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Community Development and Energy Project
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With financial assistance of USAID and in partnership with PA Consulting and Winrock International, Horizonti Foundation is implementing “Community Development and Energy Program.”
Being a component of GESI (Georgian Energy Security Initiative) Program, “Community Development and Energy” program aims to implement community development and commercially viable projects that will generate income, reduce deforestation and introduce renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in the selected communities according to special criteria.
For today 20 Georgian communities were selected for this program according the specially elaborated criteria satisfying the program requirements. These communities are:
Khidistavi (Chokhatauri district), Likhauri (Ozurgeti dis)-Guria;
Dagva (Kobuleti dis), Kobuleti (Kobuleti dis) – Ajara;
Nergeti sakrebulo, Jafaridzeebis Ubani (Bagdati dis), Kintchkha (Khoni dis) - Imereti;
Likheti (Ambrolauri dis), Agara (Ambrolauri dis) - Racha;
Teklati (Senaki dis), Kotianeti (Senaki dis) – Samegrelo;
Pshaveli, Laliskuri (Telavi dis), Tamariani (Lagodekhi dis) – Kakheti;
Savaneti (Bolnisi dis), Ratevani (Bolnisi dis) - Kvemo Kartli;
Vedreba (Kareli dis), Breti - Shida Kartli;
Spasovka (Ninotsminda dis), Tsinubani (Akhaltsikhe dis) - Samtskhe-Javakheti;
Daba Akhalgori, Mukhrani (Kanda) - Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
With USAID’s financial assistance and in cooperation with PA Consulting Horizonti have announced Targeted Small Grants Program for Community Mobilization for the above-listed communities. The grants program aims to support local problem solving by activation of community resources through awarding $2000 worth grants to the local CBOs or initiative groups.
For additional information about the Program
contact Program Manager
Maya Bitsadze: <Bitsadze@horizonti.org>
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New Activities of Horizonti Foundation In Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki Districts
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The main objective of the Horizonti-OSGF joint program is to initiate the creation of community-based organizations in designated regions of Georgia. The program is designed to help communities in Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki districts to promote and elaborate strategic development plans for participating villages, and to fund targeted projects for the social-economic development. The joint project also involves the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the above-mentioned districts.
In 2002, initiative groups and subsequently created community based organizations in 10-targeted communities in Akhaltsikhe and five in Akhalkalaki district were established and funded. The rehabilitation or construction of drinking and irrigation water systems along with the reconstruction of schools and roads were the main aspects of the funded projects. Already the first stage to implement the projects have been successfully completed and the final stages of the project are underway in all designated communities.
Moreover, other than the continued work in the villages financed in August 2002, intensive projects with the inclusion of additional communities in the same districts have begun. The same process of forming groups and electing initiative group members continue in communities of Akhaltsikhe Six additional communities where added under the same participatory development model used in the Akhalkalaki district. The newly formed initiative groups were elected and approved at community meetings. The organized groups are now able to conduct informational meetings, participate in training sessions that are specifically devoted to strategic development plans, and to take part in training for project design and proposal writing. These meetings have been organized with the full participation of local stakeholders. Initiative groups have already drafted strategic development plans for their villages and their members have participated in project writing training so that they are better able to achieve their shared goals and objectives.
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Regional Activities in Georgia
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Since 1999 the Horizonti Foundation carries out research on NGOs in various regions of the country: Kakheti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe- Javakheti, Guria, Samegrelo and Imereti. From the beginning the purpose of the research was to identify the needs and problems of the Third Sector in the regions. In 1999 the Horizonti Foundation within the framework of its Research and Analysis Program also started researching the opinion of the population in the regions. In one of the Horizonti Foundation’s targeted towns, Telavi , research on 800 people was conducted. This initiative aimed at exposing the needs of the population and to adequately direct the foundation’s program activities throughout the country.
Within the framework of Grants, Information and Training programs of the Horizonti Foundation several databases were prepared, which included information on the NGOs in the Regions.
Since 1999, the Horizonti Foundation spread its activities in districts such as Lagodekhi, Marneuli, Samtredia, Tskhaltubo, Zestaphoni, Vani, Poti, Khobi, Tsalendzikha and Lamchkhuti. Contact persons from the Horizonti Foundation in these districts distribute among the local population and NGOs information on Horizonti’s programs, activities and the information about the ongoing processes within the Third Sector. They organize meetings with local citizens, NGOs, initiative groups, media and local government. These contact persons are promoting NGO Idea and Philosophy among different layers of the society and keep the population well informed about the opportunities, which the Horizonti Foundation provides.
Within the frames of the Citizen Activation, Community Development and Constituency Building Program, the Horizonti Foundation awards grants for developing and improving social economic conditions in Georgia. Fifteen (15) communities in Samtskhe- Javakheti, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda were awarded these grants. Additionally, the Citizen Activation, Community Development and Constituency Building Program includes conducting research with the goal to examine the current social-economic development and identifying the most urgent problems facing communities in the region. Training sessions, awareness raising meetings and consultations are conducted on pressing issues of local communities, about the methods of obtaining information on local community development concept and working out strategic development plans. The program executives work with communities in order to find solution to problems through groups of socially active citizens, to ensure the active participation of the community in working out strategic development plans for specific regions in Georgia.
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2 Dolidze St., 6th Floor, Tbilisi, Georgia,Tel: (99532) 332816/17/18, Fax: (99532) 987504, E-mail: adm@horizonti.org
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