OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2004

oqtomberi - dekemberi 2004

2004 წლის ოქტომბერი - დეკემბერი

აღმასრულებელი საბჭო:

საბჭოს თავმჯდომარე

მიხეილ ჩაჩხუნაშვილი

ინგა თოდრია

არჩილ ოსიძე

რევაზ საყევარიშვილი

გიორგი გვახარია

გიორგი ლოლაძე

იაგო კაჭკაჭიშვილი

აღმასრულებელი დირექტორი

დავით დარჩიაშვილი

აღმასრულებელი დირექტორის მოადგილე

ნინო ჩინჩალაძე

October - December 2004

Executive Board

A Cheaf of Board

Michael Chachkhunashvili

Inga Todria

Archil Osidze

Revaz Sakevarishvili

George Gvakharia

George Loladze

Iago Kachkachishvili

Executive Director

David Darchiashvili

Deputy of Executive Director

Nino Chinchaladze

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The Open Society – Georgia Foundation, often referred to as the Soros Foundation, has been active in Georgia for ten years already. For many, it is associated with hope and a desire to cooperate. Others treat it, to put it mildly, with suspicion. Everywhere in this country you encounter people who got in touch with the Foundation, who have benefited from its support in implementing their ideas to make a difference. Unfortunately, still greater is the number of those who were not successful in applying for Foundation’s support.

The launch of this Newsletter is born also of the need to provide a guide for the public to learn first-hand of the principles and priorities that govern the Foundation’s work, to understand why some can repeatedly receive the Foundation’s support, while others are unsuccessful. The Newsletter will try systematically to explain to the general public that the Foundation structures its work within a legitimate idea-based and professional framework, consonant with the Georgian legislation and values of democracy pursued by the country, and that any project, to receive support, should be compatible with the core values that guide the Foundation’s work. Oftentimes though, this is not sufficient either, as the number of project proposals addressed to the Foundation always exceeds its funding capacity. Notably, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation was among the first donor organizations that decided to give assistance directly to citizens, voluntary public organizations and initiative groups, rather than to state structures or private business entities. Consequently, number of the Foundation’s potential clients reaches the number of adult population of Georgia.

The OSGF staff members, expert commissions and the Foundation’s Executive Board hold that competitive environment is a prerequisite for identifying the best projects to fund. We try to support ideas that have a

fondi Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos, romelic saqarTveloSi 10 welia funqcionirebs da romelsac sorosis fondis saxeli-Tac moixsenieben, zogi imediT da TanamSromlobis surviliT Sehyurebs, zogic, rbilad rom iTqvas, eWviT. Cveni qveynis nebismier regionSi mravlad arian moqalaqeni, visac uSualo Sexeba hqonia fondTan, visac fondisagan sakuTar ideaTa ganx-orcielebisaTvis mxardaWera miuRia. samwuxarod, metia im ada-mianTa ricxvi, vinc fonds uSedegod mimarTa.

winamdebare biuletenis gamocemis saWiroeba imiTacaa gamowveuli, rom sazogadoebam ukeT, pirvelwyarodan Seityos, Tu ratom, ris safuZvelze xdeba, rom erTni sistematurad aRweven fondisagan mxardaWeras, meoreTaTvis ki mcdelo-bebi uSedegod mTavrdeba. biuleteni Seecdeba auxsnas farTo sazogadoebas, rom fonds gaaCnia legitimuri, anu saqarTvelos kanonmdeblobasa da qveynis mier arCeul demokratiul kursTan Tanxvedri ideuri da profesionaluri CarCoebi, principebi, romelTanac Tavsebadoba nebismieri proeqtis mxardaWeris aucilebeli pirobaa. Tumca xSirad esec araa sakmarisi, radgan saproeqto ganacxadebis raodenoba yovelTvis aRemateba fon-dis materialur SesaZleblobebs. fondi erTerTi pirveli iyo im donor organizaciaTa Soris, vinc uSualod moqalaqee-bis, sazogadoebrivi organizaciebis, sainiciativo jgufebis mxardaWera ganizraxa, saxelisuflo organoebisa Tu kerZo biznesis xelSewyobis sanacvlod. Sesabamisad, mis potenciur klientTa ricxvi saqarTvelos zrdasrul moqalaqeTa raodeno-bas utoldeba.

fondis TanamSromlebs, fondTan arsebul saeqsperto komis-iebs, fondis aRmasrulebel sabWos, migvaCia, rom konkurentuli

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garemo saukeTeso proeqtebis gamovlenis sawindaria. Cven vcdi-lobT, mxari davuWiroT iseT ideebs, romelTa ganxorcieleba sazogadoebisaTvis iqneba xelSesaxebi Sedegis momtani. zog Sem-TxvevaSi, es SeiZleba iyos kanonproeqtebze muSaobis xelSewyo-ba, xelisuflebis ama Tu im organos gamWvirvaleobis da sazoga-doebrivi angariSgebis uzrunvelyofa, zogjer – socialuri sakiTxebis irgvliv Temis, samezoblos, ubnis mosaxleobis or-ganizeba. mTavaria, iniciativa, proeqti samoqalaqo sazogadoe-bis ganmtkicebas realurad uwyobdes xels saerToerovnul Tu adgilobriv doneze.

samoqalaqo sazogadoeba tolerantobis, socialuri pasuxis-mgeblobis, kanonis uzenaesobis, profesionalizmis da Tanabari SesaZleblobebis principebze dafuZnebuli erTobaa. fond Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos swored amgvari sazogadoebis mSene-blobiT esmis saqarTvelos erovnuli interesebis samsaxuri. samoqalaqo sazogadoebis alternativa mxolod izolireba, diqtatura, korufcia, daucveloba, qaosi an yvelaferi erTad SeiZleba iyos. sazogadoebis siRiave ki imas niSnavs, rom ganvi-Tarebas informaciis SeuzRudavoba, gansxvavebul mosazrebaTa Tanaarseboba esaWiroeba da rom aravis aqvs monopolia amqveyn-iur WeSmaritebaze. individualur Tu sazogadoebriv qmedebaTa SemzRudavi mxolod demokratiuli konstitucia da saerTaSor-iso samarTali unda iyos.

ramdenad efeqturia fondi saqarTvelos sazogadoebis WeSmarit interesTa samsaxurSi? pasuxi am kiTxvas Tavad sazogadoebis war-momadgenlebma unda gascen. erT rameSi me piradad eWvi ar mepareba _ fondi dgas yvela im moqalaqis gverdiT, visTvisac qveynis de-mokratiuli da Rirseuli momavali litoni sityvebi araa.

potential to make a difference. In some cases this can embrace support in drafting new legislation, in promoting transparency and accountability in governance, while in others – mobilization of community or neighborhood round social problems. The most essential is for the initiative or project to foster civil society, to help empower it at the national or local level.

Civil society is the unity grounded on the principles of tolerance, social responsibility, the rule of law, professionalism, and equal opportunities. Promotion of civil society and its empowerment – this is how the Open Society - Georgia Foundation sees its mission in upholding the national interests of Georgia. The only alternative to civil society is isolation, dictatorship, corruption, disadvantage and chaos, or a combination of these. Openness of a society implies that development hinges on unlimited access to information and diversity of views, and that nobody has a monopoly on the truth. The democratic constitution and international law alone can limit the individual or society in their action.

How effective is the OSGF’s contribution in serving the true interests of society? This question has to be answered by representatives of the society in the first place. One thing is for sure: the Open Society –Georgia Foundation sides with, and supports those citizens for whom the democratic future and dignity of our country are more than mere words.

fond `Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos~

aRmasrulebeli direqtori

daviT darCiaSvili

“Open Society-Georgia” Foundation DirectorDAVID DARCHIASHVILI

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fondi `Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelo~

1 0 wlisaa10th year Jubilee of “Open Society-Georgia” Foundation

Over ten years ago, in the aftermath of the war in Abkhazia, one of the most complicated and painful periods in Georgia’s recent history, the former government of the country took a wise decision, in fact unparalleled throughout the period of its leadership. In response to a choice offer made by Mr. George Soros, a well-known investor and philanthropist, to give the country much-needed humanitarian aid, or instead to deploy development programs thus helping the country to seize development opportunities, the government opted for the latter, enabling Mr. Soros to place emphasis on promoting civil society and fostering democratic values in Georgia.

aT weliwadze meti dro gavida mas Semdeg, rac saqarTvelos uaxlesi istoriis erT-erT umZimes - afxazeTis omis Semdgom peri-odSi saqarTvelos maSindelma xelisuflebam gamonaklisi dauSva da cnobili mecenatis, jorj sorosis mier SeTavazebul arCevans - daxmareboda qveyanas humanitaruli daxmarebiT an ganviTarebis

programebis amuSavebiT, swori gadawyvetilebiT upasuxa - ar dax-arbda humanitarul daxmarebas da jorj soross saSualeba misca,

saqarTveloSi samoqalaqo sazogadoebis ganviTarebasa da demokra-tiuli faseulobebis damkvidrebaze gaekeTebina aqcenti.

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Znelia, erTi werilis farglebSi srulad da detalurad moicva mTeli is saqmianoba, rac 10 wlis manZilze damaarseblis saxelTan mWidrod asocirebulma fondma “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelom” gaswia. Tumca, muSaobis ZiriTad prioritetebze fondis saxel-wodebac metyvelebs - karl poperis mier SemoRebuli cneba “Ria sazogadoeba” ukve didi xania iqca demokratiuli sazogadoebis simbolod da fondis saqmianobac ZiriTadad swored aqeTken - saqarTvelos demokratiul saxelmwifod qcevis, saqarTveloSi demokratiuli sazogadoebis formirebis xelSewyobisken iyo da aris mimarTuli. miznis miRwevis saSualebad ki jorj sorosis mier daarsebuli Ria sazogadoebisa da centraluri evropis in-stitutebis qselur programebSi monawileoba da TviT fondSi arsebuli sxvadasxva programebis operirebadi da grantgamcemi saqmianoba, regionuli warmomadgenlobebis aqtivoba miiCneva. isic sainteresoa, rom fondis arsebobis 10 wlis manZilze Tavad jorj sorosi ramdenjerme estumra saqarTvelos da misi viz-itebi yovelTvis metad mniSvnelovani wamowyebebis incirebiT sruldeboda. rac mTavaria, xSir SemTxvevaSi es gaxldaT Tavad sorosis organizaciaTa qselisaTvis ucxo tipis, magram saqarT-velos realobisTvis metad mniSvnelovani proeqtebis ganxor-cieleba. aseTi iyo, magaliTad, ganaTlebis megaproeqti da aseve antikorufciuli programa, romlis warumateblobac mxolod da mxolod saqarTvelos revoluciamdeli xelisuflebis Sesabamisi nebis uqonlobam ganapiroba.

iyo dro, rodesac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTveloSi” 24 sxvadasxva profilis programa muSaobda, dResdReobiT zogierTi maTgani damoukidebel organizaciad Camoyalibda da fondis mx-ardaWeris paralelurad, dafinansebis sxva wyaroebiTac sarge-blobs.

dawyebiT ki, yvelaferi imiT daiwyo, rom fondi “Ria sazoga-doeba - saqarTvelos” daarsebamde, CvenSi ukve muSaobda qseluri programa, romelic saqarTvelosa da kidev ramdenime postsabWoTa qveyanaSi grantebs gascemda fundamenturi mecnierebis dargebSi moRvawe mecnierebisa Tu mecnierTa jgufebisaTvis, romlebic ak-mayofilebdnen sakmaod mkacr moTxovnebs. ukve fondis daarsebis Semdeg es programa fondSi gafarToebuli saxiT gaerTianda da mas samecniero-saganmanaTleblo programa ewoda. araerTi mniS-vnelovani samecniero naSromi, romlebze muSaobac fondis dax-marebis gareSe im wlebSi SeuZlebeli iqneboda, asobiT niWieri moswavle, romlebsac saSualeba miecaT TavianTi niWi sxvadasxva olimpiadebze gamoevlinaT, aseve asobiT maswavlebeli, romleb-sac fondi stipendiebs uniSnavda da, rac mTavaria, yovelwliu-rad 100-120 studenti, romelic mokle Tu grZelvadiani progr-amebiT miemgzavreba sazRvargareTis prestiJul universitetebSi saswavleblad - yovelive es ara mxolod dRevandelobaze, aramed qveynis momavalze gaTvlili nabijebia.

ganaTlebis sfero fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” daarsebisTanave prioritetuli gaxldaT da es arc aris gasakvi-ri: ganaTlebis gareSe demokratiisa da samoqalaqo sazogadoebis ganviTareba safuZvelSive utopiuria. arc is gaxlavT gasakviri, rom saqarTvelos ganaTlebis sistemisTvis daxmarebis survili Tavad jorj sorosma gamoTqva da swored mis am iniciativas mo-hyva ganaTlebis megaproeqtis Seqmna. am saqmisTvis Tavdapirve-lad 3 milioni dolari gamoiyo da male biujeti orjer gaiz-arda. swored es proeqti daedo safuZvlad ganaTlebis sferoSi dRes mimdinare reformebs.

aTwliani moRvaweobis manZilze fondis muSaoba mraval sfer-osa Tu dargze aisaxa da yvelafris CamoTvla SeuZlebelic kia. ubralod, rodesac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” muSaobzea laparaki, ar SeiZleba ar aRiniSnos ramdenime gansa-kuTrebuli movlena Tu faqti, romlebic uSualod fondis sax-elTan da mis moRvaweobasTan aris dakavSirebuli. pirvel rigSi, es saqarTveloSi arasamTavrobo seqtoris ganviTarebas exeba. samoqalaqo sazogadoebis aqtiuri ujredebis Camoyalibebas

It is difficult, if not impossible, in this short overview to embrace fully and in sufficient detail all the work done over the ten-year period by the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, closely associated with the name of its founder. Though, the name of the Foundation speaks for itself, and for its priorities: the concept of “open society” framed by Karl Popper has long become synonymous with the democratic society. Hence, the main thrust in the Foundation’s activity is in its commitment to promoting Georgia’s sustainable transition to democracy, nurturing and strengthening democratic society in the country. This mission is carried out through participation in the Network Programs of the Open Society Institute and CEU founded by Mr. George Soros, grant making activities and operation of the diverse programs established by the Foundation, the work of OSGF regional branch offices. Interestingly, over the space of 10 years, Mr. George Soros himself visited Georgia on several occasions, and his visits always gave rise to important initiatives. What is most important, oftentimes those initiatives envisaged implementation of projects seemingly out of context of the Soros Network, but vitally important for Georgia. Such was, for instance only the Education Mega-Project, or the Anti-Corruption Program, whose failure stemmed from the former leadership’s lack of political will to make a real difference in fight against corruption.

At a certain stage of its existence, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation was operating 24 different programs. Over the years, several of them have spun off as independent organizations, and parallel to Foundation’s support, they get funding for their activities from other sources.

Everything began, however, much earlier, before the launch of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, with a grant-making network program operating in Georgia and in several other post-soviet countries. The aim of the Program was to support individual scientists or groups working in basic sciences, who met fairly stringent eligibility requirements. After the Open Society – Georgia Foundation was established, that program became part of OSGF with the name of “Science Education Program”. Many important scientific projects that would have never been possible in those difficult years without the Foundation’s support, hundreds of gifted schoolchildren able to demonstrate their knowledge at different Olympiad competitions, hundreds of educators receiving stipends, and what is most important, 100-120 students sponsored every year to participate in long- or short-term educational programs at prestigious western universities – such is the Program’s input important not only from the present-day perspective, but reaching far into the future of our country.

Education support has been among the OSGF priorities since inception, and not surprisingly: there will be no thriving democracy or strong civil society without education. Neither is it surprising that Mr. George Soros himself came up with an initiative to support the education system. This initiative translated into the Education Mega-Project that initially received 3 million USD, and a doubled budget after a while. The Reform package on Education now carried out by The Ministry of Science and Education was born out of that project.

Over the ten-year period of its existence, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation has given its support in many diverse areas, and implemented a wide range of initiatives. It would hardly be possible to list all of its activities. However, when speaking about the work carried out by OSGF, it is necessary to note some of the remarkable events or facts associated with the Foundation: firstly, its input in promoting the development of a non-governmental sector in Georgia. OSGF undertook to foster active civil society cells, and put forth a lot of effort to fulfill this mission. The NGO Support Program helped many non-governmental organizations get a start, providing an initial impetus for them to develop. These were small technical assistance grants, or “fishing rods, not fish”, as they often say in the Foundation. Later on, the strategy changed, and now through supporting NGO projects, OSGF contributes both to their development and to implementation of ideas central to specific projects initiated by the NGO sector.

Promotion and empowerment of civil society have been at the heart of the work carried out to foster public awareness of citizens’ rights and

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didi Zalisxmeva daWirda da es misia erT-erTma pirvelma, fondma “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelom” itvirTa. arasamTavrobo or-ganizaciebis mxardaWeris programam uamrav organizacias misca pirveli biZgi imisaTvis, rom ganviTarebuliyo. es iyo mcire te-qnikuri daxmareba, anu, rogorc fondSi amboben xolme - ankesi, romliTac Tevzis daWera SeiZleboda da ara Tevzi. mogvianebiT strategia Seicvala da dRemde fondi swored arasamaTavrobo organizaciebis sxvadasxva proeqtebis mxardaWeriT agrZelebs, rogorc uSualod maT ganviTarebaze zrunvas, aseve im mniS-vnelovani ideebis cxovrebaSi gatarebisTvis xelSewyobas, rom-lebsac arasamTavrobo seqtoris konkretuli proeqtebi Seicavs.

samoqalaqo sazogadoebis ganviTarebas emsaxureboda da emsax-ureba wlebis manZilze is samuSaoebi, romlebic moqalaqeebisTvis maTi uflebebisa da movaleobebis ganmartebisTvis tardeboda. am mimarTulebiT gansakuTrebiT mniSvnelovania adgilobrivi TviTm-marTvelobis programis roli, romelic wlebis manZilze aqtiurad muSaobs regionebSi. pirvel etapze es gaxldaT saganmanaTleblo saqmianoba adgilobriv doneze marTvis TvalsazrisiT, rac ad-gilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobis muSaobis gamWvirvalobisa da gadaw-yvetilebis miRebis procesSi adgilobrivi mosaxleobis CarTulo-bis xelSewyobiT gagrZelda da momzadda safuZveli decentraliza-ciis Sesaxeb unikaluri proeqtis ganxorcielebisTvis.

aRsaniSnavia, rom fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” erT-erTi ZiriTadi mimarTuleba yovelTvis iyo samarTlebrivi sax-elmwifos Camoyalibebis xelSewyoba, aqedan gamomdinare samarT-lis programaze yovelTvis didi datvirTva modioda - iqneboda es kanon-proeqtebis, adamianis uflebebis dacvaze orientire-buli calkeuli dokumentebis momzadeba Tu gamWvirvalobis uz-runvelyofasTan dakavSirebuli aqtivoba.

namdvilad didia is wvlili, romelic fonds Tavisufali masmediis ganviTarebaSi miuZRvis. Tavisufali presis saqmiano-

responsibilities. In this context, a particularly important role has been played by the Local Governance Program, over years carrying out extensive work in the regions. At the initial stage, the Program’s emphasis was on educational work for local governance, which then shifted to enhancing transparency in the work of local self-governments and promoting public participation in the decision-making process. This, together, has laid a foundation for implementing a genuinely unique project on decentralization.

Notably, promotion of the rule of law and establishment of a law-governed state has always been among the core priorities in OSGF’s work. Hence, an impressive workload of the Rule of Law Program: support in drafting laws, preparation of documents concerning protection of human rights, activities to ensure transparency, etc.

The contribution the Open Society – Georgia Foundation has made to the development of free media is outstanding. The Foundation started its support of free press with awarding technical equipment grants for printed or broadcasting media outlets, and made an important input into the development of regional media. Today, the emphasis is on journalists’ professional development, on encouraging journalists to work on issues of particular relevance for the country. A lot has been done to promote the development of contemporary arts and culture, support the protection of cultural heritage. The Arts and Culture Support Program is among the first of OSGF’s programs whose activities helped protect, document and study many historic monuments. It is difficult to point to a single theater that would not benefit from the assistance given by the Foundation. Also, a genuinely unique project being implemented provides for digitalization of Georgian manuscripts.

Among the important inputs of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation one has to emphasize the work conducted to promote the Internet connectivity. Through the Foundation’s instrumentality, virtually all of active NGOs have been connected to the Internet.

For years ago, OSGF launched the Economic Development Program that supports small and medium-sized business development through extending credits. A source of pride for the Foundation lies also in projects realized within the framework of the Public Health Program that translated into tangible outcomes, and gave assistance to many a person. Among these, worthy of special mention is creation of a hospice for terminally ill patients, an inspiring example of how important things can be achieved even with relatively modest means.

This is only a short list of activities of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation over the ten years of its existence.

qveynisTvis iseT mniSvnelovan pro-cesSi monawileobas, rogoric arCev-nebia, sxva donor organizaciebTan erTad fondi yovelTvis axalisebda, aseve uzrunvelyofda arCevnebze damoukidebeli damkvirveblebis muS-aobas, 2003 wlis noembris arCevnebSi ki amas xmebis paraleluri daTvlis organizeba, egreT wodebuli, egziT-polebis uzrunvelyofa daemata.

