G-PAC NEWS

Issue 5 November 2012

Criticism with Solutions:

Inside this issue
Criticism with Solutions: What CSOs Must Do 1

What CSOs Must Do Now

By Fron Nahzi The new government has given CSOs a The recent elections showcased the ability window of opportunity to propose changes to of Georgian citizens to come together and the governing system and to key policies. This CSOs Strengthen Dem- 2 effect change. Citizens led nonpartisan is a chance for CSOs to demonstrate to the ocratic Processes demonstrations against prisoner abuse that government that they can be critical partners gave voice to the publics demand for social in the countrys development, while also Civil Society and Unemjustice. Following these demonstrations, proving to the general public they are much ployment: More Engage- 3 citizens exercised their basic civic right, the more than grant eaters. ment Needed right to vote, and sent a clear message to the This moment provides both opportunities government and civil society organizations and risks for CSOs. If CSOs fail to effectively CSOs Spur Health Rethat justice and bring the publics 4 forms, Suggest Priorities accountability are concerns to the key principles of government, it Civil Society Promotes Georgian society. may decrease Corporate Accountabil- 5 T h e n e w public confidence ity government has in CSOs as agents responded by of change. On EWMI G-PAC Grants & reaching out to the other hand, a 8 Events Schedule representatives good working of the civil relationship with society sector, the government think tanks, and would improve advocacy groups. CSOs public This new image. p o l i t i c a l All the while, l a n d s c a p e CSOs must Fron Nahzi, EWMI G-PAC CoP, discusses the new political Advocacy presents a unique balance between landscape with CSOs in Tbilisi on October 24. opportunity to being a partner to the CSO community. While the major social the government and maintaining their issues in Georgia remain the same (e.g., independence and watchdog status. It is vital healthcare, education, economic development, that CSOs maintain their role as critics; agriculture, and good governance), the however, providing criticism without solutions possibilities for change have increased. Many does not resolve problems. Civil Society CSOs have worked on the key issues in This issue of the EWMI G-PAC newsletter Georgian society for many years, making them looks at some CSO programs that identify experts in their respective fields. As such, problems and provide solutions. We examine both the public and the new government are some of the most important public issues looking to the CSO sector to help them facing Georgia today, and highlight past Civic Responsibility prioritize social issues and provide concrete successes and current challenges and strategies for solving them. opportunities CSOs face in resolving these To learn more about what CSOs are issues. We hope these profiles provide a planning to do with this opportunity and to platform for discussion that enables civil determine how we can assist them in their society, the government, and the public to This newsletter is made possible advocacy efforts, EWMI G-PAC recently unite in addressing Georgias most pressing by the generous support of the organized a series of discussions with NGOs social challenges. American people through the and students throughout Georgia. While the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). participants recognized that the key social Fron Nahzi is EWMI G-PACs Chief of Party. The issues in the country are still the same, they views in this article are his own and do not The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the agreed that much remains to be done in terms represent the views of EWMI G-PAC, USAID, or United States Government. of developing solutions. the U.S. Government.

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Civic Responsibility

G- PAC NEWS

Arts for Advocacy

The Arts for Advocacy (AfA) program enables artists to use their craft (dance, drama, theatre, film, music, poetry, visual art, etc.) as a medium to carve out new approaches to challenging public issues. Eligibility is limited to Georgian citizens, who must apply through or in partnership with registered Georgian organizations. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. You can learn more about AfA and download an application from www.ewmi-gpac.org.
Professionalism

CSOs Strengthen Democratic Processes for Parliamentary Elections

Current Finance Minister Nodar Khadauri (right), describes Georgian Dreams platform at a presentation hosted by Georgian think tanks. Nino Evgenidze (left), Executive Director of the Economic Policy Research Center, moderated the event.

