The Election Administration is developing its strategic plan for 2023-2026. For the first time this year, a different approach was applied to the mentioned process. The Strategic Plan is being developed in an inclusive environment and with high involvement of employees. A field working meeting was organized for this purpose that aimed at discussing the mentioned plan in detail, discussing new strategic priorities, goals, and objectives. Representatives of the Election Administration and the center for development, reforms, and training of election systems took part in the mentioned field working meeting.

The Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and the Director of the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), Renata Levovski, shared an opening remark at the working meeting. As the CEC Chairperson stated, based on the needs which were derived from the electoral reform and the introduction of technological innovations, the priorities of the strategic plan are being updated, and it is especially noteworthy that the work in this direction is inclusive.

"I would like to underline that it was for the first time that the employees of the Election Administration were involved in the working process of developing a strategic plan on such a scale. Their opinions were heard and considered. The document will be updated by reflecting the opinions expressed at the meeting. Of course, we will also discuss the strategic plan with other electoral stakeholders, including in the format of newly created working groups. It is important for us to listen to their opinions so that the answer to all the needs and challenges that the Election Administration faces is taken into account as much as possible and is reflected in appropriate activities. I would also like to mention that the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has been supporting this process for many years, and it was with their financial support that this event was held," said Giorgi Kalandarishvili.

"Improving the electoral environment," "institutional strengthening," and "technological development" - are the three strategic priorities that the participants of the event discussed during the workshop. They also got acquainted with the evaluation of the gender policy of the Electoral Administration, which was presented by an IFES expert.

In addition, the participants of the meeting received detailed information about the process of developing a strategic plan, situation analysis, communication strategy of Election Administration, the influence of disinformation on election processes, governance structure in a public institution, management process, organizational culture, importance of teamwork and other important issues. The above-mentioned topics were widely discussed at the meeting.

The working meeting was organized by the CEC, with the expert and financial support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

It is worth noting that at the first stage, the process of working on the strategic plan was launched by the strategic planning group, which was created by order of the CEC Chairperson and which includes the heads of the CEC structural units and Chairpersons of District Election Commissions. During the planning process, the group held a meeting with all structural units of the CEC in order to identify needs and define priorities. The draft of the developed document was discussed in the format of a large-scale workshop with unprecedentedly high involvement. In order to add an element of inclusiveness to the process, before the final document is adopted, the draft strategic plan will be further discussed with other electoral stakeholders.