OVER YEARS, OSGF HAS CONTRIBUTED, TOGETHER WITH OTHER DONOR ORGANIZATIONS, TO AN INCREASE IN AN INTEREST AND DRIVE FOR PARTICIPATION IN SUCH A CRITICAL PROCESS FOR THE COUNTRY AS ELECTIONS ARE; IT ALSO SUPPORTED THE WORK OF INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2003, OSGF ORGANIZED EXIT POLLS.

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bis xelSewyoba fondma beWdviTi Tu samauwyeblo sainformacio saSualebebis teqnikur aRWurvaze grantebis gacemiT daiwyo, mniSvnelovani wvlili Seitana regionuli mediis ganviTarebaSi da amJamad Jurnalistebis profesiuli donis amaRlebiTa da qveynisTvis mniSvnelovan problemebze JurnalistTa muSaobis waxalisebiT agrZelebs Tavisufali mas-mediis Tanadgomas. aseve didi damsaxureba miuZRvis fonds Tanamedrove xelovnebisa da kulturis ganviTarebasa da kulturuli memkvidreobis dacvaSi. kulturisa da xelovnebis programa erT-erTi pirvelia fondis programebs Soris, romlis aqtivobis Sedegad araerTi istori-uli Zegli iqna daculi, aRwerili, gamokvleuli. aseve aRsan-iSnavia, rom ar darCenila TiTqmis arc erTi Teatri, fondis daxmareba rom ar mieRo. da kidev, dResac grZeldeba sruliad unikaluri proeqtis ganxorcieleba, romlis farglebSic xdeba qarTuli xelnawerebis cifruli Cawera.

roca saubrob fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqaraTvelos” Sesaxeb, ar SeiZleba ar aRiniSnos is samuSao, romelic man saqarTveloSi internetis gavrcelebisTvis gaswia. swored fondis daxmarebiT CaerTo internetis qselSi saqarTveloSi metnaklebad cnobili yvela arasamTavrobo organizacia.

oTxi welia, rac fondSi ekonomikuri ganviTarebis programa amoqmedda, romelic mcire da saSualo bizness exmareba regioneb-Si kreditebis gacemiT. aseve fondSi eamayebaT sazogadoebrivi janmrTelobis programis mier ganxorcielebuli proeqtebi, rom-lebsac marTlac xelSesaxebi Sedegi mohyva da romlebmac araerT adamians gauwies realuri daxmareba. amaTgan gansakuTrebiT Sei-Zleba gamoiyos TavSesafari (hospisi) terminalur mdgomareobaSi myofi avadmyofebisaTvis - magaliTi imisa, rogor SeiZleba minim-aluri danaxarjebiT mniSvnelovani humanuri saqme gakeTdes.

es gaxlavT albaT umciresi CamonaTvali imisa, rac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” aTwliani moRvaweobis aqtivebSi Sei-Zleba Caiweros. da bolos, ar SeiZleba ar aRiniSnos is, rom fondis daarsebidan cxra wlis Tavze is revoluciis momwyobad moinaTla _ sinamdvileSi, sazogadoebis erT nawilSi gavrcelebu-li es mosazreba garkveuli politikuri Zalebis mier sazogadoe-brivi azris am mimarTulebiT warmarTvis Sedegi gaxlavT. realu-rad ki fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” wvlili vardebis revoluciaSi mis mier demokratiis ganviTarebisTvis gaweuli muSaobiT Semoifargleba da am samuSaos arCevnebis gamWvirvale-obis xelSewyoba hqvia. qveynisTvis iseT mniSvnelovan procesSi monawileobas, rogoric arCevnebia, sxva donor organizaciebTan erTad fondi yovelTvis axalisebda, aseve uzrunvelyofda ar-Cevnebze damoukidebeli damkvirveblebis muSaobas, 2003 wlis noembris arCevnebSi ki amas xmebis paraleluri daTvlis orga-nizeba, egreT wodebuli, egziT-polebis uzrunvelyofa daemata. isic aRsaniSnavia, rom arCevnebis gamWvirvalobis uzrunvelyofa-Si monawileobis miReba ar yofila niu-iorkidan an budapeStidan miRebuli davaleba. arsebulma winapirobebma fondis mesveurT am saqmeSi CarTvisken ubiZga da marTlac gaxda fondi arCevnebis gamWvirvaleobisa da obieqturad warmarTvis flagmani.

ase rom, miuxedavad aTasi pretenziisa, romlebic fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” mimarT ismis xolme, faqtebi da Sede-gebi mainc Tavis sityvas amboben. is strategia da prioritetebi, romlebsac dResac misdevs fondi, fondis aRmasrulebel sabWosa Tu sxvadasxva programebis eqspertTa sabWoebSi myofi, sazoga-doebisTvis kargad cnobili adamianebis mier nafiqri da Sedge-nilia da ara mxolod da mxolod jorj sorosis mier “SekveTi-li”, rogorc amis warmoCineba surT mavanT. Tumca, aris erTi moTxovna, romelsac jorj sorosi marTlac uyenebs yvela, mis mier dafuZnebul fonds - maT xeli unda Seuwyon demokratiuli sazogadoebis mSeneblobas. fondi “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTve-lo” maqsimaluri pasuxismgeblobiT ekideba am moTxovnas, radgan igi qveynisa da eris fundamenturi interesis gamomxatvelia.

And, finally, one special remark seems in order. After the lapse of nine years since establishment, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation was claimed by some to have stage-managed the Revolution of Roses. Such judgment heard among one part of the Georgian society, is to be attributed to certain political forces that try to manipulate the public opinion. In reality, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s input into the Revolution of Roses is limited to the work it has done to foster democracy, namely to encourage transparency of the elections’ process. Over years, OSGF has contributed, together with other donor organizations, to an increase in an interest and drive for participation in such a critical process for the country as elections are; it also supported the work of independent observers. Additionally, in 2003, OSGF organized exit polls. Importantly, participation in securing the elections’ transparency was by no means dictated by an instruction from New York or Budapest. The circumstances on the ground prompted the Open Society – Georgia Foundation to participate, and it indeed took the lead in encouraging transparency and objectivity in the elections.

Thus, despite the many claims heard in reference to the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, the facts and results tell their own tale. The strategy and priorities that guide the Foundation in its work are not “made to the order” of George Soros, but born of reflections and effort by persons working on the OSGF Executive Board or expert boards of various programs, the persons well known to the society. However, there is one essential requirement that Mr. George Soros has indeed established for all foundations he created: they should promote and support the building of a democratic society. The Open Society – Georgia Foundation emphasizes this principle, seeing its mission as one of promoting fundamental interests of the nation.

aris erTi moTxovna, romelsac jorj sorosi marTlac uyenebs yvela, mis mier dafuZnebul fonds - maT xeli unda Seuwyon demokratiuli sazoga-doebis mSeneblobas. fondi “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelo” maqsim-aluri pasuxismgeblobiT ekideba am moTxovnas, radgan igi qveynisa da eris fundamenturi interesis gamomx-atvelia.

HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT THAT MR. GEORGE SOROS HAS INDEED ESTABLISHED FOR ALL FOUNDATIONS HE CREATED: THEY SHOULD PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. THE OPEN SOCIETY – GEORGIA FOUNDATION EMPHASIZES THIS PRINCIPLE, SEEING ITS MISSION AS ONE OF PROMOTING FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS OF THE NATION.

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fondi “Ria sazogadoe-ba - saqarTvelo” - dRevandeloba

fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” arsebobis manZilze, misi muSaobis stili, erTi SexedviT, ar Secvlila da am 10 wlis ganmav-lobaSi fondi Cveuli ritmiT muSaobs. Tumca, sruliad obieqturi faqtoris gamo bolo erTi weliwadi mainc gansxvavebuli aRmoCnda - “vardebis revoluciis” Sedegad qveynis saTaveSi mosulma xelisu-flebam kargad icis, ra potencials flobs fondi ara mxolod fi-nansuri, aramed inteleqtualuri TvalsazrisiT da ramdenad Sede-gianad SeiZleba misi gamoyeneba urTierTTanamSromlobis SemTx-vevaSi. Sesabamisad, marTalia, fondi xSirad Tavad aris wamomwyebi da aseve, kvlavindeburad mxars uWers qveyanaSi yvela im wamowyebas, romelic demokratiuli, samoqalaqo sazogadoebis ganviTarebi-sken aris mimarTuli, ubralod, SeiZleba iTqvas, fondis mimarT moTxovnebma ara marto arasamTavrobo seqtoris, aramed xelisu-flebis mxridanac imata.

dResdReobiT fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTveloSi” aTi erovnuli da ramdenime qseluri programa muSaobs. maTi muSaobis xarisxze yvelaze ukeT miRweuli Sedegebi metyvelebs.

THE OPEN SOCIETY – GEORGIA FOUNDATION TODAY

Over the ten years of its existence, the OSGF’s work style has hardly changed, at a first glance. However, the past year has been somewhat different, due to well-known objective factors. The new leadership of the country brought to power by the Revolution of Roses is well aware of the potential the Foundation possesses, not only from a financial, but also from the intellectual perspective, and how effective and efficient the cooperation can be. Indeed, the Open Society - Georgia Foundation continues its usual work in support of ideas, and often comes up itself with initiatives, that promote the development of a democratic society; but today such initiatives are not only coming from NGOs, but increasingly put forth by the governmental sector representatives.

Presently, the Open Society - Georgia Foundation operates ten national, and several network programs. Their work can best be appreciated through the results achieved.

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samarTlis programafond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” samarTlis programa

saqarTveloSi samarTlebrivi reformis warmatebiT mimdinareo-bisTvis xelSewyobas kvlavac agrZelebs. amasTan, programis pri-oritetebs Soris kvlav rCeba adamianis uflebebis dacvis garan-tiebis uzrunvelyofa, iuridiuli ganaTlebis donis amaRleba, samarTliani arCevnebis Catarebis xelSewyoba, agreTve koruf-ciisa da adamianis uflebaTa darRvevebis mimarT sazogadoebaSi uaryofiTi damokidebulebis klimatis Seqmna. swored am prior-itetebze dayrdnobiT, fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” samarTlis programam 2004 wlis Semodgomaze konkursis farg-lebSi proeqtebis Tavisufali Semotana gamoacxada. konkursis farglebSi 41 proeqti iqna Setanili, romelTagan ramdenime saukeTeso dafinansda.

axlaxans samarTlis programa mniSvnelovani wamowyebis ini-ciatori gaxda. kerZod, arasamTavrobo organizacia “axalgazrda iuristTa asociaciasTan” erTad or-ganizeba gauwia iusticiis saministrosTan samuSao jgufis Seqmnas, romelic saerTaSoriso gamocdile-baze dayrdnobiT saqarTvelosaTvis misaRebi ufaso iuridiuli daxmarebis modelisa da koncefciis Se-muSavebas, kanonproeqtis momzadebas da efeqturi ufaso iuridiuli damxarebis sistemis danergvas isaxavs miznad.

samarTlis programis koordinatoris Tamar qal-dani ufaso iuridiuli daxmarebis sistemis danerg-vis aucileblobas ase asabuTebs: “saidumlo ar gax-lavT, rom saqarTvelos konstituciiT aRiarebuli dacvisa da samarTliani sasamarTlos uflebis ganx-orcieleba saqarTveloSi dRes arsebuli sistemis xarvezianobis gamo TiTqmis SeuZlebelia. mZime mate-rialur mdgomareobaSi myofi saqarTvelos mosaxle-obis 60 procents ZviradRirebuli advokatis daxmarebaze xeli ar miuwvdeba, saxelmwifo ki sanacvlod maT dRes moqmedi kanonmde-blobiT mxolod daufinansebeli da araefeqturi saxazino advoka-tis momsaxurebas sTavazobs”.

amasTan, samarTlis programa sul ufro met yuradRebas uT-mobs Sida, sakuTari ZalebiT operirebad da administrirebad proeqtebs. aseTTa Sorisaa Sinagan saqmeTa saminsitros akademi-aSi axali saswavlo modelebis danergva. es programa budapeStis Ria sazogadoebis institutis programis - “samarTlebrivi ini-ciativis” Semoqmedebaa da policielis moqalaqesTan(maT Soris, eWvmitanilTan) mopyrobis civilur da efeqtur formaTa danerg-vas gulisxmobs.

miznebisa da prioritetebis farTo speqtridan gamomdinare samarTlis programa imTaviTve CarTulia kanonSemoqmedebiTi saqmianobis daxvewis procesSi. am mimarTulebiT samarTlis pro-gramis mier Catarebul RonisZiebaTa Sorisaa 2004 wlis oqtomb-erSi bakurianSi Catarebuli Treiningi, romlis mizans zogadad kanonSemoqmedebiTi procesis daxvewa, am konkretul SemTxvevaSi ki sakanonmdeblo aqtebis proeqtebis weris teqnikis amaRleba warmoadgenda. imave Treiningis meore Tema sajaro dawesebule-bebSi gamWirvalobis uzrunvelyofa gaxldaT.

sajaroobisa da gamWirvalobis principebis ganmtkiceba, sa-jaro moxeleTa kvalifikaciis amaRleba, saministroebsa da sxva uwyebebis samarTalSemoqmedebisa da kanonSemoqmedebis procesis srulyofis da maT Soris koordinirebul muSaobis xelSewyoba - es is Temebi gaxlavT, romlebsac bakurianSi ori dRis manZilze ganixilavdnen Treiningis monawileni - TiTqmis yvela sajaro dawesebulebis iuridiuli samsaxurebis warmomadgenlebi. dasas-ruls ki SemuSavda rekomendaciebi SemdgomSi kanonSemoqmedebiTi

RULE OF LAW PROGRAMThe Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s Rule of Law Program continues

to work in support of successful implementation of the legal reform in Georgia. The priority issue areas remain the following: safeguarding human rights, upgrading the legal culture, supporting fair elections, shaping an attitude of intolerance and non-acceptance of corruption and human rights’ abuses among different segments of public. In order to address these priority areas, in autumn 2004 the Rule of Law Program announced a Call for Proposals, with 41 project proposals submitted for open competition. Some of the most interesting and promising projects received funding.

Recently, the Rule of Law Program has come up with another important initiative. In conjunction with the Young Lawyers’ Association, it took the lead in setting up a working group with the Ministry of Justice, aiming to develop a model and a concept of free legal aid based on international experience and tailored to Georgia’s needs, to elaborate a relevant draft

law, and to implement an effective free legal aid system in the country. According to Tamar Kaldani, Coordinator of the Rule of Law Program,

it is essential to establish a system of free legal aid, as: “It is no secret that due to the flaws present in the existing system, it is almost impossible to ensure realization of the right to legal defense and fair trial, as spelled out in the Constitution of Georgia. Due to economic predicament, sixty percent of the Georgian population cannot afford services of expensive defense counsels, while the state, under the present legislation, can only offer them severely underfunded and highly ineffective services of state defense lawyers”.

At the same time, the Rule of Law Program is increasingly focused on projects that rely on internal capacity for their operation and administration. One such project envisions introduction of new teaching modules at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The project is part of the Rule of Law Initiative of the Open Society Institute – Budapest, and seeks to introduce civilized and effective forms of treatment by police of individuals (including suspects).

Given the wide range of objectives and priorities addressed, the Rule of Law Program is involved in activities aiming to improve the law-making process. A two-day training workshop held in October 2004 in Bakuriani addressed the streamlining of the legislative process in general, with a special emphasis on enhancing the skills and techniques of drafting legislation. Another focus of the workshop was promoting transparency in the work of public institutions. Fostering openness and transparency, upgrading public servants’ professional skills, streamlining the legislative process at ministries and other relevant agencies, need for better coordination – these were the themes addressed at the Bakuriani workshop by its participants representing legal departments of almost all public institutions in Georgia. Recommendations elaborated by the workshop participants aim to improve further the legislative process and enhance transparency.

pirvelad saqarTveloSi da, arsebiTad, dsT-Si, Tavdacvis saministrosTan Seiqmna sazogadoebriv mrCevelTa sabWo. misi funqciaa samxedro-samoqa-laqo urTierTobaTa harmonizacia, Tavdacvis siste-mis reformirebis da am procesis gamWvirvalobis xelSewyoba.

THE PUBLIC ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED WITH THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN GEORGIA AND, ESSENTIALLY, IN THE CIS. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD INCLUDE HARMONIZATION OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS, REFORMATION OF THE DEFENSE SYSTEM AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS.

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procesis srulyofasTan da gamWvirvalobis uzrunvelyofasTan dakavSirebiT.

fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” samarTlis programis mier samoqalaqo sazogadoebis mSeneblobis mxardaWeris egidiT noemberSi axali proeqtis ganxorcieleba wamoiwyo. proeqtis mizania sazogadoebrivi kontrolis meqanizmebis SeqmniT sakanon-mdeblo procesis gamWvirvalobis uzrunvelyofa, sazogadoebis CarTulobis gazrda, aseve, moqalaqeTa interesebis dacva da lo-bireba kanonSemoqmedebiT procesSi.

da bolos, pirvelad saqarTveloSi da, arsebiTad, dsT-Si, Tav-dacvis saministrosTan Seiqmna sazogadoebriv mrCevelTa sabWo. misi funqciaa samxedro-samoqalaqo urTierTobaTa harmonizacia, Tavdacvis sistemis reformirebis da am procesis gamWvirvalobis xelSewyoba. aqve SeiZleba gamoiyos ori arsebiTi komponenti _ Se-syidvaTa sistemisa da jariskacTa uflebebis uzrunvelyofis moni-toringi. am ideis proeqtad qceva, misi materialuri da inteleq-tualuri mxardaWera fondis samarTlis programis damsaxurebaa.

adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobisa da sajaro administraciis programa

adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobisa da sajaro administra-ciis programa fond “Ria sazogadoeba-saqarTvelos” erT-erTi yvelaze datvirTuli rgolia da amaze programis strategiis farglebSi SemuSavebuli prioritetebis moculobac mowmobs. adgilobriv doneze gadawyvetilebis miRebis procesis gamWvir-valebis xelSewyoba, sazogadoebis aqtiuri Cabma adgilobriv TviTmmarTvelobis mier gadawyvetilebis miRebis procesSi, de-centralizaciis, aseve, sajaro samsaxuris reformis xelSewyoba, centralur doneze politikis SemuSavebisas sazogadoebrivi CarTulobis gazrda, adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobis warmomad-genelTa kvalifikaciis amaRleba, brZola korufciis winaaRmdeg, adgilobriv doneze monawileobiTi biujetirebis waxaliseba, Te-mis ganviTarebaze orientirebuli iniciativebis mxardaWera – es is prioritetebi gaxlavT, romlebic adgilobrivi TviTmmarTv-elobisa da sajaro administraciis programas 2004-2006 wlebze aqvs gawerili.

yvela am mimarTulebas Soris bolo sami Tvis manZilze yvelaze meti yuradReba adgilobrivi mmarTvelobis organoebis muSao-bis gamWvirvalobis uzrunvelyofasa da mmarTvelobis decen-tralizaciis principebis SemuSavebasa da maTi ganxorcielebi-sTvis xelisSewyobis winapirobebze muSaobas daeTmo. programas 2004 wlis bolo sam TveSi am mimarTulebiT metad mniSvnelovani nabijebi aqvs gadadgmuli. kerZod, dafinansda arasamTavarobo organizaciaTa koaliciis proeqti, saxelwodebiT “saqarTveloSi decentralizaciis strategiis SemuSaveba”.

SeiZleba iTqvas, rom am proeqtiT mimdinare samuSaoebi erT-erTi safuZvelia iseT samTavrobo ganzraxvaTa xorcSesasxmelad, rogoricaa TviTmmarTvelobis reforma, realuri decentral-izacia, xelisuflebis xalxTan daaxloveba.

agreTve, fondisve sainformacio programasTan TanamSromlo-biT, grantebi gaica im konkursSi gamarjvebulebze, romlis mizani gaxldaT Tanamedrove sainformacio teqnologiebis gamoyenebiT, adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobis organoebis muSaobis gamWvir-valobis da adgilobriv TviTmmarTvelobis mier gadawyvetilebis miRebis procesSi sazogadoebis aqtiuri Cabmis uzrunvelyofa. konkursSi samma, saqarTvelos sxvadasxva regionidan Semotanilma proeqtma gaimarjva.

In November, the Rule of Law Program launched a new project with a view to sustaining the development of civil society. The project aims to establish mechanisms of public control to ensure transparency of the legislative process, enhance public participation, protect citizens’ rights and empower lobbying in the legislative process.

And finally, the Public Advisory Board established with the Ministry of Defense is the first of its kind in Georgia and, essentially, in the CIS. The functions of the Board include harmonization of civil-military relations, reformation of the defense system and ensuring transparency of the process. Two important components of this initiative are meant to ensure monitoring of the procurement system, and protection of the rights of military servicemen. Practical implementation of this idea, its translation into a project as well as its financial and intellectual support have been made possible through the Rule of Law Program.

LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

The Local Governance and Public Administration Program is one of the most vigorous segments of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, which is demonstrated, among other things, by a scope of priorities established within the Program’s strategy. Enhancing transparency of decision-making at the local level, active involvement of the public in the local government’s decision-making processes, promoting decentralization and reformation of public service, increased public participation in policy-making at the central level, upgrading professional skills of local governments’ representatives, fight against corruption, encouraging participatory budgeting at the local level, support for community development initiatives – these are the priorities set by the Local Governance and Public Administration Program for 2004-2006.

Over the recent period, the main focus of the Program has been on ensuring transparency in the work of local self-government bodies, developing guidelines for decentralization of governance and creating favorable environment for their implementation. Over the past three months, important steps have been taken along these lines. Namely, the Program provided funding for the project “Developing Decentralization Strategy for Georgia” initiated by a coalition of non-governmental organizations. Activities undertaken within the project’s framework lay the groundwork for translating into action the government’s intentions, such as reform of local governance, actual decentralization, bringing local administrations closer to people.

Also, in cooperation with the OSGF Information Program, the Local Governamce and Public Administration Program awarded grants to winners in the competition who sought, through the use of modern information technologies, to enhance transparency in the work of local self-government bodies, and ensure active involvement of the public in decision-making by local government. Grants were awarded to three winning projects submitted from different regions of Georgia.

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ekonomikuri ganviTarebis programa

ekonomikuri ganviTarebis programis muS-aobis stili, fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqa-rTvelos” sxva programebisgan gansxvave-buli da specifikuria. fondis erT-erTi yvelaze didi biujetis mqone programa, ar-amarto grantgamcemia, aramed misi ZiriTa-di prioriteti mcire da saSualo biznesze orientirebuli sakredito proeqtebis gan-xorcielebaa. ekonomikuri ganviTarebis pr-ogramis miRwevad samcxe-javaxeTSi mcire da saSualo biznesis mxardasaWerad ganxor-cielebuli qmedeba SeiZleba CaiTvalos.

am programis mniSvneloba mravalmxriv SeiZleba aRiniSnos. ekonomikurad da poli-tikurad gaucxoebul regionSi jer marto centridan mzrunvelobis danaxva gaxldaT metad mniSvnelovani. fondma programis ganx-orcieleba Zveli gamocdilebis gamoyenebiT daiwyo - Seiswavla iqauri bazari, Caatara konsultaciebi da niadagi moamzada mikro da mcire kreditebis gacemisaTvis. ukve Sem-degi etapi biznes-centrebis Seqmna da gan-viTareba gaxldaT - axalcixesa da axalqa-laqSi. mogvianebiT, tenderSi gamarjvebul saerTaSoriso organizacia “vorld viJen in-terneiSenelTan” TanamSromlobiT regionSi mikrosafinanso proeqtis ganxorcieleba daiwyo, romlis sakredito resursis mniS-vnelovani nawili fondma “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelom” daafinansa. unda iTqvas, rom fondma aqac pirvelgamkvalavis funqcia Sea-srula, pirveli riski sakuTar Tavze aiRo da sakredito institutebs, romelTaTvisac samcxe-javaxeTi maRali riskis regionad iT-vleboda da Sesabamisad, iq fulis dabande-basac eridebodnen, daanaxa, rom iq investireba momgebiani saqmea. garda ekonomikuri efeqtisa, unda aRiniSnos, rom proeqtma mniS-vnelovnad Seuwyo xeli adgilobrivi somexi mosaxleobis ndobis mSeneblobas, rogorc donori organizaciebis, aseve adgilobri-vi qarTuli mosaxleobis mimarT. amJamad samcxe-javaxeTSi, spe-cialurad mcire sakredito programisaTvis dafuZnebuli fon-dis “taos” daxmarebiT, ukve soflis meurneobisa da warmoebis dafinansebis ramdenime proeqti xorcieldeba da didi warmate-biTac. aRniSnul programaSi aqtiurad CarTulia garemos dacvis msoflio fondis kavkasiis ofisic (WWF). am etapze programis farglebSi 14 proeqtis dafinanseba gaxda SesaZlebeli.

“samcxe-javaxeTis proeqti, SeiZleba iTqvas, erT-erTi yvelaze warmatebulia. is mowonebas imsaxurebs ara marto saqarTveloSi”, - ambobs ekonomikuri ganviTarebis programis koordinatori mix-eil kervaliSvili da samcxe-javaxuri modelis saqarTvelos sxva regionebSi gadatanasac gegmavs. uaxloes momavalSi msgavsi pro-eqtis ganxorcieleba konfliqtis zonebSia navaraudevi.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Modalities of the Economic Development Program are distinctly different from those of other programs implemented by the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. With one of the largest budgets among OSGF-sponsored programs, it is not only a grant-making initiative. The main priority of the Economic Development Program is implementation of credit schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The most notable among the achievements of the Economic Development Program is the project implemented in support of small and medium business development in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region of Georgia.

The project is remarkably important due to a number of various factors. For a region marginalized both economically and politically, the very fact that the center cares for its problems is of added significance. The Foundation started implementing the project putting to work the existing expertise: conducting a market survey, holding consultations and preparing the ground for disbursing micro and small loans. The next phase envisioned the setting up and capacity-building of Business Development Service Centers in Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki. Later on, in collaboration with World Vision International, winner in the tender, a micro-finance project

samcxe-javaxeTSi, specialurad mcire sakredito progra-misaTvis dafuZnebuli fondis “taos” daxmarebiT, ukve soflis meurneobisa da warmoebis dafinansebis ramdenime proeqti xorcieldeba da didi warmatebiTac.

A NUMABER OF PROJECTS IN AGRICULTURE AND PRODUCTION ARE UP AND RUNNING WITH FINANCING PROVIDED BY “TAO”, A FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED SPECIALLY FOR THE CREDIT PROGRAM.

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mas-mediis mxardaWeris programa

fondi „Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelos” muSaobis prioritetTa Soris kvlavac rCeba damoukidebeli mediis daxmareba. am mimar-TulebiT fondis politikas uSualod mas-mediis mxardaWeris programa atarebs.

wels programis prioritetTa Sorisaa damoukidebeli region-aluri mediis mxardaWera, Jurnalistebis profesiuli ganviTa-rebis xelSewyoba, Jurnalistebis antikorufciuli - sagamomZie-blo aqtivobebis mxardaWera da saqarTveloSi mcxovreb eTnikuri umciresobebis samoqalaqo integraciisken mimarTuli statiebisa da siuJetebis stimulireba.

2004 wlis bolos, prioritetebis gaTvaliswinebiT, gamocxadda da Catarda ramdenime konkursi. kerZod, gamovlinda sagamoZiebo Jurnal-istikis sferoSi, regionalur beWdviT da samauwyeblo mediaSi 2004

wels Sesrulebuli saukeTeso statiebisa Tu siuJetebis avtorebis vinaoba. aseve sagamoZiebo Jurnalistikis mxardaWeris mizniT, ga-mocxadda konkursi, romlis mizania telesiuJetebis, aseve sagazeTo statiebis seriis momzadebis gziT sajaro gaxados problemebi iseT sferoebSi, rogoricaa samxedro aRmSenebloba da sazRvris dacva.

“rac Seexeba eTnikur umciresobaTa samoqalaqo integracias, am mizniT Cvenma programam gamoacxada konkursi radiosa da beWdviTi mediis JurnalistebisTvis. konkursis mizani gaxldaT specialuri gadacemebisa Tu sagazeTo publikaciebis ciklis momzadeba, rom-lebic warmoaCendnen saqarTveloSi mcxovreb eTnikur umciresoba-Ta warmomadgenlebis pozitiur rols saqarTvelos sazogadoebis ganviTarebis, adamianuri moRvaweobis nebismier sferoSi gaweuli saqmianobis TvalsazrisiT”, - ambobs mas-mediis mxardaWeris pro-gramis koordinatori irakli cercvaZe im konkursis Sesaxeb, romelSi gamarjvebulebi 2004 wlis bolos gamovlindnen.

agreTve, prioritetuli mimarTulebebis gaTvaliswinebiT, seqtemberSi, fondma IREX-Tan da safrangeTis saelCosTan er-Tad, daafinansa interniusis proeqti, romelic gulisxmobs Treiningebis Catarebas teleJurnalistebisa da teleopera-torebisaTvis.

garda amisa, masmediis mxardaWeris programa muSaobs proeqtze, romlis farglebSic aWaris regionSi moRvawe Jurnalistebis pro-fesiuli donis asamaRleblad Catardeba specialuri Treiningebi.

garda am prioritetuli mimarTulebebisa, fondi cdilobs Tavisi wvlili Seitanos sazogadoebrivi televiziisa da media-sabWos Camoyalibeba-ganviTarebis saqmeSi. kerZod, mas-mediis mxardaWeris programa ganaxorcielebs Sida proeqts _ Sedgeba samuSao Sexvedrebi media-sabWos Camoyalibebisa da Semdgomi ganviTarebis mizniT. aseve, seqtembersa da oqtomberSi fondSi moewyo ramdenime Sexvedra, romelzec sxvadasxva arasamTavrobo organizaciebma mauwyeblobis kanoproeqtis Sesaxeb imsjeles.

was launched in the region, with the bulk of credit resources provided by the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. Notably, in a sense, the Foundation played the role of a trail-blazer. It chose to take an initial risk, and was able to demonstrate to lending institutions that had viewed Samtskhe-Javakheti as a high-risk region and were thus reluctant to invest, that investment activity in the area could bring benefits. Importantly, apart from producing a purely economic effect, the project was instrumental in fostering trust of the local Armenian population both to donor organizations, and to the Georgian population. Currently, a number of projects in agriculture and production are up and running with financing provided by “Tao”, a foundation established specially for the credit program.

“The Samtskhe-Javakheti project is one of the most remarkable success stories. It is highly commended, and not only in Georgia,” – says Michael Kervalishvili, Coordinator of the Economic Development Project, and intends to expand the project to other regions of Georgia. In near future, similar projects will be launched in conflict zones.

MASS MEDIA SUPPORT PROGRAM

Support to civil society and independent media continues to feature among the priorities of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. The policy of the Foundation translates into action through the Mass Media Support Program. Support to independent regional media, encouraging professional development of journalists, support to journalists’ anti-corruption and investigative activities, advocating for stories and programs

promoting integration of ethnic minorities – these are some of the Program’s priorities for the current year.

Over the recent year, the Program has supported a number of interesting projects. Bearing in mind the Program’s priorities, several competitions were held at the end of 2004 to identify authors of the best articles and programs in investigative journalism presented in printed and broadcasting media in 2004. Another competition in support of investigative journalism aims to bring to the public attention, through a series of TV stories and newspaper articles, the problems and breaches encountered in such areas as military building and border protection.

“To promote civic integration of ethnic minorities, our Program has announced a competition for radio and printed media journalists aiming to support a series of special programs or newspaper publications highlighting the positive role of minority representatives in the development of the Georgian society through their contribution in any field of human activity,” says Irakli Tsertsvadze, Coordinator of the Mass Media Support Program describing the competition whose winners were identified at the end of 2004.

In September, in cooperation with IREX and the French Embassy, the Foundation provided funding for an InterNews project envisioning trainings for TV journalists and cameramen. Currently, the Program is working on the project aiming to conduct special training workshops for journalists working in Ajara, with a view to upgrading their professional qualifications.

Parallel to working on priority issue areas, the Foundation seeks to contribute to the development of Public Television and the Media Council. To this end, the Program will support a series of in-house working meetings with a view to promoting establishment of the Media Council, and its further development. Also, in September and October, the Foundation hosted a number of meetings bringing together representatives of various NGOs to discuss the draft broadcasting law.

masmediis programis prioritetTa Sorisaa damoukidebeli regionaluri mediis mxardaWera, Jurnalistebis profesiuli ganviTarebis xelSewyoba, Jurnalistebis antikorufciuli - sagamomZieblo aqtivobebis mxardaWera da saqarTveloSi mcxovreb eTnikuri umciresobebis samoqalaqo integraciisken mimarTuli statiebisa da siuJetebis stimulireba.

SUPPORT TO INDEPENDENT REGIONAL MEDIA, ENCOURAGING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF JOURNALISTS, SUPPORT TO JOURNALISTS’ ANTI-CORRUPTION AND INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES, ADVOCATING FOR STORIES AND PROGRAMS PROMOTING INTEGRATION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES – THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAM’S PRIORITIES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

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sainformacio programafond “Ria sazogadoeba-saqarTvelos” sainformacio programa

saqarTvelos skolebisTvis grantis saxiT kompiuterebis gadace-mas agrZelebs. fondis mier zafxulSi did britaneTSi SeZenili meoradi moxmarebis kompiuterebi imTaviTve skolebisa da uni-versitetebisTvis, agreTve im arasamaTvrobo organizaciebisT-vis iyo gankuTvnili, romlebic prioritetulad saganmanaTle-blo sferoSi moRvaweoben. rac, albaT, yvelaze mniSvnelovania da, rac Tavidanve Caido kompiuterebis SeZenis pirobebSi, 315 kompiuteridan naxevarze meti saqarTvelos xelisuflebis mier arakontrolirebadi teritoriebis _ afxazeTisa da cxinvalis regionis skolebs gadaecemaT. kompiuterebis gacema swored oq-tomberSi daiwyo da am saqmianobiT fondis sainformacio pro-gramaa dakavebuli.

programis koordinatoris zviad sulaberiZis TqmiT: “Cven TanamSromlobis xangrZlivi gamocdileba gvaqvs gaeros migraciis organizaciasTan da konfliqtis zonebSi kompiuterebis Catanas swored isini uzrunvelyofen. afxazeTSi kompiuterebis nawili ukve gagzavnilia”.

sainformacio programa kidev erTi axali proeqtis ganxor-cielebas iwyebs, saxelwodebiT - “mobiluri konsultantebi da Ria platformebi”. sainformacio teqnologiebis konsultantTa jgufi, fondis Sida proeqtis farglebSi, jer kidev ori wlis Seiqmna, rodesac sainformacio programa axorcielebda pro-eqts, saxelwodebiT, “mobiluri konsultantebi”. am jgufma Ta-vis droze sainformacio teqnologiebis sferoSi didi daxmareba gauwia saqarTveloSi momuSave arasamTavrobo organizaciebs. ma-Sindeli proeqtis warmatebuli gamocdileba amjeradac iqneba gamoyenebuli da jgufis konsultantebi axlac TiToeul orga-nizacias individualur konsultacias gauweven, amjerad ufaso programuli uzrunvelyofis TvalsazrisiT.

da bolos, fondi “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelo” CarTulia ganaTlebis saministros mier wamowyebul proeqtSi, saxelwodeb-iT “vefxvis naxtomi”, romlis mizania qveynis yvela skolis kom-piuterizacia da internetSi CarTva. amave saxelwodebis proeqti ukve ganxorcielda estoneTSi da mis ganxorcielebas, SeiZleba iTqvas, marTlac mohyva vefxvis naxtomiseburi winsvla gana-Tlebis sistemis ganviTarebaSi.

integraciis programa fondi “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” aqtivoba qveynis teri-

toriaze arsebul konfliqtis zonebzec vrceldeba. am samuSaos fondi integraciis programis daxmarebiT axorcielebs, romlis mizania xeli Seuwyos qveynis teritoriaze arsebul konfliqtur mxareebs Soris ndobis aRdgenas da TanamSromlobas im samo-qalaqo iniciativebis mxardaWeriT, romlebic mimarTulia kon-fliqtis mSvidobiani gziT daregulirebisken.

miznebidan gamomdinare fondi exmareba arsebuli problemebis irgvliv sajaro diskusiebs, eqspertebis samuSao Sexvedrebs, samSvidobo iniciativebs da calkeul TanamSromlobis pro-eqtebs, romlebic xels uwyoben konfliqtis transformacias da daregulirebas.

2001 wlidan fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” iniciativiT soxumsa da cxinvalSi dafuZnda Ria sazogadoebis adgilobrivi warmomadgenlobebi, romelTa farglebSi ganaTlebis, xelovnebis da kulturis, arasamTavrobo organizaciebis mxardaWeris da in-ternetis programebi funqcionirebs. es aris konkursis safuZ-velze grantgamcemi programebi. gadawyvetilebas grantis miniWe-baze iReben filialis adgilobrivi aRmasrulebeli sabWoebi. sam-wuxarod, 2004 wlis zafxulSi ganviTarebuli movlenebis Semdeg, cxinvalis adgilobrivi ofisis muSaoba SeCerda, Tumca, imedi, rom es droebiTi Seferxebaa, jer ar gaqarwylebula.

INFORMATION PROGRAMThe Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s Information Program

continues granting computers to schools in Georgia. This year, used computers purchased in summer in the United Kingdom have been distributed to schools and universities, as well as to NGOs whose priority area of activity is education. Importantly, and this was one of the conditionalities in the computer procurement program from the outset, more than half of 315 computers are meant for schools located in the territories outside the control by Georgian authorities, namely, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region.

Distribution of computers started in October, and the Information Program is tasked with orderly delivery of computers to beneficiaries.

According to Zviad Sulaberidze, Program Coordinator: “We have established good cooperation with the International Organization for Migration, and computers are delivered to the conflict zones through their instrumentality. One part of computers has already been sent to Abkhazia.”

Presently, the Information Program is about to launch another new project entitled “eRiders and Open Source Promotion”. A team of IT consultants was established two years ago within the framework of OSGF’s in-house project, when the Information Program’s “Mobile Consultants” project was underway. The team was very instrumental in assisting NGOs with information technologies. The successful experience gained within the past project will be put to work again, and consultants will offer individual consultation to NGOs, this time with a focus on free software.

And finally, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation is involved in the “Tiger’s Leap” project initiated by the Ministry of Education with a view to empowering schools in Georgia through computerization and Internet access. A similar project has been implemented in Estonia, promoting a rapid advancement of the education system.

INTEGRATION PROGRAMThe activity of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation extends to the

conflict zones in the territory of the country through the Integration Program. The Program aims to promote confidence-building between the conflicting sides, and encourage cooperation through supporting grass-roots initiatives that seek to contribute towards peaceful settlement of the conflicts.

The Foundation supports public debate on the existing problems, working meetings of experts, peace-building initiatives and partnership projects that make for transformation and settlement of the conflicts.

Since 2001, OSGF initiated an establishment of branch offices in Sukhumi and Tskhinvali they have implemented the education, arts and culture, NGO support and Internet programs. These are essentially grant-making programs, with local executive boards making decisions on grant awards.

Regrettably, in summer 2004, following the events in Tskhinvali Region, the OSGF had to suspend operation of the Tskhinvali branch office, though this is only seen as a temporary impediment.

In 2004, the Foundation sponsored meetings between members of Georgian-Abkhaz mixed families, as well as between former combatants representing opposing sides during the conflict. In cooperation with the Network Media Program and Eurasia Foundation, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation provided funding to support the Abkhaz-language Radio Hara’s broadcasting from Tbilisi. Support was granted to a project seeking to promote creativity of student youth in Gali district. Confidence-building between Georgians and Ossetians was the theme of another call for proposals. Presently, with participation of local experts, the Foundation is implementing an in-house project “Root Causes of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict, Its Dynamics and Ways Towards Resolution: An Independent Analysis”.

Recently, the Integration Program has announced a competition for projects that look into issues related to repatriation of Moslem Meskhetians, and their integration into the Georgian society.

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2004 wels fondma daafinansa qarTul-afxazuri Sereuli ojaxebis, aseve konfliqtSi monawile yofil mebrZolTa Sexve-drebi. mediis qselur programasTan da evraziis fondTan Tanam-SomlobiT, fondi ganagrZobda afxazurenovani radio “haras” Tbilisidan mauwyeblobis finansirebas. mxardaWerilia “galis raionis moswavle-axalgazrdobis SemoqmedebiTi aRzrdis” pro-eqti. Catarda konkursi, romlis mizanic iyo qarTul-osuri urT-ierTobaSi ndobis aRdgenze mimarTuli winadadebebis gamovlena. adgilobrivi eqspertebis monawileobiT mimdinareobs fondis Sida proeqti “qarTul-osuri konfliqtis mizezebi, dinamika da gadaWris gzebi: damoukidebeli analizi”.

amave programis farglebSi aseve gamocxadebulia konkursi proqtebze, romelTa mizania xeli Seuwyos mahmadiani mesxebis repatriaciis sakiTxebis kvlevas da maTi qarTul sazogadoebaSi integraciis xelSewyobas.

sazogadoebrivi janmrTelobis programa

fond “Ria sazogadoeba saqarT-velos” sazogadoebrivi janmrTelo-bis programa warmatebiT agrZelebs wlebis win miRebuli prioritetebiT muSaobas.

erT-erTi aseTi prioritetuli mi-marTulebaa paliatiuri medicinis ganviTarebis xelSewyoba. Sedegi sax-ezea - fericvalebis monasterTan ar-sebuli, terminalur mdgomareobaSi myofi avadmyofebisaTvis gankuTvnili TavSesafari (hospisi).