Open Door Grants

Do you see unique, timesensitive and unforeseen opportunities for policy change? Do you need to address issues of vital importance to the public that require immediate attention? Open Door Grants provide up to $10,000 in resources for projects lasting up to six months. Grants are open to CSOs, informal groups, and individuals. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and we respond within 7 to 10 days so that you can act quickly. Applications are available at www.ewmigpac.org.
Public Policy Advocacy

Domestic and international observers widely acknowledged that Georgias recent parliamentary elections were the freest and fairest in the countrys history. This success was thanks in part to the efforts of civil society, which was notably active in helping voters make informed decisions, advocating for changes to election law, and ensuring that the elections were fair, inclusive, and transparent. Several CSOs monitored the pre-election environment and cited violations of election law and voter rights when they occurred. Transparency International (TI) Georgia, for example, released a report on September 12 analyzing these types of violations (http:// goo.gl/ghwD2). TI Georgia also partnered with the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) on an innovative monitoring project co-funded by EWMI G-PAC. The project featured a webpage (www. electionportal.ge) with a map displaying the locations of reported violations. Citizens reported nearly 350 incidents dating back to 2011 by sending an SMS message or posting directly to the website. ISFED also monitored the election itself and the post-election environment to assess the fairness of the results. In addition to calling attention to violations of election law, Georgian CSOs worked to guarantee that everyone with the legal right to vote could do so. The Coalition for Independent Living, another EWMI G-PAC grantee, advocated for all polling stations to be accessible for people with disabilities. Others CSOs, in-

cluding Article 42 of the Constitution, observed elections in Georgian prisons to make sure all eligible inmates could cast their ballots and that these votes were properly counted. Truly democratic elections require more than fair and transparent processes they also require an informed electorate. To improve the information available to voters during the campaign, four Georgian think tanks collaborated to clarify, publicize, and evaluate the platforms of the top six Georgian political parties, including the United National Movement and Georgian Dream. EWMI G-PAC funded the coalition, which hosted public presentations of each partys campaign platform. The coalition
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Zurab Japaridze of the United National Movement (UNM) addresses the media after his presentation of UNMs campaign platform on September 24.

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Professionalism

Civil Society and the Unemployment Issue: More Engagement Needed

Public opinion polls in Georgia consistently identify unemployment as one of the most important issues facing the country. Since 2005, the Georgian government has aimed to address the issue through job creation and retraining initiatives. Despite these efforts, and the countrys continuing economic growth, high unemployment rates have persisted. According to a 2011 EWMI G-PAC public opinion poll, 66% of Georgians think CSOs need to do more to address unemployment and the related issues of poverty and inflation. To respond to this public demand, the civil society sector can build on the work of CSOs that have been active in investigating the issue and proposing solutions. One such organization is EWMI G-PAC grantee Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), which has researched the underlying causes of unemployment in Georgia. According to EPRCs research, a particularly important structural issues in Georgia is the mismatch between workers skills and labor market needs. Much of this is a lingering result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, after which workers educated under the Soviet system found that their skills no longer matched the needs of the new Georgian economy. However, unemployment rates are actually highest for youth between the ages of 20 and 35, which implies that the secondary and higher education system are not educating students with the skills demanded by the job market. Another factor contributing to the mismatch between skills and the labor market is disproportionately high employment in the

University Assistance Grants

Universit y Assist ance Grants (UAGs) develop capacity in public policy, public administration, political science, and related academic graduate programs. The grant is open to all universities and academic institutions with graduate (MA and PhD) programs in these fields. EWMI G-PAC accepts applications on an ongoing basis. For more information, visit www.ewmi-gpac.org.

An intern in EWMI G-PACs Internship Program presents research results at the Ministry of Justice.

agricultural sector, where 50% of employed Georgians claim to work. According to EPRC, the sector is oversaturated, and more people working in agriculture should pursue retraining in other sectors with greater potential for growth. EPRCs findings point to the need for a better alignment of education to the needs of the labor market. But how exactly can the government promote this? EPRC recommends a focus on improving basic reading and math skills so that high school graduates can be more easily trained to meet the demands of employers. EPRC also argues that increased investment in vocational education would help fill technical needs in areas of the economy that are seeing growth, such as technology, transport logistics, and the service and tourism industries. Other EWMI G-PAC grantees are currently conducting educational research that will build on these recommendations. The Education Policy and Research Association (EPRA) is reviewing international assessments of Georgias education system to improve its overall quality, including in the basic skills areas that EPRC believes are so imGeorgia's Most Important National Issues portant. Meanwhile, the International Insti60% tute for Education Policy, Planning and 50% Management (EPPM) is researching the 40% 30% connection between higher education and 20% employment in Georgia to identify the ex10% tent to which the current higher education 0% system meets Georgias labor needs. To this end, EWMI G-PAC is promoting better connections between higher education and workplace skills through its Paid Internship Program. 33% of the programs 51 alumni are now employed in their areas of expertise, 53% of them at According to an August 2012 public opinion poll by the Natheir internship host institution. The suctional Democratic Institute (NDI), 57% of Georgians believe cess of the program could encourage unemployment is among the countrys most important issues.
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Civic Responsibility

