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G-PAC NEWS

Issue 3 May - Sep. 2011

Citizens Distrust NGOs, Survey Finds G-PAC Seeks Solutions


Inside this issue
Citizens Advocate for Public Policy Changes Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Prof. Shares Model Grants Available Now! Intern Secures Management Position Students Acquire Public Policy Analysis Skills 2 3 2-3 4 4 The number of citizens Citizens' Trust in NGOs and Police who distrust nonBy percentage of respondents, 2011 governmental organizations NGOs Police (NGOs) (23%) outweighs those who trust them (18%), a recent EWMI G41% PAC poll of 2,509 people across Georgia suggests. 31% 26% What can be done to 21% 19% bridge this divide? We at 13% 10% 10% 8% 8% EWMI G-PAC sat down to 5% 4% ponder what actions we can take to address five key Fully trust 4 3 2 Fully Don't distrust know issues hindering civic engagement, identified by the Citizens trust in NGOs ran low compared to other Georgian poll. institutions like police, according to a recent EWMI G-PAC survey. We are working to address issues identified in the survey. Considering citizens minimal knowledge, what might educate them about NGOs? priorities, which is why we continuously EWMI G-PAC encourages its NGO grant- seek input from citizens regarding their ees to engage regularly with their constitu- priorities via meetings throughout Georgia. encies via public discussions, media and We also follow closely the latest research other forms of public outreach. Were also on citizens priorities. We encourage our leading by example: meeting with citizens grantees to build their own initiatives throughout Georgia to present what we do around issues prioritized by citizens. at EWMI G-PAC and to discuss the roles of NGOs. Our public service announcement If few citizens engage with will reach a broader audience with infor- NGOs (4.8%), how might mation about NGOs and civic engagement. they join advocacy initiatives? Meanwhile, our networking facilitators, Our discussions with citizens indicated that Atinati in West Georgia and the Civil De- they do want to become involved in influvelopment Agency in East Georgia, organ- encing changes within their communities. In ize regular meetings between citizens and light of citizens willingness to engage on NGOs in towns throughout Georgia. These one hand and negative stereotypes surefforts seek to educate citizens about the rounding NGOs on the other, we have work of NGOs. been thinking about the terms we use. Our tentative conclusion is that we should think How do we bridge the gap between in terms of supporting civil society develcitizens priorities and NGOs initiatives? opment in Georgia, rather than NGOs A crucial step in designing effective advoca- alone. Beyond officially registered NGOs, cy initiatives is identifying a problem im- civil society is a much broader concept that portant to citizens. We encourage and pro- includes families, communities and other vide our NGO grantees with the tools to informal networks. Through our public outdo this, both via mentoring and training and reach, we are promoting the notion that by encouraging applicants to assess careful- one need not be in contact with an NGO ly citizens needs when applying for EWMI to become engaged; we all have a civic reG-PAC grants. We believe that donors sponsibility to improve conditions for our must possess a deep understanding of public families and communities. Continued on p. 3

Civic Responsibility

Advocacy

Civil Society

Professionalism

This newsletter is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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Civic Responsibility

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Citizens Advocate for Public Policy Changes


A boy tips his cup upside down, indicating the lack of water in his public primary school in Khurvaleti IDP settlement. He is one of many youth involved in making minute movies that seek to bring local government attention to pressing issues in their community like water, garbage and access to education. Their creative advocacy initiative receives support from EWMI G-PAC grantee Society Biliki. Through meetings with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Khurvaleti, Biliki identified key challenges and assisted settlement inhabitants to carry out targeted advocacy campaigns. Consequently IDPs, particularly youth, learnt to advocate for their rights. The youth wrote a letter to the Minister of Education, and the Minister answered. They are learning how to take issues to the ministries, Biliki representative Lia Gorelishvili said. Khurvaleti inhabitants also took action to address the absence of windbreak lines protecting their gardens and houses. Supported by Biliki, their advocacy efforts led Gori municipality to provide 100 maple trees, planted by schoolchildren, journalists and other residents. Following citizens advocacy, the Sakrebulo (local government) also agreed to rehabilitate a sports ground, procure a minivan to transport children to a nearby kindergarten and co-finance roof repairs in a shared IDP home. Of course this is not enough and we will continue to raise more funds. However this project taught us how to advocate, Gorelishvili said. Society Biliki is one of 22 EWMI G-

