Project: “Information Bank of Self-Governance”

Dates: February 2002 - July 2003

Budget: 6,000 USD

Donor: Northern Ireland Company (NI-CO)

The project “Information Bank of Self-Governance” was funded by NI-Co within the frames of programme, supported governance and civil society in Georgia (GOSIPS), and aimed in establishing at the “Union of Democrat Meskhs” the information bank of administrative determination and other documents, developed by organs of self-governance.

The need for the implementation of the project was seen form the evidence that usually population dose not know functions of Sakrebulo, or duties of its members. Accordingly, the goal of the project was in making performance of Sakrebulo more transparent.

For the fulfillment of the project our organization systematically requested from all Sakrebuloes of our district administrative determinations, adopted by them. Upon basis of obtained materials the Project Implementation Team issued monthly Information Bulletin, which was rather consumptive. The Bulletins contained all the administrative determinations, developed and adopted every month by each Sakrebulo of Akhaltsikhe district.

The Bulletins were widely distributed between population, or in other words they disclosed for community the activities of Sakrebulos. Through, execution of the project “Information Bank of Self-Governance” demonstrated to society, and us between the others that Sakrebulos are mostly inactive. And sessions, held by them are frequently of formal character.

Disclosing such a performance of the self-government bodies arouse negative attitude within population. Therefore, some inert Sakrebulos were forced to become more active and adopt at least formal documents in order to demonstrate to community their efforts. In a result of our activities, some of the Sakrebulos even developed and adopted such an important document, as the rule for the submission of grievances for citizen is.

The fulfillment of “Information Bank of Self-Governance” was interesting for our organization, because we had good opportunity to observe the performance of Sakrebulos along 6 months and become aware of the specific of self-governance organs’ work. Besides, whilst execution of the project we understand what should be chanced in the approach of third sector towards governmental bodies in order to make them more effective.