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samegrelo, and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions of Georgia. The project is designed to enhance the capacity of the participant organisations to analyse conflict-related problems, prioritise peace initiatives, and prepare recommendations for decision-makers. The project will result in the creation of a policy document on region-specific problems. CIPDD has already arranged first meetings with representatives of the local civil societies in the four target regions and provided them with assistance and advice.

CONFERENCES. PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

The conference “Intercultural and interreligious education for promoting tolerance” was held in Tbilisi on July 4-5, 2009, in the framework of the project “Improving environment for minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms in the school education system”. The conference was sponsored by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany) and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung / KAS (Germany). The agenda of the conference covered the following themes: cultural diversity, tolerance, intercultural education and its importance for Georgia, intercultural and interreligious education and the problem of convergence and originality, German and Georgian experience of bilingual education in school in light of these problems. Invited foreign experts – Prof. Hans-George Zieberts and Prof. Martin Schwaitser – elaborated on the European experience of religious education, and focused on key problems of intercultural and interreligious education.

Another international conference, also funded by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung / KAS (Germany), took place on December 22. It was attended by experts from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, who spoke at length about their countries’ historical experience of intercultural dialogue and current problems.

CIPDD also organised a lot of public discussions in 2009 on various social and political issues and published different policy papers (in Georgian and English) with financial support of US State Department’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program and OSI Think Tank Fund (Budapest):

1. Problems of media pluralism in Georgia
2. Administrative Structure of Local Self-Government: Civil Sector Perspective
3. Forestry Sector Reform in Georgia
4. How Much Has the World Changed? Implications for Georgia’s Policies
5. Javakheti One Year After the August War
6. The Quality Assurance System in Georgian Schools 
7. Shida Kartli after the August 2008 War: Challenges and Solutions
8. Pending Normalisation of Turkish-Armenian Relations: Implications for Georgia
9. The EU’s Eastern Partnership: Civil Society Expectations and New Opportunities

Materials of the discussions – audio records, transcripts, photos, podcasts – are available at the CIPDD website, www.cipdd.org

Every interested individual can freely post his or her comments on any discussed issue in respective blogs at www.cipdd.org

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

CIPDD implemented joint projects with the following organisations in 2009:

- Civil Integration Foundation (Georgia)
- Research Centre “Region” of the Association of Investigative Journalists (Armenia)
- Committee for Protection of Journalists of Azerbaijan
- Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD)
- Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations (Moscow)
- Ilia Chavchavadze State University
- Saferworld
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
- Pro NGO!

PUBLICATIONS

The EU’s Eastern Partnership: Civil Society Expectations and New Opportunities
Policy Review
by Tamara Pataraia
February 2010
Podcast

Pending Normalisation of Turkish-Armenian Relations: Implications for Georgia
Policy Review
by Ghia Nodia
January 2010
Podcast

Civil Society in the Georgian Regions
Collected articles
2009

Shida Kartli after the August 2008 War: Challenges and Solutions
Policy Review
by Erekle Urushadze
December 2009
Podcast

The Quality Assurance System in Georgian Schools
Policy Review
by Simon Janashia
November 2009
Podcast

Javakheti One Year After the August War
Policy Review
by Archil Abashidze
October 2009
Podcast

How Much Has the World Changed? Implications for Georgia’s Policies
Policy Review
by Ghia Nodia
April 2009
Podcast

Forestry Sector Reform in Georgia
Policy Review
by Irakli Macharashvili
March 2009

Administrative Structure of Local Self-Government: Civil Sector Perspective
Policy Review
by David Losaberidze
March 2009

Problems of media pluralism in Georgia
Policy Review
by Malkhaz Saldadze
March 2009

ATTACHEMENT	

The following projects were implemented by CIPDD in 2009:

CIVICUS – Civil society research in Georgia
Donor: Open Society – Georgia Foundation
Duration: 01.10.2008-31.03.2010
Budget: $32,000
Project coordinator: Tiko Tqeshelashvili
Objective: Creation of active and effective national and international platforms for knowledge-based actions for the strengthening of civil society. The project covers the following dimensions of civil society: civic engagement, level of organisation, practice of values, perceived impact, and external environment.