“paliatiuri mzrunveloba gulisx-mobs terminalur - daavadebis bolo stadiaSi myof avadmyofebze, anu im adamianebze mzrunvelobas, romelTa sicocxlis gadarCenis yvela Sansi amowurulia. paliati-uri mzrunvelobis mizania pacientebisa da maTi ojaxis wevrebis sicocxlis xarisxis gaumjobeseba. aerTianebs ra pacientze mzrun-velobis fsiqosocialur da sulier mxareebs, paliatiuri mzrunv-eloba uzrunvelyofs tkivilisa da sxva Semawuxebeli simptomebis Semsubuqebas. avadmyofTa simptomuri mkurnalobisa da daaxloe-biT erTi kviris manZilze maTi mdgomareobis stabilizebis garda, maTi ojaxis wevrebs utardebaT fsiqologiuri muSaoba da isini swavloben, rogor mouaron konkretul SemTxvevaSi avadmyofs ojaxSi”, - ambobs sazogadoebrivi jandacvis programis koordi-natori laSa zaaliSvili.

am humanuri TavSesafris saTanadod muSaobis uzrunvelsayo-fad Tavis droze fondma profesiiT eqimi ori monazoni pali-atiuri mzrunvelobis specialur kursebze gagzavna da maTi swav-leba daafinansa. fericvalebis monastris TavSesafari dRes bevr adamians gvris Svebasa da simSvides. fondis saqmianoba ki pali-atiuri medicinis xelSewyobis TvalsazrisiT ar Cerdeba. noem-berSi fondma daafinansa evropis sabWos 24 wevr saxelmwifoSi pa-liatiuri mzrunvelobis organizebisaTvis evrosabWos ministrTa komitetis rekomendaciebis Targmna da gamocema.

laSa zaaliSvilis TqmiT : “amJamad kidev erTi hospisis Camoya-libeba igegmeba onkologiur centrTan. am hospisis bazaze Cvens fonds surs Seiqmnas amierkavkasiis masStabis Treiningis da meT-odologiis centri paliatiur medicinaSi. garda amisa, naTargmnia da grZeldeba muSaoba paliatiuri mzrunvelobis standartebis adaptirebaze. aseve momzadebulia sauniversiteto kurikulumi,

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM The Open Society – Georgia Foundation’ Public Health Program

continues working on the priority issue areas defined since the inception of the Program.

One of such priority areas is support to the development of palliative care. A visible outcome of the endeavor is a hospice for terminally ill patients established with the Transfiguration Convent.

“Palliative care implies care for patients with terminal illness in its final phase, with no chances of survival left. The purpose of palliative care is improving the quality of life for such patients and their family members. With a combination of psycho-social and spiritual dimensions, palliative care helps to mitigate pain and other distressing symptoms. Apart from symptomatic treatment of patients and stabilization of their condition for about one week, palliative care also implies psychological work with their family members, helping them to learn how to tend terminal patients at home,” says Lasha Zaalishvili, Coordinator of the Public Health Program.

To ensure proper operation of the hospice, the Foundation sponsored the training of two nuns, with professional medical background, at special courses on palliative care. Today, the Transfiguration Convent’s hospice gives peace and quiet to many a person. The Foundation carries on its work in support of palliative care. In November, it provided funding for translation and publication of the Recommendations of the CoE Committee of Ministers on organizing palliative care in 24 member states of the Council of Europe.

According to Lasha Zaalishvili, “It is now planned to establish one more hospice, this time with the Center of Oncology. Our Foundation is willing

fericvalebis monastris TavSesafari dRes bevr adamians gvris Svebasa da simSvides. fondis saqmianoba ki paliatiuri medici-nis xelSewyobis TvalsazrisiT ar Cerdeba. noemberSi fondma daafinansa evropis sabWos 24 wevr saxelmwifoSi paliatiuri mz-runvelobis organizebisaTvis evrosabWos ministrTa komitetis rekomendaciebis Targmna da gamocema.TODAY, THE TRANSFIGURATION CONVENT’S HOSPICE GIVES PEACE AND QUIET TO MANY A PERSON. THE FOUNDATION CARRIES ON ITS WORK IN SUPPORT OF PALLIATIVE CARE. IN NOVEMBER, IT PROVIDED FUNDING FOR TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS ON ORGANIZING PALLIATIVE CARE IN 24 MEMBER STATES OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE.

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romelic gvinda, momavalSi Sevides sauniversiteto swavlebaSi”.aseve ramdenime welia fondi “Ria sazogadoeba saqarTvelo”

axorcielebs programas, saxelwodebiT “zianis Semcireba”, rom-lis mizania narkotikebis arasamedicino moxmarebis Sedegad gamowveuli zianis Semcireba da aiv/Sidsis gavrcelebis preven-cia. mTels msoflioSi prevenciis am yvelaze xarjTefeqturi meTodis dasanergad saqarTveloSi mTeli rigi RonisZiebebi tar-deba. “gadavarCinoT bavSvebis” mier Camoyalibebul Sidsis pre-venciis sakoordinacio sabWoSi - sxvadasxva arasamTavrobo Tu saerTaSoriso organizaciis warmomadgenelebTan erTad fondi “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTveloc” monawileobs.

sazogadoebrivi janmrTelobis programis mxardaWeriT, 10 oqtombers gonebrivad daavadebulTa saerTaSoriso dRisadmi miZRvnili rigi RonisZiebebi Catarda. am dResTan dakavSirebiT Catarebuli erTkviriani media-kampaniis mizani iyo saqarTvelos fsiqiatriul saavadmyofoebSi arsebul mZime viTarebaze sazoga-doebis yuradRebis mipyroba da saxelmwifos mier fsiqiatriuli samsaxurebis dafinansebis gazrdis aucileblobis dafiqsireba. aRniSnuli kampaniis farglebSi moewyo mrgvali magida, quCis aq-cia, koncerti, pacientebis mier Seqmnili naxatebisa da nakeTo-baTa gamofena-gayidva, mas-mediasTan Sexvedra, tele da radio interviuebi. daibeWda bukletebi, kalendari da plakati. “mim-dinareobs muSaoba gonebrivad daavadebulTa uflebebis dacvaze, funqcionirebs specialuri programa iuristebisTvis, aseve vgegma-vT advokatTa jgufebis Camoyalibebas, romlebic pacientTa ufle-bebs daicaven”, - ambobs laSa zaaliSvili.

kulturisa da xelovnebis programa

fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” kulturisa da xe-lovnebis programa wlebis manZilze xels uwyobs saqarTveloSi kulturuli politikis ganviTarebas, xelovnebisa da kulturis sferoSi saganmanaTleblo saqmianobas, saqarTveloSi mcxovreb sxvadasxva eTnikur jgufTa Soris kulturaTa dialogs, saqa-rTvelos kulturisa da xelovnebis reklamirebas saqarTvelos farglebs gareT.

programis mier gacemuli grantebiT bevri sasikeTo saqmea da-finansebuli. amJamadac, ukve gamovlinda gazafxulze gamocxade-buli ori konkursis gamarjvebulebi. pirveli konkursi kompiut-eruli monacemTa bazis SeqmnisaTvis saWiro kvalificiuri masalis momzadebis xelSewyobas iTvaliswinebda da misi mizani gaxldaT iseTi proeqtebis dafinanseba, romlebic iTvaliswinebda foto da grafikuli masalis Segrovebas, Temebis mixedviT katalogebisa da pasportebis momzadebas, aseve, kulturis memkvidreobis sxvadasxva dargebSi zusti masalebis Segrovebisa da fiqsaciis mizniT eqs-pediciebis mowyobas. am konkursSi gamarjvebuli 5 proeqtis ganx-orcielebiT, Seiqmneba saqarTvelos mTis regionebis toponimTa kopiuteruli baza, moxdeba raWuli xis xuroTmoZRvrebis foto da grafikuli fiqsacia da Camoyalibdeba kompiuteruli banki, aseve mcxeTis arqeologiuri Zeglebis kompiuteruli bankis Sesaqmnelad momzaddeba katalogebi da pasportebi.

rac Seexeba meore konkurss, romlis mizani gaxldaT kul-turuli memkvidreobis dacva, Seuswavleli da ucnobi nimuSebis, movlenebis dokumentireba da popularizacia, aq dafinansda 8 proeqti, maTgan iseTi saintereso, rogoricaa: “qarTuli xalx-uri samedicino tradiciebi”, “saqarTvelo XVII-XIX ss. dasavleT evropul graviuraSi”, “Sua saukuneebis qarTuli kedlis mxat-vrobis ucnob da naklebad cnobil ZeglTa dokumentireba”, “folkloruli eqspedicia maRalmTian aWaraSi”, “tilkes wignis proeqti”: maqs tilke kavkasiaSi: misi akvareli saqarTvelos sax-elmwifo muzeumSi” da ase Semdeg.

to set up at the hospice premises a centre for palliative care training and methodology for the whole of the South Caucasus region. Also, guidelines on palliative care have been translated, and work is underway to adapt them to our conditions. A special university curriculum has been drafted, and we would like it to become part of the university course.”

Another program the Open Society – Georgia Foundation has run for several years is the Harm Reduction Development Program aiming to diminish harms associated with drug use for non-medical purposes, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. A number of interventions are implemented to introduce in Georgia this method of prevention, incidentally, the most cost-effective one in the world.

Together with other non-governmental and international organizations, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation is part of the AIDS Prevention Coordinating Board set up by Save the Children.

On 10 October, the Public Health Program supported a number of activities to mark the International Day of People with Mental Disabilities. A week-long media campaign launched in connection with this day aimed to draw public attention to a daunting situation in Georgia’s mental hospitals, and highlight the need to increase financing of psychiatric services by the state. The campaign included a round table discussion, street action and concert, exhibition fair of patients’ drawings, meeting with media representatives, TV and radio interviews, and publications – booklets, calendars and posters.

“The work is on to promote the human rights of people with mental disabilities, with a special program run for lawyers. We are planning to set up a group of defense lawyers tasked with protection of mental patients’ rights,” says Lasha Zaalishvili.

ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM

Over years, the main focus of the Arts and Culture Program of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation has been on promoting development of culture policy, education in arts and culture, cross-cultural dialogue between different ethnic groups residing in Georgia, and popularizing Georgia’s arts and culture in a wider world.

Many interesting activities have been supported by the Program over its lifespan. The two competitions announced in spring are now completed, and their winners identified. The first competition was meant to stimulate preparation of materials for a computerized database, and aimed at financing projects focused on collation of photo and graphical materials, their cataloguing by community, organizing expeditions to collect and document materials related to different aspects of cultural heritage. Implementation of the five winning projects of this competition will enable creation of a database of Georgia’s high-mountainous regions’ place-names, collection of photo and graphical materials on wooden architecture in Racha Region, and establishment of a computerized data bank. Also, catalogues and passports will be prepared to enable creation of a data bank of archeological monuments in Mtskheta.

The second competition focused on protection of cultural heritage, documentation and popularization of items, regions, and events that have so far not received adequate study. The competition identified eight projects to receive funding, among them: “Traditions of Georgian Folk Medicine”, “Georgia in Western European Engravings of 17th -19th centuries”, “Documenting Unknown Monuments of Medieval Georgian Wall-Painting”, “Folklore Expedition to Ajara Highlands”, “Tilke Book Project: Max Tilke in the Caucasus: Watercolor at the State Museum of Georgia”.

Further competitions were announced in November and December to stimulate translations in culture studies, support the study of international experience in culture-related legislation, and promote creativity of young workers in arts and culture. A competition held in autumn aimed to advocate the Georgian cultural heritage through albums, guides, postcards, and the like.

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noember-dekemberSi ki axali konkursebi gaimarTa, romelTa miznebs warmoadgens kulturulogiuri literaturis Targmna, kulturis sferoSi saerTaSoriso sakanonmdeblo gamocdilebis Seswavla da popularizacia, axalgazrda xelovanTa Semoqmedebis xelSewyoba. aseve, Semodgomaze Catarda konkursi saqarTvelos kulturuli memkvidreobis popularizaciis mizniT. konkursis pirobebi iTvaliswinebda albomebis, gzamkvlevebis, Ria baraTebis da sxva msgavsi produqciis damzadebas.

kulturisa da xelovnebis programa monawileobs qselur progrmebSic, rac Ria sazogadoebis budapeStis ofisTan TanamS-romlobas gulisxmobs, aseve axorcielebs proeqtebs sxvadasxva partniorebTan erTad. magaliTad, programis koordinatoris, Tamar lorTqifaniZis TqmiT: “axlaxans daiwyo proeqtis ganxor-cieleba UNESCO-sTan erTad, romelic muzeumebis Tanamedrove mowyobaze seminarebis, Treinigebis Catarebas gulisxmobs. am pro-eqtis farglebSi pirveli RonisZieba oqtomberSi, lev tolstois saxl-muzeumSi, iasnaia polianaSi Catarda sadac saqarTvelos sx-vadasxva muzeumebidan oTxi kaci gaemgzavra. es gaxlavT orwliani programis pirveli nawili, romelic iuneskosa da Cveni fondis mier finansdeba”.

agreTve, qseluri programis mier mobiluri partniorobis gasaviTareblad gamocxadebul konkursze saqarTvelodan oTxi proeqti gaigzavna da maTgan erTma, romelic kulturis observa-toriis qselis Seqmnas iTvaliswinebs, gaimarjva kidec.

“metad mniSvnelovnad mimaCnia budapeStis ofisis mier organi-zebuli Sexvedra, romelic oqtomberSi duSanbeSi moewyo kavka-siisa da centraluri aziis qveynebis warmomadgenelTaTvis, - am-bobs programis koordinatori Tamar lorTqifaniZe, - aq saubari Seexo sxvadasxva qveynebis CarTvas evrosabWos mier dafinansebuli veb-gverdSi www.carpendium.com, romelzedac qveynebi aTavseben kulturis politikis monacemTa banks. Cven jerjerobiT ar varT CarTulni am veb-gverdSi da mxolod axla iwyeba amaze muSaoba. ami-saTvis ki, budapeStis ofisTan erTad TanadafinansebiT, samkaciani jgufi imuSavebs monacemTa Sekrebaze”.

garda prioritetebiT gaTvaliswinebuli aqtivobisa, fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” kulturisa da xelovnebis programa xels uwyobs calkeul Semoqmedebs Tu SemoqmedTa jgufebs sx-vadasxva kulturuli RonisZiebebis mowyobaSi. amjeradac, Semod-gomaze programis mier gacemuli grantiT Catarda jafariZeebis ojaxis gamofena. maTi namuSevrebi sruliad unikaluria, radganac Tavad arian im originaluri teqnologiis avtorebi, romliTac muSaoben da Sesabamisad, msgavsi teqnologia sxvagan ar arsebobs - es aris mxatvruli ferweruli gobeleni. gamofenam warmatebiT Caiara da didi gamoxmaurebac mohyva.

qalTa programaqalTa programa fondSi “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelo” muS-

aobs 1998 wlidan, magram 2000 wlidan man qalTa erovnuli pro-gramis saxelwodeba SeiZina da, Sesabamisad, garda Ria sazoga-doebis institutis qselur programebSi monawileobisa, amJamad mas moqmedebis sakuTari prioritetebi aqvs Camoyalibebuli. igi muSaobs iseT sferoSi, rogoricaa, saqarTvelos qalTa moZrao-bis ganviTareba qveynis regionebis mimarTulebiT da eTnikuri umciresobebis CarTva sazogadoebriv cxovrebaSi.

wina wlebSi dawyebul saqmianobaTa efeqturobis asamaRleblad qalTa programa agrZelebs TanamSromlobas warmatebul grantio-rebTan da calkeuli proeqtebis Semdgom institucionalizacias uwyobs xels. erovnul da sxvadasxva qselur programebSi Car-Tuli gundebisa da aqtivistebis urTierTdakavSirebiTa da TanamSromlobis SesaZleblobaTa mxardaWeriT, qalTa programa ayalibebs erTobas, romlis ZiriTadi amocanebia: genderuli Za-ladobisgan dacva, qalTa mdgomareobis gaumjobeseba, genderuli kvlevebis, rogorc sauniversiteto disciplinis, ganviTareba,

The Arts and Culture Program participates in the OSI Network Programs, which implies close cooperation with OSI – Budapest, and also partners with other organizations to implement various projects. Says Tamar Lotrkipanidze, Coordinator of the Arts and Culture Program: “Recently, we have launched a joint project with UNESCO in support of seminars and trainings to promote modernization of museum infrastructure. The first activity within the project’s framework was held in October, at Leo Tolstoy’s Museum in Yasnaya Polyana, and was attended by four participants from Georgia, representing various museums. This two-year program is co-financed by UNESCO and our Foundation”.

Also, four projects from Georgia took part in a competition aimed to foster development of mobile partnerships, and one of them, envisioning the establishment of a Network of Culture Observatories, became winner in the competition.

“A very important meeting organized by OSI Budapest in Dushanbe in October this year brought together representatives from the South Caucasus and Central Asian countries. The meeting focused on prospects for various countries to become part of www.carpendium.com, a webpage financed by the Council of Europe where the countries post their data banks on cultural policies. At the moment we are not part of the webpage, but the work is about to start. A working group made up of three experts will work to collect the relevant data, and their work will be co-financed by our Foundation and OSI-Budapest,” said Tamar Lortkipanidze.

Apart from the activities carried out in line with its established priorities, the Arts and Culture Program assists individuals and creative groups in organizing various events. In autumn, the Program provided grant funding for putting together an exhibition of the works of Japaridze family. Their works are genuinely unique, as they themselves devised the original technique they apply – that of tapestried painting. The exhibition was a great success and enjoyed wide response.

WOMEN’S PROGRAM The Open Society - Georgia Foundation’s Women’s Program has run

since 1998. In 2000, it became the Women’s National Program and hence, today, apart from participation in OSI Network Programs, it also follows its own priorities, such as support to women’s movement in Georgia’s regions, and engagement of ethnic minorities in public life.

In order to sustain and enhance the effectiveness of activities initiated in past years, the Program continues cooperation with successful grantees, and supports institutionalization of individual projects. Through fostering links between teams and activists involved in various national and network programs and encouraging cooperation among them, the Women’s Program serves to empower an alliance whose objectives are seen in protecting women from violence, improving their situation, developing gender research as a university discipline, promoting gender equality, and enhancing women’s role in building civil society. The Program supports engagement of women representatives of ethno-cultural minorities in women’s movement in Georgia.

It should suffice to look at the Program’s accomplishments over the recent period alone to see the importance of the work it carries out. According to Marina Tabukashvili, Coordinator of the Women’s National Program, the most noteworthy among the accomplishments is the book “Multiethnic Georgia in the Past Century”. The book is made up of stories told about their lives by women representing different ethnic minorities in Georgia. The Russian version of the book is ready, too. Next year, it is planned to publish in English a publication “Georgia in 1985 – 2005: Chronicles Relying on Women’s Memories”.

The OSI Women’s Network Program has come up with an initiative to document women’s oral histories with a view to preserving women’s memory. According to Marina Tabukashvili, this undertaking is of particular importance: firstly, for gender research as a branch of social science, and also for future researchers of present-day history, undistorted and unbiased.

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genderuli Tanasworobis uzrunvelyo-fa da qalTa rolis gazrda samoqalaqo sazogadoebis mSeneblobaSi. programa mxars uWers saqarTvelos mosaxleobis eTno-kulturuli umciresobebis war-momadgenel qalTa CarTvas saqarTvelos qalTa moZraobaSi.

wels, mxolod wlis bolos miRebuli Sedegebis SejamebiTac ki advilad davi-naxavT qalTa erovnuli programis mier gaweuli muSaobis mniSvnelobas. am Sede-gebs Soris ki Tavad qalTa erovnuli programis koordinatori marina Tabu-kaSvili gamoyofs wigns, saxelwodebiT “mravaleTnikuri saqarTvelo gasul saukuneSi”. wigni Seicavs saqarTveloSi mcxovreb sxvadasxva eTnikuri umci-resobebis warmomadgeneli qalebis mier sakuTari cxovrebis Sesaxeb naambob is-toriebs. ukve mzad aris am wignis ru-sulenovani gamocemac. momaval wels inglisur enaze gamoicema wigni “saqarT-velo 1985-2005 wlebSi: qronikebi qalTa mexsierebis gaTvaliswinebiT”.

qalTa zepiri istoriebis dokumen-tireba Ria sazogadoebis institutis qalTa qseluri programis iniciati-viT daiwyo _ mizani qalTa mexsierebis Senaxva gaxldaT. marina TabukaSvilis TqmiT ki, amas udidesi mniSvneloba aqvs, jer erTi, genderis, rogorc so-cialuri mecnierebis dargis, aseve, Tanamedroveobis realuri da aranomenklaturuli istoriis momaval mkvlevarTaTvis.

