Tbilisi, 3 June 2010. The World Bank Georgia Country Office has announced today the winners of the 2010 Civil Society Fund (CSF) competition. A total of $45,000 in grants is available for this year’s program. It is complemented by up to $ 20, 000 grant funds from the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) and the Eurasia Partnership Foundation. These funds will support 10 projects which were selected out of the 36 grant applications submitted. A traditional event was held today at the World Bank’s Office to present the winners to the media, other civil society organizations and the Country Office staff.
The Civil Society Fund seeds and supports activities that strengthen mechanisms for inclusion, accountability and participation. Activities also strengthen partnerships with public sector, other civil society organizations and the private sector. CSF financing covers various types of activities including: workshops and seminars to enhance civic engagement skills and knowledge, appropriate communication campaigns to influence policymaking or public service delivery, and innovative networking efforts to build the capacity of IDP youth. The activities are to be completed within one year of the date the grant is awarded. Most grants are in the range of $7,000.
“This is an annual competition that the Bank has supported in Georgia since 1999. The objective of this Fund is to support local activities that empower and enable citizens to take initiatives to enhance and influence development outcomes. Three years ago, the Bank decided to focus on Youth Development. This year, we have continued this theme with the specific focus on Employment Opportunities for Young IDPs. I very much hope that the selected projects will meet the program expectations by offering innovative ways of employment for young IDPs in Georgia,” said Asad Alam, World Bank Regional Director in the South Caucasus.
For the third consecutive year the World Bank has successfully partnered with OSGF and Eurasia Partnership Foundation, which allowed support for more projects.
Applications submitted for consideration this year were carefully reviewed by the World Bank staff and the “Youth Voices” group members, and further evaluated by a CSF Selection Committee, members of which represented the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, OSGF, and the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation. The CSF Selection Committee made the final decision on awarding the grants.
The following non-governmental organizations and projects are the winners of the World Bank CSF Program in Georgia:
Financed by the World Bank
- Imereti Regional Center for Training and Consultation (IRCTC)
Consultation, Information and Training for Employment - Kutaisi Education Development and Employment Center
Employment and Self Employment Program for Internally Displaced Youth in Kutaisi - “Tsami” NGO - Professional Internship for Successful Future
- Tkibuli District Development Fund - An Equal Chance for Every Young IDP
- Civic Education Office in Shida Kartli - Our Contribution to the Integration of IDP Youth
- Association Women in Business - Information and Public Awareness Campaign to Facilitate Employment and Self-Employment of Young IDP Women
- Georgian Business Development Center “Caucasia” - Linking Information, Knowledge and Business for IDP Youth Employment in Tserovani and Tsilkani Settlements
Financed by Open Society Georgia Foundation
- Information Education Center “Kartli XXI” - Host Communities for IDPs Youth Development
- NGO Helping Hand - Volunteering as a Road to Economic Independence
Financed by Eurasia Partnership Foundation
- Marneuli Youth Center - IDP Employment
The World Bank Georgia Office has been implementing Small Grants Program (at present called CSF) starting 1999. Since then, about 90 projects (worth approximately USD 550, 000) submitted by local civil society organizations have been successfully supported through this Program in the country.