Nation wide CSO network
Donor: German Marshal Fund – Black Sea Trust
Duration: 01.07.2009-31.01.2010
Budget: $24,714
Project coordinator: Elene Nodia
Objective: The project aims to increase policy analyses capacity and advocacy skills of local communities, advance understanding of legal framework of civil participation, foster communication and cooperation between local civil society representatives and local authorities on regional development issues, and encourage partnership relations between CSOs from different regions and exchange of best practices among them.

Improving environment for minority integration in Georgia through supporting reforms in the school education system
Donor: Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst / EED (Germany)
Duration: 01.01.2008-31.12.2010
Budget: 370,000 EURO
Project coordinator: Sophie Zviadadze
Objective: The project is designed to improve conditions for minority involvement in Georgia through support of reforms in the public school system. The overall goal is to ensure adequate participation of the citizens of Georgia in public life and protection of their civil and political rights regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Independent media for civil integration
Donor: Delegation of EU Commission to Georgia 
Duration: 2007-2010  
Budget: 479,576 EURO
Project coordinator: Tamara Pataraia
Objective: Assistance and support for independent media in Kvemo-Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions of Georgia.

Political institutions in Georgia
Donor: The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) through Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy NIMD
Duration: 01.09 – 31.12.2009
Budget: 2,500 EURO
Project coordinator: Ghia Nodia
Objective: Promotion of an inter-party dialogue in Georgia

The Georgian-Russian analytical website www.pankisi.info 
Donor: Open Society Georgia - Foundation (OSGF)
Duration: 01.01 - 03.06.2009
Budget: $14,457
Project coordinator: Tamara Shamil
Partner: Centre for Journalism in Extreme Situations
Objective: Creation of a valuable source and freely accessible database of high-quality information about the Georgian-Russian relationship.

Research and analysis of the situation in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti
Donor: OSCE High Commissioner of National Minorities
Duration: 01.04.2009 – 31.12.2009
Budget: 30,128 EURO
Project coordinator: Marina Elbakidze
Objective: to monitor indicators of tensions and conflict potential in Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia, provide the office of the High Commissioner and the Government of Georgia with ‘first hand’ information from a potential conflict zone, and facilitate early warning and response, should this became necessary.

Institutional Support 2009/2010
Donor: Open Society Institute Think Tank Fund
Duration: 01.02.2009-31.01.2010
Budget: $80,000
Project coordinator: Tina Tqeshelashvili 
Objective: to ensure sustainable organisational development of CIPDD and contribute to democratic transition in Georgia.

Development of early warning system in conflict affected Shida Kartli region of Georgia
Donor: European Commission 
Duration: 1.09.2009 - 31.08.2010
Budget: 39,995 EURO
Project coordinator: Marina Elbakidze
Objective: to monitor and analyse ongoing processes and indicators of tensions in Shida Kartli region of Georgia

CIPDD EVENTS IN 2009

Quality assurance system in general education
Date: 11 November, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: CIPDD conference hall

Training: Introduction to the Project Writing 
Date: 2-4 October, 2009
Type of event: Training
Venue: Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli

Strategic Planning
Date: 2-4 October, 2009
Type of event: Training
Venue: Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli

Assessment of reform in education system. The reform of the Georgian national education system and non-Georgian schools
Date: 1 June 2009
Type of event: Presentation
Venue: CIPDD

Samtskhe-Javakheti after August 2008
Date: June 15, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: CIPDD

International School for Caucasus Studies
Date: April 3, 2009
Type of event: Presentation
Venue: Ilia Chavchavadze State University

The changing world and Georgia
Date: March 30, 2009
Type of event: Discussion
Venue: Ilia Chavchavadze State University

CIPDD strategy planning meeting
Date: March 21-22, 2009
Type of event: Working meeting
Venue: Bazaleti Lake Hotel

CIVICUS CSI: 1st AC meeting 
Date: February 7-8, 2009
Type of event: Working meeting
Venue: Bazaleti Lake Hotel

Workshop for editors of the  regional newspapers
Date: January 23, 2009
Type of event: Workshop
Venue: CIPDD