Support to Community Mobilization Initiatives

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Status: Completed

Full Activity Title: Endowment for Community Mobilization Initiatives in Western Georgia

Location: Imereti Region/Dimi, Persati, Gumbra, Sakraula and Mekvena Villages, Georgia

Activity Dates: September, 2003 - January, 2005

Source of Funding: ILC

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Project Abstract

The level of Georgia's rural development remains low. Local populations lack the capacity to address the problems they are facing with and find solutions. To respond to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups in rural areas, community based approach can be helpful along with local authorities’ efforts.

The purpose for the Endowment for Community Mobilization Initiatives in Western Georgia is to catalyze and empower local communities to assume a direct involvement in decision-making for problem analyses, planning and implementation of projects addressed to meet priority issues affecting their quality of life. In the implementation of the project APLR identifies beneficiary groups and trains them in community mobilization, assists rural population in formation of community based organizations (CBO) in five selected villages of Imereti region, assists CBOs in decision-making and supports them in identification, planning and implementation of priority projects, monitors ongoing community initiatives to sustain participatory process, reviews legal situation with respect to property rights; assists project affected rural population in resolving land dispute issues through the establishment of mediation/arbitration system, prepares digital orthophotos for each selected village, facilitates transfer of pasture land to local communities in high-mountain villages, prepares and collects information for CBO manual, implements micro-projects (such as irrigation, water supply, construction of gabions on the rivers) through CBOs.

The project contributes to the increased involvement of local communities in the management of rural development and strengthens their participatory capacity, as well as increases public awareness of the importance of CBOs.