Arts for Advocacy


Adv oca te , supp ort or promote the interests of another with an Arts for A dv oc a c y G r an t . T h e program enables artists to use their crafts as a medium dance, drama, theatre, films, music, poetry and visual art to carve out new approaches to challenging public issues. Only Georgian artists are eligible and they must apply through or in partnership with registered Georgian organizations. Download the application from www.ewmi-gpac.org or www.jobs.ge and dont miss the deadline: November 18, 2011.
Professionalism

Youth plant trees supplied by the local government, following citizens advocacy efforts in Khurvaleti IDP settlement. PAC Citizens Advocacy Grant recipients. Through this and other grant programs, EWMI G-PAC has furthered the capacities of 36 organizations throughout Georgia to carry out effective advocacy initiatives and empower citizens within their communities. In our first year, we awarded more than $1.2 million in grants throughout Georgia. Grantees committed an additional $400,000 to their initiatives. More than 3,700 citizens have participated in grantee -organized meetings with officials, signed petitions or expressed opinions on key issues in public meetings. Additional information can be found on our website: www.ewmi-gpac.org.

Act Now Grants


Does your organization face unique, time-sensitive and unforeseen opportunities for policy change? Do you need to address issues of vital importance to the public requiring swift attention? Act Now Grants provide up to $5,000 in resources for projects lasting up to two months. Grants are ongoing without specific deadlines and we respond within 7 to 10 days so you can act rapidly. Applications are available at: www/ewmi-gpac.org and www.jobs.ge.

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Advocacy

Through minute movies youth are among more than 3,700 citizens advocating for change in their communities, supported by EWMI G-PAC.

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Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Prof. Shares Model


Former prisoners often land last on the list in the social pecking order. With a finite number of jobs up for grabs, who cares about them? Professor Richard C. Greenwald and the Transitional Work Corporation did; their clever advocacy shifted national and state policy in the U.S., helping 18,000 former prisoners to gain skills and employment. Greenwald shared his experience in a series of public discussions and lectures at Ilia State University in September, organized through the EWMI G-PAC Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program. Drawing specific examples from his vast experience, he described the advocacy process in a nutshell. It always starts with how the plan compliments the greater strategic plan [] with realistic expectations and within a given a budget, he said. From there an organization has to understand the problem, organize experts and data to support its positions, target an audience, develop a strategy, clarify tactics and benchmark its progress. Greenwald offered advice for successful advocacy to his Georgian counterparts. Advocates must develop a strategic approach that includes getting to know certain lawmakers, their aides and their agendas. It also means raising awareness among their constituents. Once this is accomplished, organizations are better equipped to persuade lawmakers and others about the desired policy decisions specific to legislation or regulations, he said. Professor Greenwald shares his experience effecting policy change with Georgian colleagues. Non-profit, strategic and human resource management were other topics of discussion during Professor Greenwalds meetings with ISU Dean David Aprasidze and ISU faculty. He also shared his extensive expertise in designing work-force and prisoner re-entry programs with Chief of Administration of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Andro Gigauri, and Deputy Head of the National Probation Agency, Teimuraz Magradze. Greenwald was the first president and CEO of the Transitional Work Corporation where he secured more than $75 million in public and private investments towards placing hard-to-place workers in hard-to-find jobs. He now chairs the National Transitional Jobs Network Executive Committee and is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Civic Innovation at the Manhattan Institute in New York City. Every month EWMI G-PAC brings leading scholars such as Greenwald to share their experiences with Georgian counterparts (see www.ewmi-gpac.org).

University Assistance Grants


The first Monday of every month remains the deadline for University Assistance Grants for developing capacity in public policy, public administration, political science and related academic programs and courses. The grant is open to all universities and academic institutions with graduate (MA and PhD) programs in these fields. For more information visit our website: www.ewmigpac.org.