“rogorc wesi, istoriul naSromebSi Cveulebrivi adamiani na-klebad Cans, miT umetes, ar Canan qalebi. magram, garda imisa, rom qalTa zepiri istoriebis Caweris mizani swored, erTi SexedviT, Cveulebrivi qalebis warmoCena gaxldaT, Cven miznad davisaxeT xeli Segvewyo uaxlesi istoriis SeqmnisaTvis, iseTi istoriis, ro-melic saqarTvelos mosaxleobis integraciaze imuSavebs da ara gaucxovebaze”, - ambobs marina TabukaSvili. misive TqmiT, am pro-eqts gagrZeleba ukve mohyva da amJamad gacemulia granti saqa-rTvelos bolo oci wlis istoriuli narkvevis Sesaqmnelad. pro-eqtis saxelwodebaa “Tanamedroveoba naratiul integralebSi”. am narkvevis Seqmnisas qalTa zepiri istoriebis gaTvaliswineba, grantis gacemisas fondis erT-erTi mTavari piroba gaxldaT.

garda am, mravalmxriv mniSvnelovani wignis gamocemisa, wels Semodgomaze qalTa programam araerTi saintereso proeqti daafi-nansa. kerZod, esenia: proeqti, saxelwodebiT, “ojaxuri Zaladobis dasaZlevad”, krebulis - “genderi, kultura, Tanamedroveoba” ga-mocema, qalTa sainformacio mxardaWeris centris ganviTareba mar-neulis raionSi, romlis mizania azerbaijanel qalTa mxardaWera.

aRsaniSnavia isic, rom fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” qalTa programam monawileoba miiRo OSI-is (Ria sazogadoebis in-stituti) qalTa qseluri programis samwliani (2004-2006) saerTa-Soriso qseluri proeqtis - “genderuli ganaTlebis ganviTareba” - farglebSi Catarebuli konkursSi. qalTa programis komisiis-gan winaswar SerCeuli da wardgenili 6 proeqtidan eqspertTa saerTaSoriso komisiam sam proeqts mxari dauWira. es proeqte-bia: “matrimonialuri strategiebis genderuli analizi sxvadasxva religiur tradiciebSi”, “genderuli Tanasworoba ganaTlebaSi”, “qalTa mewarmeobis problemebi saqarTveloSi”. konkursis Sede-gad SerCeuli finalistebi monawileobas miiReben genderuli kvlevebis sazamTro skolaSi, romelic 2005 wlis TebervalSi st-ambulSi Catardeba.

“As a rule, ordinary persons are hardly visible in historical works, the more so if these are women. On the one hand, through documenting women’s oral histories we wanted to bring the women to the fore, to highlight their role. However, on top of that, we aimed also to support creation of recent history, the history that would work towards the integration, not alienation of Georgia’s population,” says Marina Tabukashvili. The project has now been extended, and the grant is given for a historical essay that would cover the recent twenty years of our history. The project’s title is “The Present Day in Narrative Integrals”. One of the main conditions to be met by the essay’s authors is integration of women’s oral histories into the narrative.

Apart from this very important publication, last autumn the Women’s Program funded a number of interesting and stimulating initiatives, such as the project “Overcoming Domestic Violence”, publication “Gender, Culture, and the Present Day”, development of the Women’s Information Support Center in Marneuli, aiming to empower Azerbaijani women.

It is to be noted that the Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s Women’s Program took part in a competition held within the framework of a three-year-long international network program “Gender Education Development” (2004 – 2006) initiated by the Women’s Network Program of the Open Society Institute. Three out of six projects selected by the Women’s Program’s Committee were supported by the International Committee of Experts: “Gender Analysis of Matrimonial Strategies in Different Religious Traditions”, “Gender Equality in Education”, and “Problems of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Georgia”.

Successful finalists selected through the competition will participate in the Winter School of Gender Studies to be held in February 2005 in Istanbul.

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saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakonsultacio centri

qveynis Semdgomi ganviTarebisTvis kvalificiuri, profesionali kadrebis momzadebis aucileblobaze saubari, albaT, zedmetic kia. amdenad, im samsaxuris mniSvnelobis aRsaniSnavad, romelsac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakon-sultacio centri am TvalsazrisiT qveyanas uwevs, imis Tqmac kmara, rom yovelwliurad, centri 100-ze met studentsa Tu mecniers agzavnis ucxoeTis sxvadasxva universitetebSi.

`centri ar axorcielebs konkre-tul proeqtebs. aq mxolod im pro-gramebis ganxorcielebis adminis-traciul-organizaciuli xelSewyoba xdeba, romlebsac fondis budapeStisa da niu-iorkis ofisebi afinanseben”, - ambobs centris xelmZRvaneli nino CinCalaZe.

saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakon-sultacio centri ramdenime mimar-TulebiT muSaobs, ZiriTadad es aris programebi bakalavrebisTvis, magistrantebisTvis da sadoqtoro xarisxis maZieblebisTvis, mokle da grZelvadiani kvleviTi da sakvalifikacio programebi, progr-amebi axali saleqcio kursebis Sesaqmnelad, sazafxulo skolebi da ase Semdeg, sul 20 programa.

2004 wels centrma ramdenime axali programa aamuSava – eseq-sis universitetis adamianis uflebebis samagistro programa da oqsfordis universitetSi samagistro da profesionaluri pro-gramebi. aseve iorkis universitetis politikuri filosofiis samagistro programa.

Semodgomaze dasrulda ganacxadebis miReba socialuri mu-Sakebis orwlian magistraturaSi gasagzavnad. ganacxadebi ukve gagzavnilia niu-iorkSi. SerCeuli studentebi saswavleblad an niu-iorkSi, kolumbiis universitetSi gaemgzavrebian, an vaSing-tonSi - sent-luisis universitetSi.

aseve mimdinareobs Ria sazogadoebis institutis programa, romelic muSaobs germaniis akademiuri gacvlebis programebTan (DAAD) TanamSromlobiT da, romlis farglebSic or weliwadSi erTxel Cveni qveynidan 17-18 kaci miemgzavreba germaniaSi. pro-grama iTvaliswinebs sam dones - magistraturas, sadoqtoro dis-ertaciaze muSaobasa da axali saleqcio kursebis momzadebas.

noemberSi dasrulda ganacxadebis miReba bulgareTis amerikuli in-stitutis mier gamocxadebul konkursze, romelSi gamarjvebulebic 2005-2006 saswavlo wlisaTvis sxvadasxva fakultetebze bakalavria-turaSi saswavleblad sorosis saxelobis stipendias moipoveben.

centri konsultaciebs uwevs sazRvargareT saswavleblad wasvlis msurvel axalgazrdebs. kerZod, urCeven, rogor moZe-bnon sasurveli universiteti, rogor Seavson sabuTebi, rogor moiZion finansuri daxmareba. amgvari konsultaciebisTvis kvira-Si orjer fondSi tardeba Ria karis dRe, sadac ucxoeli moxali-seebi studentebs aswavlian, rogor Seavson saaplikacio forma, rogor daweron reziume da ase Semdeg. aseTive saxis konsul-taciebi tardeba saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakonsultacio cen-tris regionul ofisebSi quTaisSi, baTumSi, TelavSi, axalcixeSi. centris regionul ofisebis saSualebiT sxva saerTaSoriso sa-ganmanaTleblo organizaciebi - IREX, ACCELS/ACTR - muSaoben.

“10 welia vmuSaobT da 1000-mde kaci gvyavs gagzavnili sazRvargareT grZeli da moklevadiani programebiT. Cveni yvelaze didi programa,

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISING CENTER

It is widely acknowledged that education has a key role to play in further development. Therefore, it is probably unnecessary to speak of the need to secure adequately-trained, qualified and professionally competent human resources. To describe the Open Society - Georgia Foundation’s contribution in this endeavor, suffice it to say that annually OSGF’s International Student Advising Center (ISAC) supports organizationally or financially over 100 students and scholars willing to pursue study careers

or professional development programs at various foreign universities. “The Center does not operate any concrete projects. It only provides

administrative and organizational support to programs financed by The Open Society Institute offices in Budapest and New-York,” says Nino Chinchaladze, Director of ISAC.

The International Student Advising Center work covers a number of areas. It offers interested applicants bachelor degree, master degree and PhD programs; a variety of short and long-term training and research programs; course development programs, summer schools, etc., a total of 20 programs.

In 2004, the Center launched a number of new programs: MA program in human rights at the University of Essex, MA degree and professional development programs at the University of Oxford, as well as MA program in political philosophy at the University of York.

In autumn, ISAC concluded admittance of applications for a two-year Social Work Fellowship Program. Applications have already been sent to New-York. Successful applicants will be placed at Columbia University in New-York, or Washington University in St. Louis.

Also, within the framework of the OSI – DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Joint Program, once every two years 17-18 persons from Georgia are sent to universities in Germany for master degree and PhD degree programs, as well as for course development programs.

In November, admittance of applications was concluded for a competition announced by the American University in Bulgaria. Successful applicants will be awarded Soros Fellowships for 2005-2006 to pursue bachelor degree programs in a variety of fields.

The International Student Advising Center offers advice and consultations to interested individuals wishing to attend educational institutions abroad on how to find a desired course or university, complete documents, and get financial assistance. To this end, twice every week ISAC hosts and open house where foreign volunteers offer advising sessions on how to fill out an application form, write a resume, etc. Similar advising sessions are held at the ISAC branch offices in Kutaisi, Batumi, Telavi and Akhaltsikhe. ISAC branch offices are used also by other international education organizations, such as IREX, ACCELS/ACTR, etc. to support their activities.

im samsaxuris mniSvnelobis aRsaniSnavad, romelsac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakon-sultacio centri am TvalsazrisiT qveyanas uwevs, imis Tqmac kmara, rom yovelwliurad, centri 100-ze met studentsa Tu mec-niers agzavnis ucxoeTis sxvadasxva universitetebSi.

TO DESCRIBE THE OPEN SOCIETY - GEORGIA FOUNDATION’S CONTRIBUTION IN THIS ENDEAVOR, SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT ANNUALLY OSGF’S INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISING CENTER (ISAC) SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONALLY OR FINANCIALLY OVER 100 STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS WILLING TO PURSUE STUDY CAREERS OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AT VARIOUS FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES.

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jorj sorosis mier budapeStSi daarsebuli centraluri evropis universitetis gaxlavT. iq yovel wels 15 studenti miemgzavreba mag-istraturaSi. Cveni programebiT momzadebulia 100 magistri. da, rac yvelaze metad mniSvnelovania, dabrunebis koeficienti gvaqvs Zalian maRali: yvela, vinc Cveni programiT midis sazRvargareT saswavle-blad, ukan brundeba, anu maT mier ucxoeTSi miRebuli codna saqarT-velos xmardeba”, - ambobs saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis sakonsultacio centris xelmZRvaneli nino CinCalaZe.

mTargmnelobiTi programa

fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” mTarmnelobiTi pro-gramis mizania xeli Seuwyos demokratiuli da codnaze da-myarebuli sazogadoebis Camoyalibebas socialuri mniSvnelobis samecniero literaturis Targmnisa da gamocemis gziT, xelmi-sawvdomi gaxados interdisciplinaruli gamocemebi da daexma-ros sazogadoebas demokratiuli ganviTarebis gzaze wamoWrili problemebis gadawyvetaSi. am miznis misaRwevad programa wlebis manZilze ori mimarTulebiT muSaobda. es gaxldaT damoukide-beli gamomcemlobebisa da umaRles saswavleblebSi socialuri mecnierebaTa prioritetul sferoebSi danergili axali samagistro kursebis biblio-grafiebis Sesabamisi akade-miuri literaturis qarTul enaze Targmanebis gamocemis xelSewyoba. Tumca, ukanask-nel xans programis muSaobis stili nawilobriv Seicvala. kerZod, programam samuSaos meti wili Tavadve itvirTa. amis mizezad mTargmnelobi-Ti programis koordinatori elene nakaSiZe Semdeg gare-moebebs asaxelebs: “rogorc wesi, aqamde gamomcemlobebi centraluri universitetis mTargmnelobiTi programis mier yovelwliurad gamoqvey-nebuli literaturis vrceli siidan Tavad irCevdnen sa-Targmn wignebs, Tavadve iyvnen pasuxismgebelni mTargmnelisa da samecniero redaqtoris SerCev-aze, anu mTlianad proeqtis ganxorcielebaze. xSir SemTxvevaSi ga-momcemelTa mier daqiravebuli mTargmnelebi ucxo enis speciali-stebi iyvnen da ara im konkretuli sferosi, romlis literaturis Targmnac uwevdaT. es ki garkveuli xarvezebis mizezi xdeboda. amitom Cven gadavwyviteT, nawilobriv Tavad SevarCioT saTargmni literatura da mTargmnelebi da ukve mza masala mivawodoT gamom-cemlobebs”.

aseve, SesaZlebelia, mTargmnelma Tavad SearCios saTargmni wigni, Tu igi qveyanaSi arsebuli politikuri mdgomareobis Sesa-tyvisia da interdisciplinarul xasiaTs atarebs.

wels programis mier sakiTxze orientirebuli gamocemebisT-vis prioritetul Temebad ganisazRvra politikuri kultura, politikis analizi, ekonomika, kulturulogia da socialuri realobis Semswavleli interdisciplinaruli kvlevebi.

“We have been active for 10 years already, and sent over 1000 individuals for various short and long-term academic programs abroad. Our largest program is the Central European University in Budapest founded by George Soros. Every year 15 students from Georgia are enrolled there for master degree. Our programs have provided training for 100 highly qualified masters in various disciplines. And what is most important, the return coefficient of our program’s beneficiaries is very high: all of them return to Georgia and put the experience and knowledge they gained abroad to use in this country,” says Nino Chinchaladze, Director of the International Student Advising Center.

TRANSLATION PROGRAM The mission of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s Translation

Program is to promote building-up of the democratic and knowledge-based society by publishing the translations of titles of social importance, providing series of interdisciplinary publications, and support in copying with the problems on the way of democratic development. To fulfill the mission, over its life-cycle the Program has worked in two directions: first, to provide the Georgian translations of titles from bibliography lists of master degree programs introduced at higher educational institutions in priority areas of social sciences, and second, to contribute to the growth of independent publishing industry. Notably, over the recent period the Translation Program’s modalities have been partially modified. Now, a greater share of work is undertaken by the Program itself. According to

Helen Nakashidze, Translation Program Coordinator, the reasoning behind the shift is the following: “As a rule, up until recently publishers could select themselves the titles they wished to publish from a long list of recommended titles published annually by the Central European University’s Translation Program. They were themselves responsible for selecting translators and scientific editors, i.e. for the whole project. Oftentimes, translators hired by publishers were language specialists with limited or no knowledge in the field the book represented. This in turn resulted in certain shortcomings. We therefore decided to select ourselves the titles to be translated, as well as translators and to provide publishers with the ready-to-publish materials”.

It is also possible for translators to select a title to translate, if it corresponds to current political situation in the country and is interdisciplinary in character.

In 2004, the Translation Program priority topics for issue-oriented publications are: political culture, policy analysis, economy, culturology, and interdisciplinary studies of social realities.

`rogorc wesi, aqamde gamomcemlobebi centraluri universitetis mTargmnelobiTi programis mier yovelwliurad gamoqveynebuli lit-eraturis vrceli siidan Tavad irCevdnen saTargmn wignebs, Tavadve iyvnen pasuxismgebelni mTargmnelisa da samecniero redaqtoris Ser-Cevaze, anu mTlianad proeqtis ganxorcielebaze. xSir SemTxvevaSi ga-momcemelTa mier daqiravebuli mTargmnelebi ucxo enis specialiste-bi iyvnen da ara im konkretuli sferosi, romlis literaturis Targm-nac uwevdaT. es ki garkveuli xarvezebis mizezi xdeboda. amitom Cven gadavwyviteT, nawilobriv Tavad SevarCioT saTargmni literatura da mTargmnelebi da ukve mza masala mivawodoT gamomcemlobebs~.

“AS A RULE, UP UNTIL RECENTLY PUBLISHERS COULD SELECT THEMSELVES THE TITLES THEY WISHED TO PUBLISH FROM A LONG LIST OF RECOMMENDED TITLES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY’S TRANSLATION PROGRAM. THEY WERE THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING TRANSLATORS AND SCIENTIFIC EDITORS, I.E. FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT. OFTENTIMES, TRANSLATORS HIRED BY PUBLISHERS WERE LANGUAGE SPECIALISTS WITH LIMITED OR NO KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD THE BOOK REPRESENTED. THIS IN TURN RESULTED IN CERTAIN SHORTCOMINGS. WE THEREFORE DECIDED TO SELECT OURSELVES THE TITLES TO BE TRANSLATED, AS WELL AS TRANSLATORS AND TO PROVIDE PUBLISHERS WITH THE READY-TO-PUBLISH MATERIALS”.

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aRmosavleTi- aRmosavleTi

programa “aRmosavleTi - aRmosavleTi” qseluri programaa, ZiriTadad aRmosavleT evropisa da yofili sabWoTa kavSiris qveynebze orientirebuli. Sesabamisad, fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” farglebSi moqmedi es programa, kerZo pirebsa da organizaciebs exmareba monawileoba miiRon, aRmosavleT-aR-mosavleT qselis mier organizebul, saerTaSoriso RonisZiebeb-Si, Treiningebsa da seminarebSi, erTobliv kvlevebSi, romelTa mizani socialuri ganviTarebis gamocdilebis globaluri gazi-arebaa. amave dros, programa mxars uWers saintereso RonisZie-bebis organizebas saqarTveloSi.

programis koordinatoris elene nakaSiZis TqmiT: “progra-mis farglebSi dafinanseba orgvari wesiT xdeba. erTia, roca qselSi mwifdeba proeqti da moTxovnaa saqarTvelodan monawilis gagzavnaze. am SemTxvevaSi Cven Cven Tavze viRebT monawilis Tu monawileebis gzisa da sastumros xarjebis anazRaurebas. meore ki exeba uSualod saqarTveloSi momzadebul proeqtebs, romlebic iTvaliswinebs saqarTvelodan raime RonisZiebis, erToblivi saqmi-anobis inicirebas. aseT SemTxvevaSi proeqts ganixilavs fondis aR-masrulebeli sabWo, romlisgan rekomendaciis miRebis SemTxvevaSi proeqti qselSi gadaigzavneba. ukve programis xelmZRvanelobis mxridan damtkicebis Semdeg iwyeba proeqtis ganxorcieleba. saqa-rTvelos mxare afinasebs mTlianad RonisZiebas, sxva qveynebidan mowveuli monawileebis mgzavrobisa da sastumros xarjebs iqauri programebi anazRaureben”.

programis moTxovnaa, rom dagegmili RonisZieba ar iyos adami-anTa jgufis erTjeradi Sexvedra, Tundac saukeTeso miznebisT-vis. proeqti unda iTvaliswinebs gangrZobiTobas.

wels programam daafinansa TbilisSi Catarebuli ordRiani konferencia, saxelwodebiT “ganaTleba adamianis uflebebSi cen-traluri da aRmosavleT evropis qveynebis skolebsa da univer-sitetebSi”, romlis iniciatori gaxldaT arasamTavrobo orga-nizacia “adamianis uflebebis saganmanaTleblo centri”. konfer-enciaSi monawileoba miiRes aRmosavleT evropisa da amierkavka-siis qveynebis warmomadgenlebma. aseve dafinansda gacvliTi pro-eqti - dialogi ruseTsa da saqarTvelos Soris. pirveli nawili am proeqtisa ruseTSi ukve Sedga, axla monawileebi TbilisSi Seikribebian.

EAST – EAST PROGRAMThe East-East Program is a Network Program focused mostly on countries

of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It supports individuals and organizations, providing them with an opportunity to take part in international activities, trainings, seminars and joint research projects organized by the East-East Network with a view to promoting global understanding of and experience-sharing on ongoing social developments. Additionally, the program assists in putting together interesting activities in Georgia.

According to Helen Nakashidze, East-East Program Coordinator: “The Program has two modes of financing initiatives implemented within its framework. One applies where a project is generated by the Network and involves participation from Georgia. In this case, our Program undertakes covering of traveling expenses and hotel accommodation for participants from Georgia. The other mode of financing applies where projects are generated in Georgia and envision organizing of joint activities initiated from Georgia. If this is the case, the project is first examined by OSGF Executive Board and if recommended by the latter, it is submitted to the Network. Implementation of the project starts after it is approved by the leadership of the Network Program. The Georgian side provides overall funding of the initiative, while travel and hotel accommodations costs for invited participants are covered by the Programs in respective countries.” One of essential requirements of the Program is that an activity supported by it should not be a one-off meeting, even if initiated with best intentions, but imply continuity and sustainability.

In 2004, the East-East Program funded a two-day conference “Human Rights Education at Central and Eastern Europe Schools and Universities” initiated by a non-governmental organization “Human Rights Education Center”. The conference brought together participants from Eastern Europe and South Caucasus countries. Another initiative supported by the Program is the “Russian-Georgian Dialogue”. The first part of the project has already been arranged in Russia, and now its participants will assemble in Georgia.

programam aRmosavleTi-aRmosavleTi daafinansa TbilisSi Catarebuli ordRi-ani konferencia, saxelwodebiT “ganaTle-ba adamianis uflebebSi centraluri da aRmosavleT evropis qveynebis skolebsa da universitetebSi”, romlis iniciatori gaxldaT arasamTavrobo organizacia “adamianis uflebebis saganmanaTleblo centri”. konferenciaSi monawileoba mi-iRes aRmosavleT evropisa da amierkavka-siis qveynebis warmomadgenlebma. aseve dafinansda gacvliTi proeqti - dialogi ruseTsa da saqarTvelos Soris. pirveli nawili am proeqtisa ruseTSi ukve Sedga, axla monawileebi TbilisSi Seikribebian.