Public Policy

Paid Internships
for Graduate Students We welcome graduate students in public policy, political science, public administration, economics, and related academic programs to apply for paid internships. Successful applicants will enrich their research skills and lay the foundations for their careers by interning at a Georgian CSO or public institution. Applications are accepted before the last Friday of every month. Visit our website for more information: www.ewmigpac.org.
Advocacy

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G- PAC NEWS

Civil Society

CSO Efforts Spur Health Reforms, Suggest Priorities for the Sector
Georgian public opinion polls consistently show that healthcare is one of the top issues in the country. Since 2007, the government has constructed 150 new hospitals, upgraded equipment, privatized the sector, and introduced a public health insurance program. Dozens of new hospitals have been built, equipped, and privatized, and insurance coverage has increased to nearly 1.5 million people. Despite these efforts, healthcare costs have increased dramatically from 15% of household disposable income in 2001 to 34% in 2009, and quality remains low. Why has healthcare remained such a difficult and persistent issue? Georgian civil society organizations and think tanks have been active in answering this question and proposing workable solutions. One problem is the nature of privatization under current policies. Research by Transparency International (TI) Georgia found that a small number of companies control health insurance, the pharmaceutical industry, and hospital and pharmacy management. This restricts competition, thereby reducing quality and keeping prices high. Another issue is that the government assigns insurance companies and treatment locations to beneficiaries under the public insurance program, which reduces

Think Tank Support Grants

Our Think Tank Support Grant (TTSG) Program sponsors organizations that primarily focus on policy research and analysis. TTSG projects foster informed public debate and policymaking, and include concrete policy recommendations and follow-up advocacy efforts. The deadline for the l a t e s t T T S G competition is December 3, 2012. For more information, visit www.ewmi-gpac.org.

Prescription drugs now make up 60% of household healthcare expenditures in Georgia.

Advocacy

consumer choice and drives up premiums. (To read TIs full report, visit www.transparency.ge). According to TI and the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), another EWMI GPAC grantee, one solution may be an increased regulatory role for the government. TI recommends that the government ensure hospitals are independently managed and owned, protect patients rights, increase minimum salaries and labor
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Civil Society and Unemployment (Continued)

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Public Policy

more higher education institutions to promote internships as a means of providing students Citizens with practical skills, thereby increasing emAdvocacy Grants ployment for university graduates. Another EWMI G-PAC-supported think Our Citizens Advocacy tank, ISET Policy Institute (ISET PI), is taking a Grants (CAG) Program broader economic approach to the employsupports issue-based ment problem. ISET PI is partnering with the advocacy initiatives government to research and produce Georundertaken by Georgian gias first national competitiveness report, CSOs at local and regional which will identify the sectors of the Georgian levels, with priority given economy that have the highest potential for to CSOs based in the growth and make recommendations for how regions. The deadline Georgia can harness this potential to create for the latest CAG jobs. competition is What else can CSOs do? Aside from conDecember 12, 2012. tinuing to conduct research, provide recomFor more information, mendations, and monitor the effectiveness of visit www.ewmi-gpac.org. government policies, CSOs might also explore ways that policy can promote the growth of small businesses and encourage entrepreneur ship. They can advocate for educational initiatives that improve workplace connections, or Professionalism they can even create such initiatives themselves. They can partner with businesses and

government to determine the precise skills that are needed, and offer their assistance in providing training to develop these skills among the work force. CSOs could also take a broader approach to labor that focuses on the quality of jobs. For example, the Georgian labor code does not provide regulations stipulating maximum working hours, wage requirements, hiring and firing procedures, collective bargaining rights, or disability compensation. Recent protests by industrial workers in Chiatura and Kutaisi demonstrate that these issues are important to the Georgian public. The recent change in government presents a brief opportunity for CSOs to work with the public and government officials to address these issues through improved legislation and regulation. The new government has stated that unemployment and labor issues are priorities, but they may not seek out CSO input for long. CSOs must act quickly to ensure they are addressing what many Georgians consider to be the top issue facing the nation.

