The project "partisipation for developnent" finished

In September 2023, the Georgian Rural Council held the final presentation of the project "Cooperation for Local Development" in Chokhatauri and Lanchkhuti. The presentations were held in the meeting halls of Chokhatauri and Lanchkhuti municipal Councils and were led by the project director Amiran Gigineishvili.

The target groups of the project were the population of 3 villages of Lanchkhuti municipality, Etseri, Oragve and Grigoleti (about 1200 inhabitants, 50% of whom are women and 36% young people), as well as the population of 3 villages of Chokhatauri municipality, Erketi, Dablatsikhe and Burnati (about 1100 inhabitants, of whom 50% women and 30% young), Lanchkhuti Municipality City Hall and City Council, Chokhatauri Municipality City Hall and City Council.

The direct beneficiaries were a total of 30 members of community groups of 6 villages, 45% of them women and 30% young people, 6 members of Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri city councils and 6 representatives of the mayors, respondents of the conducted research, 420 citizens, 50% of them women and 33% young people, public in the villages Citizens participating in discussions, 180 people, 60% of them women and 30% young people, 800 people participating in electronic voting for the selection of project ideas to be implemented in villages. Indirect beneficiaries are the population of villages of Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri municipalities in general.

The goal of the grant project was: to promote the public monitoring process in the villages of Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri municipalities and to promote the development of villages with the participation of the public, which in turn will improve the responsibility of local governments, make their policies more focused on the population, and increase the level of population involvement.

As a result of the implementation of the grant project, the community groups of Etseri, Grigoleti and Oragve villages of Lanchkhuti municipality and Burnati, Dablatsikhi and Erketi villages of Chokhatauri municipality were selected with the composition of 5 people each. As result of holded training they increased knowledges and skills in participatory budgeting rules, population surveys and forms of participation, specifically drafting petitions. Community groups monitored the activities of the municipality in their villages and provided recommendations to the municipalities. In the process of lobbying for the implementation of these recommendations, were involved members of council and the village population are involved in the form of petitions formation and delivery.

Local development initiatives were openly and transparently chosen by the population through electronic voting portals: www.ideachokhatauri.ge (this portal was created within the project) and www.idealanchkhuti.ge. Relevant small public projects were implemented. In particular, a kindergarten yard was capitalized in Etseri, a square was rehabilitated in Oragve, simulators was built in Grigoleti, both for residents and tourists, a modern technology center was created in the administrative building in Erketi, a stand and a park for immigrants was improved in Dablatsikhe, and a recreation zone was organized in the center of Burnati.

Petition appeals to the city councils with the following demands were selected by the population: Internet access in Oragve and Burnati, establishment of a youth center in Dablatsikhe, giving the name of Filipe Mgaloblishvili to the street in Erketi, arrangement of a recreational zone in the yard of the ambulatory in Etseri village.

The project was implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Georgia.