“AS A RULE, UP UNTIL RECENTLY PUBLISHERS COULD SELECT THEMSELVES THE TITLES THEY WISHED TO PUBLISH FROM A LONG LIST OF RECOMMENDED TITLES PUBLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY’S TRANSLATION PROGRAM. THEY WERE THEMSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING TRANSLATORS AND SCIENTIFIC EDITORS, I.E. FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT. OFTENTIMES, TRANSLATORS HIRED BY PUBLISHERS WERE LANGUAGE SPECIALISTS WITH LIMITED OR NO KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD THE BOOK REPRESENTED. THIS IN TURN RESULTED IN CERTAIN SHORTCOMINGS. WE THEREFORE DECIDED TO SELECT OURSELVES THE TITLES TO BE TRANSLATED, AS WELL AS TRANSLATORS AND TO PROVIDE PUBLISHERS WITH THE READY-TO-PUBLISH MATERIALS”.

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ganvlili 10 wlis manZilze fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarT-velos” bazaze Seiqmna ramdenime damoukidebeli organizacia, romelTac fondis programebi daedo safuZvlad. isini nawilo-briv dRemde sargebloben fondis finansuri mxardaWeriT, Tumca sxva donor organizaciebTanac TanamSromloben. dRes es orga-nizaciebi praqtikulad damoukidebel erTeulebad gvevlinebian, romelTa interesebis sfero mravalferovania. aRsaniSnavia, rom fondidan programebis calke organizaciebad gamoyofa arasamTav-robo seqtoris gaZlierebas emsaxureba. es ki kargad warmoaCens fondis, rogorc ara mxolod donoris, aramed rogorc arasamTav-robo organizaciebis Seqmnis iniciatoris rols.

samecniero-saganmanaTleblo kompiuteruli qselebis asociacia - grenaasociaciis prezidenti ramaz qvaTaZe

ganaTlebisa da mecnierebis sferoSi sainformacio komunika-ciebis infrastruqturis ganviTarebis mizniT 1999 wels daars-da saqarTvelos samecniero-saganmanaTleblo kompiuteruli qselebis asociacia “grena”. “grena”-s strategiuli mizani saqa-rTvelos samecniero da sagan-manaTleblo dawesebulebebis er-Tiani sainformacio qselis Seqmna da misi internetSi CarTvaa. es proeqti evrokavSiris, natos da fondi-Ria sazogadoeba saqa-rTvelos” finansuri mxardaWeriT xorcieldeba.

2001 wlidan dRemde “grenam” ganaxorciela ramdenime mniS-vnelovani proeqti, romlebSic gaTvaliswinebuli iyo saqarT-velos qalaqebis (gori, quTaisi, foTi, zugdidi) samecniero-saganmanaTleblo dawesebulebebis internetis qselSi CarTva 2 mb/wm boWkovani optikis gamoyenebiT, “grenas” Tbilisis radio-modemebis qselis gafarToeba da modernizaciis samuSaoebi, maRa-li energiebis fizikis institutis bazaze axali Tanamgzavruli sadguris amuSaveba. amave proeqtis farglebSi damontaJda 100 megabaitiani boWkovani arxi, romelic instituts “grenas” qselT-an akavSirebs. amjerad natos finansuri daxmarebiT da grenas Tanamgzavruli sadguris meSveobiT Tbilisis 100-mde skolis in-ternetSi CarTva mimdinareobs.

2004 wels grenam gaaforma xelSekruleba korporaciasTan “Cisco” da saqarTveloSi gaixsna pirveli “Cisco” akademia, ro-melic kompiuteruli qselebisaTvis maRali kvalifikaciis spe-cialistebis momzadebas iTva-liswinebs. swavleba 4-semestriania da mimdinareobs fond “Ria sazogadoeba saqarTvelos” Senoba-Si. programis mixedviT kursdamTavrebulebi miiReben Sesabamis sertifikats. centri aRWurvilia swavlebis procesisaTvis aucilebeli qseluri aparaturis laboratoriiT. amJamad asoci-acia natos finansuri mxardaWeriT 3 orwlian proeqts axorcie-lebs: am proeqtebis mizani kompiuteruli qselebis gafarToeba da srulyofaa.

Over the past ten years, some of the programs and initiatives established by the Open Society – Georgia Foundation have spun off as independent entities. They are partially financed by the Foundation, while cooperating at the same time with other donor organizations. Today these are virtually independent entities, with diverse interests and successful projects. Notably, establishment of such organizations born out of the Foundation’s programs serves to empower the NGO community, thus highlighting the role of the Foundation not only as a donor, but also as initiator of NGO development.

GEORGIAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL NETWORKING ASSOCIATION - GRENAPresident of GRENA: Ramaz Kvatadze

The Georgian Research and Educational Networking Association – GRENA was established in 1999 with a view to developing information and communication infrastructure for education and research institutions.

GRENA’s strategic mission is creation of a unified information infrastructure connected to Internet for Georgian research and educational institutions. The project is being implemented with financial support from NATO, the European Commission and the Open Society – Georgia Foundation.

Since 2001, GRENA has implemented a number of important projects to provide connectivity to Internet for academic and educational institutions in Georgian cities (Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Zugdidi) through the use of 2 Mbps fiber optic channel, extension and upgrading of wireless modem network in Tbilisi, establish a new satellite station at the High Energy Physics Institute. The same project envisioned installation of a 100 Mb fiber optic channel connecting the institute with GRENA network. Currently, work is underway to provide Internet connectivity for 100 secondary schools in Tbilisi. The project is being carried out through NATO financial support, using GRENA satellite station.

In 2004, GRENA made an agreement with Cisco Services Inc. and established the first Cisco Networking Academy in Georgia to train highly qualified professionals in computer networking. Course duration is four semesters, with classes held at Open Society – Georgia Foundation’s premises. Course graduates will receive certificates. The center is equipped with a networking laboratory.

Presently, with NATO financial support, the Georgian Research and Educational Networking Association is implementing 3 two-year projects. The projects are designed to expand and streamline computer networks in the country.

fondis bazaze Seqmnili organizaciebi ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED ON THE BASIS OF OSGF PROGRAMS

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saganmanaTleblo iniciativebis centri centris direqtori eTer Rvineria

saganmanaTleblo iniciativebis centri saerTaSoriso asocia-ciis “nabij-nabij” namdvili wevria. misi programa saqarTveloSi 1998 wlidan funqcionirebs da eyrdnoba qveyanaSi mimdinare erovnuli programiT gaTvaliswinebul swavlebis Sinaarss, ma-gram gvTavazobs axlebur midgomas.

programa dabadebidan 10 wlamde asakis bavSvebisTvisaa gaTval-iswinebuli da gvTavazobs meTodologias, rogorc sabavSvo baga-baRebis aseve dawyebiTi skolis asakis bavSvebisa da maswavlebel-TaTvis. saganmanaTleblo iniciativebis programaTa mier damuSave-buli da umaRlesi skolisaTvis gaTvaliswinebuli meTodologiis kursi umaRlesi pedagogiuri saswavleblisa da universitetis Ses-abamisi fakultetebis saswavlo programebSia Setanili.

programis mizani bavSvebSi momavali damoukidebeli cxovrebi-saTvis aucilebeli unar-Cvevebis ganviTareba da bavSvis ganvi-Tarebis donesTan swavlebis Sesabamisobis principis ganxor-cielebaa. programa yuradRebas amaxvilebs swavlebis individu-alizaciasa da demokratizaciaze.

amave dros “nabij-nabij” programa iTvaliswinebs inkluziuri klasebis gaxsnas, rac gulisxmobs SezRuduli SesaZleblobebis mqone bavSvebis tipiuri ganviTarebis bavSvebTan erTad swavlas, rogorc skolamdel dawesebulebebSi, aseve saSualo skolis daw-yebiT klasebSi.

2004 wlis agvistoSi saganmanaTleblo iniciativebis centrma saqarTvelos regionalur centrebsa da soflebSi gaxsna axa-li programiT momuSave 40 saswavlo klasi da swavlebis meTo-dis gasacnobad maswavlebelTaTvis moawyo 10 dRiani seminari, romelSic 80 maswavlebeli monawileobda. amave wlis seqtemberSi ki Tbilissa da saqarTvelos sxva regionebSi sabavSvo baRis 15 da saSualo skolis “nabij-nabij” programiT momuSave 10 eqsperimen-tuli jgufi gaixsna.

sorosis saerTaSoriso saganmanaTleblo programebiprogramis direqtori Tamar xulordava

“sorosis saerTaSoriso saganmanaTleblo programebi 1994 wlidan arsebobs. 2000 wlidan ki fond “Ria sazogadoeba-saqa-rTvelosa” da saqarTvelos saerTaSoriso pedagogTa asociaciis bazaze am programebis fondi daarsda. fondis mizani samecniero da saganmanaTleblo sferoebSi arsebuli problemebis warmoCena, maT mosagvareblad efeqturi meTodebis SemuSaveba da amiT erT-gvarad saganmanaTleblo reformis mxardaWeraa, xolo priorite-ti , Ria konkursis wesiT samecniero-saganmanaTleblo sistemis saukeTeso warmomadgenelTa gamovlena da maTi finansuri waxal-isebaa.

am mizniT fondi yovelwliurad samaswavleblo seminar-treiningebs, saskolo olimpiadebsa da studentur konferen-ciebs marTavs. saskolo treiningebsa da seminarebSi yovel wels saqartvelos masStabiT 3000-ze meti saSualo skolis moswavle-maswavlebelebi monawileoben, 250 skolasa da 10 umaRles sas-wavlebels ki yovelwliurad egzavneba sorosis saganmanaTleblo Jurnali.

sorosis saerTaSoriso saganmanaTleblo programebis xaziT saqa-rTveloSi 1999 wlidan dRemde tardeba erovnuli konkursi sax-elwodebiT ,” me, axalgazrda mecnieri”, romelic evrogaerTianebis axalgazrda mecnierTa konkursis pirvel safexurs warmoadgens. konkursSi gamovlenil sam saukeTeso proeqts (3-6 bavSvis monaw-ileobiT) da SesaZlo kandidats eZleva evrokomisiaSi warsadgeni nominacia, sadac ukve saerTaSoriso Jiuri afasebs proeqts. gamar-jvebuli bavSvebi ki ukve evrokonkursSi monawileoben.

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVESDirector: Eter Gvineria

The Center for Educational Initiatives is member of the International Step by Step Association. The Step by Step program began in Georgia in 1998, and is based on the educational content provided by the current national program, with innovative approaches offered.

The program is targeted at early age children (up to 10 years of age), and offers an educational model for preschool and primary school age children, as well as innovative teaching strategies for educators. A course in teaching methodology developed by the Center for higher educational institutions has been incorporated into the curricula of teacher training institutions and relevant university departments.

The program aims to develop in young children independent life skills ensuring a match between the child’s level of development and teaching. The program’s emphasis is on individualization and democratization of teaching.

At the same time, the Step by Step program envisions establishing of inclusive classrooms where children with special needs are taught along with their peers in the regular classroom both at preschool institutions and primary schools.

In August 2004, the Center for Educational Initiatives established in Georgia’s regional centers and villages 40 classrooms working according to the new program, and organized a 10-day training workshop for 80 teachers to train them in using the methodology in classroom.

In September 2004, 15 model preschool sites and ten model primary school sites opened in Tbilisi and other regions of Georgia.

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saganmanaTleblo debatebis asociaciaasociaciis prezidenti nana fifia

saganmanaTleblo debatebis asociacia, romelic postpozitiv-isturi filosofiuri sistemis fuZemdeblis karl poperis sax-els atarebs, saqarTveloSi 1998 wlidan funqcionirebs fondi ZRia sazogadoeba-saqarTvelos” operaciuli programis saxiT. 2004 wlidan igi Camoyalibda saganmanaTleblo debatebis asocia-ciad. asociaciis mizani saqarTvelos mosaxleobaSi (moswavleebi, studentebi da sxva daintere-sebuli pirebi) ganaTlebis donis amaRleba, kritikuli azrovnebis, liderobis unar-Cvevebis Camoyalibeba, sazoga-doebaSi ndobisa da urTierT-pativiscemis gaRrmavebaa.

asociacia regularulad atarebs erovnul turnirebs, romlebSic monawileoben saqa-rTvelos sxvadasxva regionis saSualo skolebis moswavlee-bi da umaRlesi saswavleblis studentebi. turniri exeba erT romelime aqtualur Temas da masSi monawile gundebs uwevT rezoluciis rogorc damtkiceba, aseve , uaryofa. 2004 wels Catarebuli erovnu-li turnirebis Temebi iyo: “ganaTlebis reforma”, “sazoga-doebrivi televizia”, “kavkasiaSi konfliqtebis mogvareba”.

saganmanaTleblo debatebis asociacia yovelwliurad atarebs seminarebs im pedagogebis, moswavleebisa da studentebisaTvis, romelTac aqvT survili CaerTon programaSi da monawileoba miiRon asociaciis mier mowyobil erovnul turnirebSi, sazaf-xulo banakebSi, Tu sxva saganmanaTleblo RonisZiebebSi. garda amisa, modebateebi regularulad monawileoben saerTaSoriso debatebis saganmanaTleblo asociaciis (IDEA) mier organizebul RonisZiebebSi. aRsaniSnavia, rom 2004 wlis agvistoSi, estoneTSi Catarebul debatebis saerTaSoriso forumze, Sereuli gundebis turniris gamarjvebuli gaxda q. Tbilisis N23-e saS. skolis mo-swavle vasil managaZe.

kavSiri “socialur mecnierebaTa centri”direqtori: marine CitaSvili

socialur mecnierebaTa centri 2003 wlis oqtomberSi daarsda socialur mecnierebaTa mxardaWeris programis bazaze, romelic samagistro swavlebis srulyofasa da ganviTarebas emsaxureboda. socialur mecnierebaTa mxardaWeris programam mniSvnelovani wvlili Seitana am sferoSi samagistro swavlebis ganviTare-baSi: momzadda ocamde saswavlo kursi, iTargmna klasikuri da Tanamedrove literatura socialur mecnierebebSi, Seiqmna Ta-namedrove teqnikiT aRWurvili auditoriebi da kompiuterebis klasi, agreTve unikaluri biblioTeka, romelic socialur mec-nierebebSi qarTul, inglisur, rusul da sxva enebze gamocemul ramdenime aTas toms moicavs, xolo biblioTekis katalogi sru-ladaa kompiuterizebuli.

centris bazaze wels 60-mde magistranti swavlobs, romlebic socialur mecnierebebs sami specialobiT euflebian -”sazoga-doeba da modernizacia”, “socialuri cvlilebebis politika” da “samxreT kavakasia gardamaval periodSi.” garda amisa, centrSi swavloben saerTaSoriso urTierTobebeisa da sociologiis mag-

INTERNATIONAL SOROS EDUCATION PROGRAMSProgram Director: Tamar Khulordava

The International Soros Science Education Programs began in 1994. In 2000, The Open Society – Georgia Foundation and Georgian International Teachers’ Association established a foundation to support the Program’s activities. The foundation’ goal is to highlight problems and challenges existing in science education, develop effective methods and tools for copying with them, and thus contribute to the advancement of the education

reform, while its main priority is to support excellence in science education by providing financial support to worthy educators and students identified through open competition.

To further this goal, the Inter-national Soros Science Education Programs Foundation conducts annually seminars and trainings for educators, and organizes school Olympiads and students’ conferences. Secondary school level trainings and seminars involve annually over 3000 schoolchildren and teachers, while 250 schools and 10 higher educational institutions receive the Soros Education Journal on a regular basis.

Since 1999, the International Soros Education Science Programs

Foundation has supported an annual competition “I, the Young Scientist”, the first stage of EU-sponsored Young Scientists’ Competition. Three best projects (involving 3-6 schoolchildren each) receive a nomination to be presented to the European Commission where projects are evaluated by the international panel. Successful candidates take part in the European competition.

DEBATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION President of the Association: Nana Pipia

The Debate Education Association that bears the name of Karl Popper, founder of the post-positivism philosophical system was launched in Georgia by the Open Society – Georgia Foundation in 1998 as an operational program. Since 2004, it has spun off as the Debate Education Association.

The goal of the Association is to upgrade in the young generation (high school and university students and other interested individuals) the level of education, develop the skills of critical thinking and leadership, enhancing trust and mutual respect.

The Association regularly conducts national tournaments with participation of secondary school and university students from different regions of Georgia. Every tournament focuses on one or another topical issue, where participating teams have to present rational argumentation to support or to refute the “resolution”. In 2004, national tournaments had as their themes: “Education Reform”, “Public Television”, and “Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus”.

Every year the Debate Education Association conducts seminars for teachers, high school and university students willing to become part of the program, and participate in national tournaments, summer debate camps or other educational activities. Besides, debaters regularly participate in events organized by the International Debate Education Association (IDEA). Notably, in August 2004, at the International Debate Forum held in Estonia, Vasil Managadze, student of Tbilisi school No 23, was declared winner in the mixed teams’ tournament.

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istrantebic. centris mier mowveuli dasavleTis wamyvan univer-sitetebSi ganaTlebuli axalgazrda mecnierebi Tbilisis sax-elmwifo universitetis gamocdil profesor-maswavleblebTan erTad magistrantebs samecniero da meTodologiuri midgomebis farTo speqrs sTavazoben.

amave dros socialur mecnierebaTa centri muSaobs filoso-fiis doqtoris samecniero xarisxis SemoRebisaTvis konceptua-luri bazis damuSavebaze da paralelurad, socialur mecniere-bebSi filosofiis doqtoris xarisxis saswavlo programaze.

momavali wlidan socialur mecnierebaTa centri apirebs ax-ali saswavlo modulis SemoRebas da pirveli inglisurenovani modulis danergvas, romelsac qarTveli magistrantebis garda, momavali saswavlo wlidan somexi da azerbaijaneli studentebic daeswrebian.

ganaTlebis politikis, dagegmvisa da marTvis saerTaSoriso institutiinstitutis direqtori - giorgi maCabeli

ganaTlebis politikis, dagegmvisa da marTvis saerTaSoriso instituti Seiqmna fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” ga-naTlebis megaproeqtis farglebSi ganxorcielebuli ramdenime warmatebuli proeqtis safuZvelze. igi warmoadgens ganaTlebis politikis pirvel damoukidebel instituts kavkasiis regionSi, romlis farglebSi ganxorcielebuli programebi da iniciativebi mimarTulia ganaTlebis sistemis demokratiuli da samarTlebri-vi reformisaken. instituti miznad isaxavs sistemaSi arsebuli problemebis daZlevasa da mis gaumjobesebas kvlevebis, poli-tikuri analizisa da mimdinare reformaSi farTo sazogadoebis monawileobis xarisxis gazrdiT.

2003 wlidan dRemde institutma SeimuSava da ganaxorciela ramdenime mniSvnelovani proeqti, romlebic mimarTulia saqarT-velos ganaTlebis sistemaSi damokratiuli cvlilebebis uzrun-velsayofad.

2004 wlis ganmavlobaSi instituti aqtiurad muSaobda umaR-lesi ganaTlebis sferoSi. gagrZelda muSaoba umaRlesi gana-Tlebis kanonproeqtTan dakavSirebiT. ganaTlebis saministros axali xelmZRvanelobis mier warmodgenili kanonproeqti insti-tutis mier SemuSavebul rig debulebebsac eyrdnoboda.

2004 wlis aprilSi institutis iniciativiT Seiqmna SezRuduli SesaZleblobebis mqone bavSvTa ganaTlebis sakiTxze momuSave or-ganizaciebis koalicia, romlis mizania SezRuduli SesaZleblo-bebis mqone bavSvTa ganaTlebis Sesaxeb strategiuli dokumentis Seqmna da ganxorcieleba.

budapeStis Ria sazogadoebis institutis finansuri mx-ardaWeriT ki, 2004 wlis zafxulSi daiwyo ganaTlebis politikis dagegmvisa da marTvis saerTaSoriso institutis mier SemuSave-buli proeqti - “repetitorebis fenomenis gamokvleva”. proeqti miznad isaxavs yofil sabWoTa da aRmosavleT evropis qveynebSi repetitorobis masStabisa da misi gamomwvevi mizezebis Seswavla-Sedarebas.

amave wlis Semodgomaze budapeStis Ria sazogadoebis insti-tutis mier dafinansda kidev erTi axali proeqti - “ganaTlebis re-formebi postsocialistur sivrceSi - baqodan ulan-batoramde”. proeqti ganxorcieldeba aRmosavleT evropisa da postsabWoTa sivrcis 11 qveyanaSi. ganaTlebis politikis dagegmvisa da marT-vis saerTaSoriso institutma gamosca wigni statiebiT, romle-bic Seexeba sorosis fondis rols am qveynebis ganaTlebis siste-mis reformebSi.