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Professionalism

Civil Society Promotes Corporate Accountability

Since the Rose Revolution, Georgia has pursued economic development policies that prioritize a highly deregulated business environment as a means to promote growth and create jobs. These policies have been successful in many ways, as Georgias economic growth rate and its ranking on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business index have improved in recent years. However, this deregulation has come with tradeoffs. Some corporations have sidestepped their obligation to be accountable to the public. This lack of accountability has led to accusations of unfair business practices, which may actually inhibit long-term growth if left unchecked. Fortunately, Georgian civil society has been working to ensure that corporations are accountable to Georgian citizens. One way CSOs have done this is by rectifying specific local grievances with companies. For example, when consumer water bills suddenly doubled in Kutaisi, EWMI G-PAC Act Now grantee New Civic Thinking + (NCT+) investigated the matter and found evidence of fraudulent billing practices. The new fee structure introduced by the Kutaisi Water Distribution Company included a charge for new water meters, even though one-third of these meters had been provided free by an international donor. Through a media campaign and public meetings, NCT+ was successful in removing this fee from consumer water bills. In Chiatura, the Union of Chiaturians (UoC), another EWMI G-PAC grantee, conducted a petition drive and other public events to call for the Georgian Mining Company to take responsibility for the manganese pollution caused by its activities. As a result of UoCs efforts, the mining company began recultivating polluted soil and built laboratory facilities to test pollution levels as a means of protecting community health. CSOs have also held corporations accountable on broader national issues like property rights, which have affected many Georgian communities in similar ways. During recent efforts to improve road and railway infrastructure throughout the country, the private property of many citizens has been appropriated or damaged. In the past year, several EWMI G-PAC grantees the Guram Tikanadze Svaneti Youth Center (Latali), the Imereti branch of the Association of Young Economists of Georgia (Kutaisi), and the Center for Public Monitoring and Research (Kharagauli) have successfully advocated for the construction companies, international donors, and the government to compensate citizens for property their projects have damaged.
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Mentorship and Training

We provide technical assistance and demanddriven training to all our grantees. Our assistance involves one-on-one online and on-the-job consultations, as well as classroom trainings. Grantees also receive ongoing in-house and distance mentoring from our Georgian, European and U.S. partners. Visit www.ewmi-gpac.org for more information.

Civic Responsibility

Public Policy

Partnership for Change Grants

To increase impact, we facilitate linkages and coordinat ion among advocacy CSOs, think tanks, and academic institutions through the Partnership for Change (PfC) grant program. PfC grants are designed for formal or ad-hoc coalitions, networks, or partnerships of at least two organizations established around an advocacy issue. The next PfC competition will be announced on January 14, 2013. Check www.ewmigpac.org for more information then.

A representative of the Guram Tikanadze Svaneti Youth Center monitors the construction of the Mestia Zugdidi Highway in 2011 to protect the property rights of local residents and assess the projects design and implementation quality.

Advocacy

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G- PAC NEWS

Upcoming G-PAC Events

November
Nov. 21: E-consultations via Skype and Facebook from 1 pm 6 pm for the Paid Internship Program

CSO Efforts Spur Health Reforms (Continued)

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December
Dec. 2 16: U.S. public management experts Marilyn Rubin and Roddrick Colvin visit Tbilisi to assist in MPA program development and meet with government and CSO representatives. Dec. 3: Think Tank Support Grant application deadline Dec. 12: Citizens Advocacy Grant application deadline Dec. 21: E-consultations via Skype and Facebook from 1 pm 6 pm for the Paid Internship Program

January
Jan. 14: The next Partnership for Change grant competition announced Be sure to check www.ewmi-gpac.org for the latest updates on our upcoming events!

Contact
East-West Management Institute (EWMI) Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development in Georgia (G-PAC) #5 Marjanishvili St. Third Floor Tbilisi 0102 Georgia Tel (995 32) 2 202 444 info@ewmi-gpac.org www.ewmi-gpac.org Twitter.com/ewmigpac Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ewmigpac