Civic Responsibility

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. Enrich your research skills and move forward towards your career by interning at a Georgian CSO or public institution. Applications are accepted on the last Friday of every month. More details are available on our website: www.ewmi-gpac.org.

Citizens Distrust NGOs, Continued


What about the money? How can people afford to be involved? Our discussions with citizens suggest that this is a common misconception not only among citizens, but among NGOs as well. Evidence proves that significant changes can happen without one lari: organizing neighbors to clean a nearby park filled with trash, involving the community in signing a petition demanding that the government address an issue like water, sewage, crosswalks, or trees; calling media to ask them to cover a serious problem; or writing articles about an issue in the paper. These are all actions anyone can take without money towards addressing a particular problem in their community. What might transform citizens tendency for one-time engagement into regular involvement? We encourage our grantees to involve citizens regularly in their advocacy initiatives. We also believe that telling the stories of our grantees successes via media, the internet and other materials will motivate other citizens to become involved. Once citizens see that change is possible and take responsibility for addressing issues within their communities, their ownership in addressing pressing issues will lead to ongoing engagement. Look for the full public opinion poll results on our website in November!

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Civic Responsibility

Intern Secures Management Position


Teona Tsknovrebadze started as an intern at the Rustavi-based Civil Development Agency (CiDA), but they have since promoted her, asking her to stay on as a fulltime employee after her internship ended. Teona initially read about the Internship Program on the EWMI G-PAC website. She scoured the list of internships available and contacted a few, looking for the perfect place to practice what she was learning at the Local Governance Program at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. Following a few conversations with CiDA she began interning in May 2011. She was elated when CiDA asked her to manage their initiative monitoring the State Action Plan in Shida Kartli. Its important when the organization needs you as an employee, and you can show your skills, Teona reflected. My friends at other organizations did nothing, but I was very busy at my organization as I had my own project to manage. Teona believes that the analytical skills gained through her internship are very useful for her career. She also had the opportunity to meet diverse people. I have communicated with ethnic minorities I never met before, she said. I was surprised when I visited where they live [] I liked them, and their social responsibility was high, just like Georgians. What advice would she give other students interested in interning? When you make a decision [on where to intern], you want to know exactly what skills you need to develop. Former intern Teona Its not only about now manages an the money, she initiative at CiDA. said. It should give you experience. Altogether, 30 graduate students like Teona had the opportunity to gain new experience through the G-PAC Internship Program. Coming from 11 universities and academic institutions, they have had a taste of the types of job opportunities that await them at various governmental institutions, think tanks and CSOs. We invite graduate students to apply to the Program, which continues to offer three to six-month internship opportunities for up to 50 students. For more information visit: www.ewmi-gpac.org.

Professionalism

Civil Society

Advocacy

Public Policy
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 Blog: Ewmigpac.posterous.com Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ewmigpac

Students Acquire Public Policy Analysis Skills


Illegal drugs and unemployment were two of the public policy challenges facing Georgia on which students presented policy papers during a Public Policy Analysis summer school organized by the University of Georgia. The 12 advanced undergraduate and first year graduate students from Tbilisi and Gardabani may have lacked knowledge and practical experience with policyoriented studies and research, but they eagerly sought to develop their public policy analysis skills. This was clearly a very useful and applied course, said Anano Gorgodze, a second year MA student at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs School of Governance. Thanks to these seminars, I feel I gained analytic skills that I will use not only at work, but in my everyday life. The course schooled students in the theory and practice of public policy analysis, problem structuring, forecasting, monitoring and evaluation, case study analysis and policy brief writing. Their homework involved selecting and analyzing a policy issue of their choice, presented during a follow-up workshop in September. The seminars and training in policy analysis provided me with significant background knowledge, said Dea Gegechkori, a fourth year International Relations student at the University of Georgia who is employed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure in Georgia. Now that I am taking a public policy class at the university, everything seems so familiar and easy. Participants positive assessment of the course led the University of Georgia to develop training materials for its own Public Policy Program. The University plans to continue engaging these young minds through a monthly discussion club on various policy issues. The summer school was made possible through a $9,430 University Assistance Grant provided by EWMI G-PAC.

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