CENTER FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES Director: Marine Chitashvili

The Center for Social Sciences was established in October 2003 on the basis of the Social Science Support Program committed to refining and development of MA education. The Social Science Support Program’s contribution in developing MA programs in social sciences is indeed significant: about 20 courses developed, translation of classics and contemporary literature in social sciences, lecture-rooms with state-of-the art equipment, computer classroom, a unique library with several thousand titles in social sciences in Georgian, English, Russian and other languages, and a fully computerized cataloguing system.

This year, sixty MA level students take study courses at the Center-sponsored facilities in 3 specialties: “Society and Modernization”, Policy of Social Change” and “South Caucasus in Transition”. Besides, the Center offers MA courses in International Relations and Sociology. Young scholars educated at leading Western universities are invited by the Center to offer, alongside with the experienced faculty of Tbilisi State University, a wide spectrum of academic and methodological approaches.

Additionally, the Center for Social Sciences works to develop a conceptual basis for introducing the PhD degree and, parallel to this activity, is busy with designing a PhD curriculum in Social Sciences.

In 2005, the Center for Social Sciences intends to launch a new teaching module and implement the first English-language module for MA level students, that starting from the next academic year will be offered to students from Armenia and Azerbaijan.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION POLICY, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENTDirector: George Machabeli

The International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management (EPPM) was developed on the basis of many successful educational projects within the framework of the Education Mega Project of the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF). It is the first independent education policy institute in the Caucasus region whose programs and initiatives focus on democratic and legal reforms of the education system. EPPM seeks to address problems present in the system and to improve education through research, policy analysis, and increased public involvement.

From 2003, EPPM has developed and implemented several projects aimed at providing democratic changes in the education system of Georgia.

In 2004, the Institute worked intensively in the field of higher education. Work continued on the Draft Law on Higher Education. The draft law submitted to the Parliament by the new leadership of the Ministry of Education incorporated certain provisions elaborated by EPPM.

In April 2004, EPPM initiated establishment of a coalition of organizations working to promote principles of inclusive education. The aim of the coalition is to develop a strategic document on education of children with special needs, and translate it into a system that allows for their successful integration in the education process.

With financial support of the Open Society Institute – Budapest, in summer 2004 the International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management launched a new project “Research into Phenomenon of Coaching”. The aim of the project is to look into the scale and root causes of coaching in Eastern Europe and FSU countries.

In autumn 2004, OSI Budapest funded another new project “Education Reforms in the Post-Socialist Space – from Baku to Ulan Bator”. The project covers 11 countries of Eastern Europe and the post-soviet space. The International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management published a collection of articles focusing on the role of the Soros Foundations in promoting education reforms in these countries.

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brZola trefikingTan

karga xania mTels msoflioSi tre-fikings yvelaze saSiS danaSaulTa So-ris mesame adgili ukavia _ narkotike-biTa da iaraRiT ukanonod vaWrobis Semdeg. saqarTveloSi ki adamianTa syidvis (trefikingis) problemaTa kv-leva fond “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarT-velos” iniciativiT 1998 wels daiwyo. Tumca, “trefikingis kriminalizacia” mxolod 2003 ewls moxda, radgan saqa-rTvelos oficiozi manamde am prob-lemas ar cnobda.

aRsaniSnavia, rom 2004 wlis ivnisSi TbilisSi motyuebiT Camoyvanili tre-fikingis msxverpli 14 uzbeki qalba-tonis gaTavisuflebis Semdeg, maT sam-SobloSi dabrunebamde Zaladobisagan dacvis erovnuli qselis TavSesafarSi maTi ganTavseba, movla-patronoba da reabilitacia fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” qalTa programam iTava. fondis Zaladobisagan dacvis erovnu-li qselis sxva aqtivistebTan erTad am saqmis monawile iyo saerTaSoriso eqsperti trefikingis sferoSi wovi-nar nazarova, romelic amavdroulad “adamianTa harmoniuli ganviTarebis xelSemwyobi sazogadoebis” Tavjdomarea.

2004 wlis zafxulSi fondi “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelos” qalTa programam daafinansa wovinar nazarovas xelmZRvanelobiT SemuSavebuli “regionaluri antitrefikinguli proeqti”, rom-lis ZiriTadi mizani adamianebiT vaWrobisa da sxva transnacio-naluri organizebuli danaSaulebis sawinaaRmdego qmedebasTan erTad, trefikingis msxverplTa dacva, daxmareba da samSobloSi dabrunebaa. am iniciativas azerbaijanisa da somxeTis Ria sazoga-doebebis qalTa programebic gamoexmaura. Seiqmna partniorTa jgufi, romelic saqarTvelo-somxeT-azerbaijanis arasamTavro-bo organizaciaTa warmomadgenlebs aerTianebs. jgufis samuSao Sexvedrebze Camoyalibda erToblivi samoqmedo gegma. daniS-nulebis erT-erT qveynad aRiarebuli iqna TurqeTi da amitom kvleva swored sarfis sakontrolo-gamSvebi punqtidan daiwyo.

proeqtis ganxorcielebam mniSvnelovani Sedegebi gamoiRo, mi-gnebul iqna bevri problema, romlebze reagirebac da romelTa mogvarebac ukve saxelmwifos nebazea damokidebuli. cxadia, aseTi nebis gamovlenis SemTxvevaSi xelisuflebas ZaluZs im danaSaulebrivi moRvaweobisTvis noyieri niadagis gamocla, romelsac proeqtis ganxorcielebis dros miakvlies. kerZod, proeqtis msvlelobisas gairkva, rom praqtikulad SeuZlebelia migrantebis, trefikingis msxverplTa da deportirebul pirTa srulyofilad aRricxva, radgan mTeli es procesi umetesad arakanonieri gzebiT xorcieldeba. yalbi pasportebiT emigri-rebulTa da deportirebulTa realuri raodenoba ar emTxveva mesazRvreTa monacemebs, dawesebuli dro (3 saaTi) arasakmarisia

REGIONAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROJECT

For a long time already, trafficking in persons has rated third among the most dangerous crimes on a global scale - after drug trafficking and arms trafficking. In Georgia, the study of human trafficking related problems started in 1998, at the initiative of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation. However, criminalization of trafficking only occurred in 2003, as the former leadership failed to acknowledge the existence of this problem in Georgia.

Notably, after 14 Uzbek victims of trafficking brought to Tbilisi by fraud in June 2004 were set free, OSGF Women’s Program took upon itself their placement at shelter of the Anti-Violence National Network, as well as their care and rehabilitation. Alongside with other activists of the Anti-Violence National Network, one of the volunteers involved in this endeavor was Tsovinar Nazarova, expert on trafficking and Chairperson of the People’s Harmonious Development Society.

In summer 2004, the Open Society – Georgia Foundation provided funding for the Regional Anti-Trafficking Project developed under Tsovinar Nazarova’s guidance. Alongside with activities designed to counter trafficking in persons and other forms of transnational organized crime, the aim of the project is to provide protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, and secure their return to home countries. A number of important interventions have already been implemented within the

fondi sazogadoebriv-politikuri cxovrebis SuagulSiTHE OPEN SOCIETY – GEORGIA FOUNDATION IN THE MIDST OF PUBLIC LIFE

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saeWvo sabuTebis gadasamowmeblad da pirovnebis identifikaciis dasadgenad, xolo moqalaqeebi ar arian informirebuli sakuTar ufleba-movaleobaTa Taobaze. am problemaTa mosagvareblad ki samTavrobo da arasamTavrobo organizaciaTa xangrZlivi da kar-gad awyobili TanamSromlobaa saWiro.

2004 wlis ivlisis bolos, proeqtis farglebSi, partniorTa jgufi TurqeTSi gaemgzavra. kvleva mimdinareobda qalaqebSi: stamboli, ankara, antalia, trabzoni. jgufi Sexvda rogorc saelCosa da sakonsuloTa TanamSromlebs, aseve samTavrobo Tu arasamTavrobo organizaciaTa da samarTaldamcav struqtura-Ta warmomadgenlebs. trefikingiT dazaralebul pirTa moZieba jgufma kafeebis, barebisa da diskoTekebis SemovliT daiwyo. aseT adamianTa ricxvi mxolod sam kafeSic ki STambeWdavi aR-moCnda (19 adamiani), Tumca jgufma realurad mxolod erTis gadarCena SeZlo _ trefikingis msxverpli somexi gogona sam-SobloSi daabrunes. “ra Tqma unda, Zalian mniSvnelovania erTi sicocxlis gadarCenac ki, magram saWiroa ufro qmediTi RonisZie-bebi, samTavrobo Tu arasamTavrobo organizaciaTa da samarTal-damcav struqturaTa ufro mWidro TanamSromloba, rom aRikveTos globaluri saSineleba _ adamianebiTa da adamianTa organoebiT vaWroba”, - aRniSnavs wovinar nazarova.

axalgazrdoba versus korufcia

fondi “Ria sazogadoeba-saqarTvelos” samarTlis programis finansuri mxardaWer-iT 2003 wels 1 seqtembridan 2004 wlis 16 Tebervlamde saqarTvelos 19 skolis farg-lebSi ganxorcielda arasamTavrobo organiza-ciis “Transparency International-saqarTvelos” proeqti “axalgazrdoba Versus korufcia”. proeqti, romlis direqtoric gaxldaT TI-is koordinatori lana Rvinjilia, gulisxmobda korufciis Tamaze esseebis konkursis Cat-arebas, romelsac unda gamoevlina, ramdenad gaumjobesda axalgazrdebSi korufciis aRq-mis done da sakuTari azris gamoxatvis unari, ramdenad gaZlierda interesi kanonierebis mimarT.

warmatebuli TanamSromlobis mizniT, Cat-arda “TI saqarTvelosa” da skolis maswav-lebelTa Sexvedra, Seiqmna samuSao jgufi da SeirCa sami aqtualuri Tema. konkursSi monawileoba unda mieRoT im skolaTa moswav-leebs, romlebmac me-8 klsSi gaiares sagani “kanonierebis kultura”. radganac saqarT-velos skolebis saswavlo programaSi ar Sedis specialuri sagani an kursi essebis daweris principis Sesaxeb, konkursis wina dReebSi arasamTavrobo organizaciis warmomad-genlebma TiToeul skolaSi moswavleebs auxsnes essebis weris principi. proeqtis ganxorcielebis erT-erT etaps warmoadgenda moswavleebis Sexvedra maTTvis saintereso adamianebTan. axal-gazrdebisaTvis saintereso da cnobili adamianebi qveynis ram-denime regionSi Sexvdnen moswavleebs (Tbilisi, Telavi, baTumi, gori, TianeTi). am Sexvedrebis dros aqtiuri, zogjer ki mwvave diskusiebic imarTeboda.

konkursi 2003 wlis 15-16 dekembers Catarda. moswavleebs ori akademiuri saaTis ganmavlobaSi saSualeba hqondaT Tavi-suflad gamoexataT sakuTari mosazreba mocemul sakiTxebze. imisda miuxedavad, rom konkurss essebis konkursi ewodeboda,

project’s framework. The initiative roused a keen response from the Open Society’s Women’s Programs in Armenia and Azerbaijan, resulting in the establishment of a Partners’ Group made up of NGO representatives from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. At working meetings the Group developed a plan of action, and defined the role that transit and destination countries play in trafficking-related criminal activities. As Turkey was recognized as one of destination countries, it was decided to start examining the problem from Sarpi Border Control Point at the Georgian-Turkish border.

The project has provided important findings, and helped to identify a host of problems. Now, it is the matter of political will for the state to respond. Clearly, if there is a will, the government will be in a position to stop lucrative illegal activities identified in the course of the project. Findings suggest that it is practically impossible to register all migrants, victims of trafficking and deported persons, as a lot happens illegally. The number of persons deported as having fraudulent documents is in no way consistent with the data available at border-crossing points. The time allowed for double-checking and closer examination of suspicious documents, as well as identification of persons (3 hours) is grossly insufficient, while persons are often unaware of their rights and responsibilities. To cope with these problems, well structured and extensive cooperation is necessary between relevant governmental agencies and NGOs.

Within the framework of the project, in July 2004 members of the Partners’ Group visited Turkey, concentrating their attention on Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Trabzon. The Group met with officers of the Embassy and consulates, as well as with representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations and law-enforcement agencies. The search for victims of trafficking started with cafés, bars and discotheques. The numbers of such persons identified in three cafés alone was impressive, reaching 19. Though, the group only succeeded in helping out one victim of trafficking, an Armenian girl who was assisted with return to her country. “Needless to say, every single life saved is important, however it is necessary to work more efficiently, provide for closer cooperation between governmental and non-governmental entities to stop the global threat – that of trafficking in persons and human organs. This problem mostly plagues the third world countries, and it can only be overcome through economic development,” says Tsovinar Nazarova.

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bavSvebisaTvis misaRebi azris gamoxatvis literaturuli forma ar iyo SezRuduli. sakonkurso Temebi korufciis, usamarTlo-bisa da korumpirebul adamianTa mimarT damokidebulebas exe-boda. naSromebi jer skolis maswavlebelTa mier SeirCa, Semdeg ki “saerTaSoriso gamWvirvaloba- saqarTvelos” mier Seqmnilma Jiurim Seafasa. Sefaseba 10 baliani sistemiT moxda, romelSic gaTvaliswinebuli iyo rogorc analitikuri da originaluri az-rovnebis, aseve sakuTari azris gamoxatvis unari da mSobliuri enis codnis xarisxi. moswavleTa naSromebSi gamovlinda maTi damokidebuleba Cveni sazogadoebis aqtualuri da mniSvnelovani problemebisadmi.

essebis konkursSi gamovlinda 3 gamarjvebuli da 8 laureati. gamarjvebulebi sertifikatebiTa da wamaxalisebeli premiebiT daajildoves.2004 wlis ianvarSi ki SemuSavda da monawile sko-lebSi darigda proeqtis Sefasebis kiTxvarebi, romlebic am RonisZiebis gaumjobesebis gzebs da misi ganxorcielebis dadeb-iT da uaryofiT mxareebs exeboda.

samoqalaqo sazogadoeba kanonSemoqmedebiT procesSi

samoqalaqo sazogadoebis mSeneblobis mxardaWeris egidiT, noemberSi axali proeqtis ganxorcieleba wamoiwyo fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” samarTlis programam. programis koordinatoris, Tamar qaldanis ganmartebiT: “qveynis ganviTa-rebis axal safexurze gadasvlam dRis wesrigSi axali sakanon-deblo cvlilebebis aucilebloba daayena, magram, samwuxarod, sakanonmdeblo procesis naCqarevad warmarTva gavlenas axdens kanondeblobis xarisxzec. udides problemas warmoadgens isic, rom sazogadoeba mowyvetilia kanonSemoqmedebiT process, rac ar iZleva sazogadoebrivi azris gaTvaliswinebis SesaZleblobas”. swored am xarvezebis aRmosafxvrelad, fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” mxardaWeriT, samoqalaqo sazogadoebis institu-ti iwyebs axal proeqts, saxelwodebiT “samoqalaqo sazogadoeba kanonSemoqmedebiT procesSi “.

proeqtis mizania sazogadoebrivi kontrolis meqanizmebis Seqmnis gziT, sakanonmdeblo procesis gamWirvalobis uzrun-velyofa, sazogadoebis CarTulobis gazrda parlamentTan kon-struqciuli TanamSromlobisa da drouli informirebis gziT da moqalaqeTa interesebis dacva da lobireba kanonSemoqmedebiT procesSi.

proeqtis farglebSi, saqarTvelos par-lamentis iuridiul komitetTan TanamS-romlobiT mopovebul iqneba parlamentSi Sesuli yvela kanonproeqti, romelTac Ca-utardebaT alternatiuli eqspertiza da ganTavsdeba internet-gverdze, aseve kanon-proeqtebi da alternatiuli daskvnebi da-egzavnebaT saerTaSoriso da adgilobriv organizaciebs, samTavrobo struqturebsa da arasamTavrobo seqtors, mas-mediis war-momadgenlebsa da eqspertebs. sazogadoebas informacia miewodeba sagazeTo daijest-ebisa da sxva sainformacio saSualebebis meSveobiT. fundamenturi mniSvnelobis sakiTxebze moewyoba sajaro ganxilvebi, samoqalaqo sazogadoebis warmomadgenelTa rekomendaciebi da mosazrebebi wardgenil iqneba parlamentSi sakomiteto mosmenebze.

YOUTH VERSUS CORRUPTION

The Youth Versus Corruption project designed by NGO “Transparency International Georgia” was implemented with OSGF financial support from 1 September 2003 to 16 February 2004.

The project, managed by TI Coordinator Lana Gvinjilia, envisaged an anti-corruption essay competition in order to understand the level of corruption awareness among youth, their ability to express their views, as well as their interest towards the rule of law.

To promote successful cooperation, TI Georgia representatives met with school teachers to establish a working group that selected three topics of particular relevance. The competition envisaged participation of children from schools that teach the subject “Rule of Law Culture” within the Grade 8 curriculum.

As the Georgian school curriculum provides for no special subject or course on principles of essay-writing, representatives of TI Georgia visited each participating school before the competition to give children orientation in essay-writing. One of project implementation phases envisioned meetings of children with interesting persons of their choice. Such meetings were organized in Tbilisi, Telavi, Batumi, Gori, Tianeti, and involved very lively, sometimes even heated and sharp, discussions.

The competition was held on 15-16 December 2003 at 19 schools across Georgia. Children were given two academic hours to express their views on the topics proposed. Although the competition was in essay-writing, children were not limited in the forms of self-expression. Competition topics included corruption, injustice and attitude towards corrupt persons. Essays were first selected by school teachers, and then evaluated by competition judges’ committee selected by TI Georgia. Essays were evaluated using a 10-point system taking into account contestants’ analytical thinking skills, originality, ability to express one’s ideas and feelings, as well as the level of knowledge of native language. Children’s essays were reflective of their attitude towards the topical and important problems of out society.

The essay competition announced three winners and gave eight honorable mentions. The winners were awarded certificates and received rewards. In January 2004, the project evaluation questionnaire was distributed among the participating schools with a view to evaluating the competition’s strengths and weaknesses, and seeking ways to make it better. The major strength of this and other similar projects supported by the Open Society - Georgia Foundation is that they give voice to young people, and help them become active citizens in an open society.

saqarTvelos parlamentis iuridiul komitetTan TanamS-romlobiT mopovebul iqneba parlamentSi Sesuli yvela kanonproeqti, romelTac CautardebaT alternatiuli eqspertiza da ganTavsdeba internet-gverdze, aseve kanon-proeqtebi da alternatiuli daskvnebi daegzavnebaT saerTaSoriso da adgilobriv organizaciebs, samTavrobo struqturebsa da arasamTavrobo seqtors, mas-mediis war-momadgenlebsa da eqspertebs. sazogadoebas informacia miewodeba sagazeTo daijestebisa da sxva sainformacio saSualebebis meSveobiT.

THROUGH COOPERATION WITH THE LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT, THE PROJECT ENVISAGES TO HAVE AVAILABLE ALL DRAFT LAWS SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT WILL UNDERGO ALTERNATIVE EXAMINATION, WITH ALTERNATIVE OPINIONS COMMUNICATED TO ALL INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND NGOS, MASS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND EXPERTS. INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH NEWSPAPER DIGESTS AND OTHER INFORMATION OUTLETS.

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realuri TviTmmarTvelobisaTvis

fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” adgilobrivi TviTm-marTvelobisa da sajaro administrirebis programam 2004 wlis seqtemberSi, fond “evraziasTan” erTad, mravalmxrivi mniSvn-elobis proeqti daafinanses. adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobis sakiTxebze momuSave oTxi arasamTavrobo organizaciisgan - “ax-algazrda ekonomistTa asociaciis”, “CIVITAS saqarTvelos”, ka-vkasiis mSvidobis, demokratiis da ganviTarebis fondisa da ICC-sgan - Semdgari koaliciis proeqtis saxelwodebaa “saqarTveloSi decentralizaciis strategiis SemuSaveba”. unda aRiniSnos, rom yvela zemoTCamoTvlili organizacia wlebis manZilze safuZv-els uyrida adgilobriv TviTmmarTvelobasTan dakavSirebuli sakiTxebis lobirebas. sakiTxis mniSvnelobidan gamomdinare, do-norma organizaciebma CaTvales, rom am mimarTulebiT saWiroa arasamTavrobo seqtors garkveuli daxmareba gauwion, rom isini, Tavis mxriv, daexmaron qveynis mTavrobas da amasTanave garkveul sakiTxTa lobirebis mizniT konkretuli strategia SeimuSaon.