rights for healthcare workers, and allow public monitor them. insurance beneficiaries to choose their providIn addition to fomenting new legislation, ers and hospitals. EPRC has identified the need CSOs are also improving the implementation of for better regulatory frameworks, particularly a existing government policies. EWMI G-PAC greater role for the government in regulating grantee Association Green Wave, for example, private insurance companies. is helping public insurance beneficiaries better The structure of pharmaceutical distribution understand their health insurance plans through in Georgia is another major factor in high a weekly radio talk show on every Thursday at healthcare costs. Drug purchases constituted 5 pm on Radio Green Wave. The Partnership 60% of household healthcare expenditures in for Social Initiatives (PSI), another EWMI G2010, and prices have risen sharply over the PAC grantee, is working with the government last five years. One reason for this, according to monitor existing health insurance and serto research by vice provision EWMI G-PAC models to identify grantee the the most effective Georgian Insurstructures. ance Association Strong (GIA), is that gehealthcare systems neric brand drugs also stress educaconstitute only tion and preven4% of prescription, and Georgian tions, even CSOs are beginthough the price ning to call attenof generics is aption to these longproximately oneterm issues. Acthird that of cording to governbrand-name ment statistics, products. GIA nearly 12,000 also found that deaths each year doctors in Georamong the Georgia prescribe a gian working-age Recent government reforms have improved hospital infrastruchigh number of population are due ture. However, high healthcare costs remain a major concern. drugs per patient to preventable visit, which could conditions like mean that people are paying for drugs they cancer and cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, dont need. To read GIAs report, visit the EPRCs report recommends greater governResources section of EWMI G-PACs web- ment emphasis on programs promoting healthy site. lifestyles through nutrition, exercise, and tobacGIA and TI recommended a number of poli- co and alcohol awareness. Along these same cy reforms to improve pharmaceutical distribu- lines, EWMI G-PAC grantee The Welfare tion, including incentives for the increased avail- Foundation is advocating for better enforceability and prescription of generics, preferred ment of the governments UN commitments to drug lists, anti-monopoly regulation, drug safety smoke-free public environments. EPRC has also and quality assurance mechanisms, and guide- identified the need for reforms to the medical lines for writing prescriptions. education system, which it argues produces too CSO research and advocacy has contributed many doctors and not enough nurses to meet to legislative results. In mid-2012, the Georgian Georgias existing needs. government passed a series of reforms that While ongoing reforms in the sector are established a list of approved drugs and re- promising, there are clearly many issues that quirements for pharmacies aimed at improving remain to be addressed to secure accessible the availability of generics. The Ministry of La- and high-quality medical care for all Georgians. bor, Health, and Social Assistance (MoLHSA), It is crucial that Georgian civil society expands insurance companies, and medical service pro- its efforts to research underlying issues, advoviders are also collaborating on a list of pre- cate for improvements, monitor reforms, and scription protocols for doctors to promote educate the public about a variety of healthcare generics and reduce unnecessary medications. issues to help the Georgian people clarify their To ensure prescriptions are filled properly, needs and present their demands to policy MoLHSA is developing a digital database to makers.

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Professionalism

CSOs & Democratic Process (Continued)

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evaluated these platforms, along with public statements by party leaders, based on factual accuracy, feasibility, and a number of other impartial criteria on the projects website, www.econpolicyfact.ge. Georgian civil society also advocated for reforms to election law. This Affects You Too, a nonpartisan coalition of civil society and media organizations, has worked since February 2012 to change controversial election laws. According to the coalition, some laws create
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an unequal playing field for political parties and place undue restrictions on voters, opposition parties, the media, civil society organizations, and businesses. These projects contributed to the success of Georgias recent elections, but much remains to be done to solidify Georgian democracy. CSOs can take another step toward ensuring good governance by being proactive in holding the new government accountable to the promises they made during the elections.

Public Policy

MPA Program at ISU

EWMI G-PAC is collaborating with Columbia University and Ilia State University (ISU) to establish a Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program at ISU. Every month during the fall and spring semesters, renowned professors from Columbia University visit Georgia to mentor new faculty, assist in course development, and engage students in applying the latest international research and theory to the Georgian context. EWMI G-PAC has provided $400,000 to ISU to develop the programs curricula and materials, recruit academic personnel and top students, establish high-techPublic Policy facilities, and conduct policy-related conferences and events. Program graduates will be qualified to hold leadership positions in the government, consulting firms, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society organizations (CSOs).
Professionalism

Corporate Accountability (Continued)

While addressing corporate violations after dence suggesting anti-competitive practices and they happen is effective at rectifying individual collusion might exist in the private sector, ingrievances, this strategy does not ensure that cluding in the fuel and food markets. Other rethe same problems wont reoccur in the future. search by TI about the healthcare sector has With this in mind, Georgian CSOs have also identified similar tendencies in the pharmaceuticalled attention to underlying legislative issues cal and health insurance industries, where a few that allow these violations to continue. In very large companies dominate the market. Altspring of 2012, a policy paper by the ISET Policy hough TI admits that hard evidence of these Institute produced with funding from EWMI G- tendencies is scarce, it argues that there is PAC argued that property rights legislation in enough information to warrant a government Georgia is inadequate. The study found that investigation into the matter to reconsider the weak property rights are constraining Georgias adequacy of existing regulatory codes and eneconomic development by creating uncertainty forcement. that makes investors wary of establishing new To effectively promote an environment conbusinesses. According to ISET PI, stronger prop- ducive to corporate accountability, CSOs need erty rights legislation could actually increase to continue and expand the watchdog, monitorlong-term business development in Georgia. ing, and advocacy roles they are already playing. Tougher anti-monopoly legislation and regu- To bolster support for real changes, CSOs lation could also working on be key to ensurthese issues ing corporate acshould consider countability. Antiforming coalicompetitive practions that advotices are a probcate for specific lem because they improvements to tend to drive up policies and regcosts and reduce ulation. Reprequality which sentatives of the can have a direct new government impact on public have already wellbeing in areas publicly exsuch as food safepressed their ty and healthcare. support for Furthermore, stronger anticompetition helps monopoly legisensure long-term lation, so the Chiaturans sign a petition circulated by the Union of Chiaturans regrowth, which questing that the local mining company clean up and prevent pollu- time is right for means that effec- tion caused by its activities. The company agreed to these requests. CSOs to come tive competition together and policy is beneficial for society in the long term. propose policies to the government related to EWMI G-PAC grantee Transparency Inter- this issue. The new political landscape is a new national (TI) Georgia researched competition opportunity for CSOs to ensure that corporapolicy in Georgia and found its current provi- tions are transparent and accountable to sociesions to be poorly enforced. TI also found evi- ty.

Civic Responsibility
Advocacy

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G- PAC NEWS

Upcoming G-PAC Events

November
Nov. 21: E-consultations via Skype and Facebook from 1 pm 6 pm for the Paid Internship Program

EWMI G-PAC Grants Schedule, 2012 2013

The information in this schedule is subject to change. Grant Think Tank Support Grant (TTSG) Citizens Advocacy Grant (CAG) Partnership for Change (PfC) Grant TTSG Closed Competition PfC Closed Competition CAG Closed Competition Arts for Advocacy (AfA) Grant Open Door Grants University Assistance Grants (UAG) Paid Internship Grants Amount $50,000 $20,000 $60,000 $75,000 $80,000 $30,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $250 per month Launch Date Nov. 2, 2012 Nov. 12, 2012 Jan. 14, 2012 March 2013 June 2013 May 2013 Oct. 11, 2012 Nov. 2, 2012 Oct. 3, 2012 Oct. 4, 2012 Deadline Dec. 3, 2012 Dec. 12, 2012 Feb. 2013 April 2013 July 2013 June 2013 Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing

December
Dec. 2 16: U.S. public management experts Marilyn Rubin and Roddrick Colvin visit Tbilisi to assist in MPA program development and meet with government and CSO representatives. Dec. 3: Think Tank Support Grant application deadline Dec. 12: Citizens Advocacy Grant application deadline Dec. 21: E-consultations via Skype and Facebook from 1 pm 6 pm for the Paid Internship Program

January
Jan. 14: The next Partnership for Change grant competition announced Be sure to check www.ewmi-gpac.org for the latest updates on our upcoming events!

Contact
East-West Management Institute (EWMI) Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development in Georgia (G-PAC) #5 Marjanishvili St. Third Floor Tbilisi 0102 Georgia Tel (995 32) 2 202 444 info@ewmi-gpac.org www.ewmi-gpac.org Twitter.com/ewmigpac Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ewmigpac

Students discuss creating a viable student government and improving university career services at a meeting with EWMI G-PAC at Shota Rustaveli State University in Batumi on October 29. EWMI G-PACs new Open Door Grants Program, which supports small-scale advocacy efforts by CSOs, informal groups, and individuals, could help support ideas like these from active citizens outside of the traditional CSO community. For more information about the Open Door Grants Program, contact us or visit www.ewmi-gpac.org.