“TavisTavad decentralizaciis strategia or ganzomilebas iT-valiswinebs: erTi, rom Camoyalibdes erTiani xedva imisa, Tu ro-gori administraciul-teritoriuli dayofa Wirdeba saqarTvelos da meore- fiskaluri decentralizaciis strategiebis regulireba da SemdgomSi sakanonmdeblo doneze am yvelafris gadawyveta”, - ambobs programis koordinatori irakli forCxiZe. misive TqmiT: “proeqti sakmaod ambiciuria da misi ganxorcielebis Sedegad, daideba paketi - erTgvari saxelmZRvanelo, romelic mTavrobisT-vis iqneba mniSvnelovani, radganac am paketis saxiT maT eqnebaT soliduri dokumenti”.

CIVIL SOCIETY IN LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES

Support to civil society development is the theme of a project initiated in November by the OSGF’s Rule of Law Program.

Says Tamar Kaldani, Coordinator of the Rule of Law Program: “The new stage in the Country’s development has emphasized the need for further legislative changes. Unfortunately, a rush in the legislative process tells on the quality of legislation. A major problem is that the society is not involved in the legislative process, thus making it impossible to take the public opinion into consideration.”

To cope with these problems, the Civil Society Institute starts with OSGF support a new project “Civil Society in Legislative Process”. The aim of the project is to enhance transparency of the legislative process through creating mechanisms of public control, foster public participation through constructive cooperation with the parliament and timely provision of information, protect citizens’ rights and advocate for the legislative process. Through cooperation with the Legal Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament, the project envisages to have available all draft laws submitted to the legislature that will undergo alternative examination, with alternative opinions communicated to all international and local organizations, government entities and NGOs, mass media representatives and experts. Information will be made available to the public through newspaper digests and other information outlets. Issues of fundamental importance will become a theme of public debates, and civil society representatives’ views and recommendations will be presented at committee hearings in the Parliament.

TOWARDS REAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

In September 2004, in conjunction with the Eurasia Foundation, the Local Governance and Public Administration Program funded a new project, important in many aspects. The project with the theme “Development of Decentralization Strategy for Georgia” is a cooperative initiative of a coalition of four non-governmental organizations working on local government issues: the Young Economists’ Association, CIVITAS Georgia, CIPDD (Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development) and ICC. For years, all the coalition members have been active in advocating for initiatives designed to lay the groundwork for empowerment of local government. Given the importance of the issue, donor organizations concluded that it is essential to support the non-governmental sector in this endeavor so that they could assist the government, and to this end develop a concrete strategy to lobby for certain issues.

“The decentralization strategy per se has two dimensions: first, it is necessary to design a common

vision of the administrative-territorial arrangement that would best suit Georgia’s needs, and second, to regulate fiscal decentralization strategies and put them subsequently on a legal footing,” says Irakli Porchkhidze, Program Coordinator. “The project is rather ambitious in its goals and will result in a package, a manual of its kind, essential for the government, as the latter will be given a serious document to guide its action.”

IN SEPTEMBER 2004, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EURASIA FOUNDATION, THE LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM FUNDED A NEW PROJECT, IMPORTANT IN MANY ASPECTS. THE PROJECT WITH THE THEME “DEVELOPMENT OF DECENTRALIZATION STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA” IS A COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE OF A COALITION OF FOUR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES: THE YOUNG ECONOMISTS’ ASSOCIATION, CIVITAS GEORGIA, CIPDD (CAUCASIAN INSTITUTE FOR PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT) AND ICC.

“Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” adgilobrivi TviTm-marTvelobisa da sajaro administrirebis programam 2004 wlis seqtemberSi, fond “evraziasTan” erTad, mra-valmxrivi mniSvnelobis proeqti daafinanses. adgilo-brivi TviTmmarTvelobis sakiTxebze momuSave oTxi arasamTavrobo organizaciisgan - “axalgazrda ekono-mistTa asociaciis”, “CIVITAS saqarTvelos”, kavkasiis mSvi-dobis, demokratiis da ganviTarebis fondisa da ICC-sgan - Semdgari koaliciis proeqtis saxelwodebaa “saqarT-veloSi decentralizaciis strategiis SemuSaveba”.

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efeqturi da obieqturi saarCevno administraciisaken

arCevnebis demokratiulad warmarTva swored is Tema gaxlavT, romlis mxardasaWeradac fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” kolosaluri muSaoba aqvs gaweuli. igi arc amJamad damdgara ganze, roca dRis wesrigSi sarCevno kodeqsSi cvlilebebis Se-tana dadga.

politikur wreebSi didi miTqma-moTqma gamoiwvia, Semodgomaze saqarTvelos parlamentis samsjavroze gatanilma, saarCevno kodeqsSi Sesatanma cvlilebebma. am Temaze samoqalaqo seqtorSi gaCenili kiTxvebis xelisuflebis warmomadgenelTaTvis gasazi-areblad fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelos” ofisSi Sexvedra moewyo.

Sexvedraze Sekre-bil arasamTavrobo seqtoris warmomad-genlebs oponirebas saxelisuflebo gun-dis warmomadgenlebi _ saqarTvelos par-lamentis iuridiuli komitetis Tavmjdo-mare levan beJaSvi-li, misi moadgile nika gvaramia da saparlamento umravlesobis erT-erTi lideri giga bokeria uwevdnen. Sexvedras arc simZafre aklda da arc Sesabamisi kanonproeqtis kritika. arasamTavrobo organizaciaTa warmomadgenlebs ramdenime mniSvnelovani kiTxva hqondaT: rogor da ra kriteriumebiT unda SeirCes cesko-s wev-robis kandidatebi, vin unda “gafiltros” isini manam, sanam maTi monacemebi prezidents waredgineba da a.S.

fondSi Sekrebam, iseve, rogorc arasamTavrobo organizaciebis warmomadgenelTa mier sxva Sexvedrebze gamoTqmulma kritikul-ma SeniSvnebma, Sedegad kanonproeqtis meore mosmeniT ganxilvis gadadeba moitana. 3 dekembers, kvlav fondSi gamarTul samuSao Sexvedraze ki axalgazrda iusristTa asociaciisa da rigi sxva organizaciebis warmomadgenlebi samuSao jgufis formirebaze SeTanxmdnen. 2 Tvis manZilze SeimuSavdeba saarCevno kodeqsSi Sesatan konkretul cvlilebaTa paketi. maTi muSaobis zogadi koordinacia da materialuri uzrunvelyofa fondis samarTlisa da adgilobrivi TviTmmarTvelobis programebma itvirTes.

ganaTlebis sistemis reforma fondisaTvis prioritetad rCeba

ganaTlebis reformis mxardaWeris farglebSi fondma daafi-nansa ganaTlebis politikis, dagegmvisa da marTvis saerTaSoriso institutisa da Tavisuflebis institutis erToblivi proeqti, romelic iTvaliswinebs saqarTvelos 1000 skolis sameurveo sab-Woebis warmomadgenlebisa da direqtorebisTvis Treiningebis Catarebas. marTalia, am etapze kanonproeqti zogadi ganaTlebis Sesaxeb jer parlaments ar daumtkicebia, magram yvela mxare eTanxmeba skolebSi sameurveo sabWoebis arCevis aucileblobas. amasTan, miuxedavad imisa, rom sadavoa, am sabWoebis funqciebi, samagierod is, rom saWiroa am sferoSi safuZveli Caeyaros axal menejmentsa da finansuri monitoringisTvis aucilebeli axali

FOR EFFECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION

Support to democratic elections is the theme of particular importance for the Open Society – Georgia Foundation, and immense work has been done towards its advancement. Neither does the Foundation stand aloof from these issues today, when possible amendment of the electoral code has become part of political agenda.

In autumn draft amendments to the Electoral Code were submitted for consideration to the Parliament, followed with a lot of speculation among political quarters. Many questions and queries were brought up by the civil sector, and in order to have them communicated to the authorities, the Foundation organized a special meeting at its premises.

The meeting brought together members of NGO community on the

one hand, and representatives of the ruling team, on the other: Levan Bezhashvili, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament, his Deputy Nika Gvaramia, and one of the majority leaders at the Parliament, Giga Bokeria. There was no shortage of criticism and sharpness in statements made by civil society representatives. NGOs tabled a number of important queries: what criteria will be used to select candidates to sit on the Central Electoral Commission, who will be responsible for “screening” them before nominees are presented to the President for his endorsement?, etc.

The criticism expressed by NGO representatives at the meeting, as well as on other occasions, had as its outcome a postponement of the second parliamentary hearing. On 3 December, at the working meeting held at the OSGF Office, representatives of the Young Lawyers’ Association and other organizations agreed to establish a working group to elaborate a package of concrete amendments to be made to the Electoral Code. Coordination of this work, as well as its financial support will be the responsibility of OSGF Rule of Law and Local Government Programs.

EDUCATION SYSTEM REFORM REMAINS FOUNDATION’S PRIORITY

To support the education reform, OSGF funded a project developed jointly by the International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management (EPPM) and the Liberty Institute that envisages trainings for representatives of trustees’ boards and school principals from 1000 schools across Georgia. The draft law on education has not yet been adopted by the Parliament; however, there is general agreement concerning the need for schools to elect their boards of trustees. Although the boards’ functions remain a disputed issue, all agree on the need to have a new management structure and a new leverage for financial monitoring at educational institutions. Hence, the project contemplates development of training manuals, training of trainers, and finally training sessions at schools. The

THE CRITICISM EXPRESSED BY NGO REPRESENTATIVES AT THE MEETING, AS WELL AS ON OTHER OCCASIONS, HAD AS ITS OUTCOME A POSTPONEMENT OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENTARY HEARING.

fondSi Sekrebam, iseve, rogorc arasamTavrobo organizaciebis warmomad-genelTa mier sxva Sexvedrebze gamoTqmulma kritikulma SeniSvnebma, Sede-gad kanonproeqtis meore mosmeniT ganxilvis gadadeba moitana.

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berketebis arsebobas, davas ar iwvevs. Sesabamisad, proeqtis far-glebSi moxdeba jer Treiningis masalebis SemuSaveba, Semdeg Cat-ardeba TviT TreinerTa Treiningi da mxolod amis mere moewyoba Treiningebi skolebSi. sabolood, proeqtis mizania skolebSi marTvis axali sistemebis aTviseba, raTa saerTo jamSi realurad amoqmeddes decentralizaciis procesi.

* * *2004 wels saqarTvelos ganaTlebisa da macnierebis saministro-

Si proeqtis “ilia WavWavaZe” farglebSi SemuSavebul ganaTlebis erovnuli miznebis safuZvelze Seiqmna saswavlo gegmis samuSao varianti. es aris dokumentis Seqmnis pirveli mcdeloba, amitom misi damtkiceba da amoqmedeba sasurvelia mxolod sazogadoe-brivi azris gaTvaliswinebiT.

am mizniT, 2004 wlis 22 dekembers fond “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelos” ofisSi Sedga axali saswavlo gegmis prezenta-cia. RonisZiebaSi monawileobdnen Semdegi arasamTavrobo orga-nizaciebi: fondi “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelo”, proeqti “ilia WavWavaZe”, “Tavisuflebis instituti”, “evraziis fondi”, “kavka-siis kvlevis resurs centri”, fondi “alpe”, gazeTi “24 saaTi”, asociacia “ skola-ojaxi-sazogadoeba”, samoqalaqo ganaTlebis saerTaSoriso fondi, “Save The Children”, “EPPM”, asociacia “sagan-manaTleblo sistemis ganviTarebis kaxeTis regionuli centri”, xolo samTavrobo seqtoridan _ parlamentis ganaTlebis komite-tis warmomadgeneli.

saswavlo gegmebisa da saxelmZRvaneloebis jgufis xelmZR-vanelma svimon janaSiam sazogadoebas gaacno axal saswavlo gegmaze gadasvlis procesi, swavlebis axali principebi da sas-wavlo sqema, sagnobrivi programebis arsi, Sefasebis axali siste-ma da kriteriumebi, maTi dadgenisa da gamoyenebis principebi; aRwera mosalodneli Sedegebis indikatorebi da gaacno axali saxelmZRvaneloebisaTvis aucilebeli standartebi. iTqva, rom ganaTlebissaswavlo gegmis samuSao varianti eyrdnoba amerikis, avstraliisa da evropis ganaTlebis sistemebis gamocdilebas da misi pilotireba saqarTvelos 100 skolaSi 2005-2006 wels Cat-ardeba.

sazogadoeba dainteresda iseTi detalebis dazustebiT, ro-goricaa: reformis Catarebis vadebi, arCeviTi da savaldebulo sagnebis SerCevis principi, skolis mmarTvelobisa da TviTmmarT-velobis sistema, maswavlebelTa SerCevisa da sertificirebis kriteriumebi, saaTebis, sagnebisa da saxemZRvaneloebis gadan-awilebis koordinireba da a. S. detalebisa da agreTve, zogadi ganaTlebis kanonproeqtis gavxilvis mizniT mxareebi SeTanxmdnen ganmeorebiT Sexvedraze.

aTaswleulis gamowveva - saqarTvelo

13 noembers, fond “Ria sazogadoeba saqarTvelos” ofisSi gaimarTa samoqalaqo seqtorisa da “aTaswleulis gamowveva-saqa-rTvelo” (MCG) samuSao Sexvedra. Sexvedras eswrebodnen aTas-wleulis gamowvevis saqarTvelos biuros xelmZRvaneli laSa SaniZe, aTaswleulis gamowvevis korporaciis vaSingtonis ofisis warmomadgenlebi.

laSa SaniZem Sexvedris monawileebs gaacno axali amerikuli daxmarebis programis - aTaswleulis gamowvevis prioritetebi da vaSingtonSi, aTaswleulis gamowvevis korporaciaSi qarTuli proeqtis gagzavnis Semdgom ganviTarebuli movlenebi. mas Semdeg, rac saqarTvelo gamocxadda aTaswleulis gamowvevis programis erTerT potenciur recipientad, Sedga samuSao jgufi, romelic Sexvda sxvadasxva organizaciebis warmomadgenlebsa da daintere-sebul pirebs. swored am Sexvedrebis farglebSi miRebuli xuTasi winadadebidan gamoiyo prioritetebi. esenia:

goal pf the project is to install a new system of management at schools, which will eventually translate into actual decentralization.

***The “Ilya Chavchavadze” Project launched by the Ministry of Education

and Science in 2004 formed a basis for a working draft of a new school national curriculum in general education.As it is only a first attempt to work out this comprehensive document, its approval and implementation should take account of the public opinion.

On 22 December 2004, the Open Society - Georgia Foundation hosted at its office a meeting where the new curriculum was presented to NGOs. The meeting was attended by representatives of OSGF, “Ilya Chavchavadse” Project, Liberty Institute, Eurasia Foundation, Caucasus Region Resource Center, Alfe Foundation, Newspaper “24 Hours”, International Fund for Civic Education, Save the Children, EPPM, Association “Kaheti Region Education System Development Center”, as well as by government sector representatives and members of the Education Committee of the Georgian Parliament.

Svimon Janashia, coordinating the team working on curricula and textbooks, introduced the participants to the process of transition to a new national curriculum, new core principles of teaching and learning, the substance of subject-specific curricula, new system of evaluation and evaluation criteria, guidelines for their selection and use; he also described expected outcome indicators and spoke about the standards to be followed in preparation of new textbooks. It was emphasized that the working draft of the new syllabus was based on the experience of US, Australian and European education systems. The new syllabus will be piloted in 2005-2006 in 100 schools in Georgia.

The meeting’s participants asked for clarification on a number of issues, namely: the reform’s timeframe, selection principles for optional and compulsory subjects, school management system and self-governance, criteria for selection and certification of teachers, rearrangement of academic hours, subjects and textbooks, etc. Participants agreed to meet again to discuss further details, as well as the draft law on general education.

2004 wels saqarTvelos ganaTlebisa da macnierebis saministroSi proeqtis “ilia WavWavaZe” farglebSi SemuSavebul gana-Tlebis erovnuli miznebis safuZvelze Seiqmna saswavlo gegmis samuSao varianti. es aris dokumentis Seqmnis pirveli mcd-eloba, amitom misi damtkiceba da amoq-medeba sasurvelia mxolod sazogadoebrivi azris gaTvaliswinebiT. am mizniT, 2004 wlis 22 dekembers fond “Ria sazogadoeba _ saqarTvelos” ofisSi Sedga axali saswavlo gegmis prezentacia.

THE “ILYA CHAVCHAVADZE” PROJECT LAUNCHED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE IN 2004 FORMED A BASIS FOR A WORKING DRAFT OF A NEW SCHOOL NATIONAL CURRICULUM IN GENERAL EDUCATION.AS IT IS ONLY A FIRST ATTEMPT TO WORK OUT THIS COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT, ITS APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC OPINION. ON 22 DECEMBER 2004, THE OPEN SOCIETY - GEORGIA FOUNDATION HOSTED AT ITS OFFICE A MEETING WHERE THE NEW CURRICULUM WAS PRESENTED TO NGOS.

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infrastruqturis reabilitacia, infrastruqturis ganviTa-rebis fondis Camoyalibeba, grantebisa da dabalprocentiani ses-xebis gacema, romelic xels Seuwyobs regionaluri infrastruq-turis ganviTarebisaTvis mniSvnelovani proeqtebis dafinansebas. prioritetebs Sorisaa samcxe-javaxeTis integracia da ganviTa-reba. kerZod, gzebis infrastruqturis ganviTarebis meSveobiT, samcxe- javaxeTis Semdgomi integracia danarCen saqarTvelosTan, rogorc teritoriuli, ise ekonomikuri TvalsazrisiT.

aseve prioritetulia regionaluri energetikis reabilitacia, saqarTvelos energetikis infrastruqturis grZelvadiani ganvi-Tareba da misi srulad gamarTva. prioritetebis Camoyalibebisas gaTvaliswinebul iqna saqarTvelosTvis turizmis ganviTarebis mniSvneloba, amisaTvis dagegmilia turizmis infrastruqturis ganaxleba da saqarTveloSi Sida turizmis ganviTareba, aseve, soflis meurneobis, sursaTis, xe-tyis gadamuSavebis da tur-izmis sferoebSi maRali efeqtis mqone proeqtebis dafinaseba-Tanadafinanseba, rac xels Seuwyobs regionaluri ekonomikis mniSvnelovan zrdas.

rogorc vaSingtonis ofisis warmomadgenelma graCen prevnovma Sexvedraze aRniSna, proeqti vaSingtonSi oqtomberSi miiRes, Za-lian saintersodac miiCnies da swored amis gamo aRmoCnda saqa-rTvelo im oTxi qveynis siaSi, romelTa proeqtebs aqtiurad ga-nixilavs vaSingtonis biuro. proeqtze msjelobisas upirveles yovlisa, yuradReba mieqceva imas, Tu ramdenad uzrunvelyofs is qveynis ekonomikur zrdas.

Sexvedrazeve gamoiTqva SeniSvnebi imis gamo, rom proeqtis safuZvlianad ganxilvaSi ar CarTula arasamTavrobo seqtori, aseve, proeqtSi ar aris Cadebuli monitoringis meqanizmebi. MCG-is warmomadgenlebi daTanxmdnen, rom fond “Ria sazogadoeba - saqarTvelosTan” erTad SeimuSaveben monitoringis meqanizmebs. fondi SeimuSavebs Sida proeqts, romliTac MCG-is administra-cias daexmareba proeqtis mimdinareobis monitoringisa da mdgra-dobis sakiTxebSi.

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE – GEORGIA

On 13 November, the OSGF Offi ce hosted a working meeting between the civil sector representatives and the “Millennium Challenge – Georgia” (MCG). The meeting was attended by Lasha Shanidze, Director of the Millennium Challenge Bureau in Georgia; representatives of the Washington Offi ce of the Millennium Challenge Corporation,

Lasha Shanidze introduced the participants to the priorities of the new US-sponsored assistance program “Millennium Challenge” and the follow-up to Georgia’s project submission to the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

After Georgia was declared as one of potential recipients of the Millennium Challenge Program, a specially established working group met with different stakeholders. Analysis of 500 proposals received through meetings helped identify the priorities: infrastructure rehabilitation, setting up a fund for infrastructure development, extension of grants and soft loans to support regional infrastructure development projects. One of priority issues is integration and development of Samtskhe-Javakheti Region of Georgia, namely, the regions’ integration with the rest of Georgia both in territorial and economic terms through road infrastructure development. Another top priority issue is rehabilitation of regional electric power facilities and long-term development of Georgia’s energy sector. In identifying priorities, the importance of tourism development was also considered. To advance tourism, it is planned to upgrade the tourism infrastructure, and support the in-country tourism development, to mobilize fi nancing and co-fi nancing for paying-off projects in agriculture, food industry and tourism development, which would promote the development of regional economy.

According to representative of the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Washington Offi ce, the project submitted in October by Georgia was regarded as an interesting one, and Georgia has appeared to be one of the four countries whose projects are now thoroughly analyzed by the Washington Bureau. One of the most essential aspects in evaluating projects will be their ability and potential to foster the country’s economic growth.

A certain measure of criticism was also expressed, as participants remarked that NGO sector was not involved in the discussion, that the project seems to lack monitoring mechanisms and clear budget, etc.

MCG representatives agreed, in cooperation with OSGF, to develop monitoring mechanisms. The Open Society – Georgia Foundation will design an in-house project to assist MCG administration in monitoring the progress and ensuring sustainability of the project.

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