From February 8, 2018, the Center for Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training, LEPL (hereinafter – the Training Center) is announcing a grant competition for the following directions for funding stipulated under the CEC of Georgia January 22, 2018 Ordinance N9/2018 (available in Georgian):

• First direction: young voters and civic engagement in public and political (electoral) process
• Second direction:facilitate electoral capacity development of political parties

Competition topic for the First Direction: Young voters and civic engagement in public and political (electoral) process

Pursuant to the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan, one of the priorities for the Election Administration of Georgia is civic and voter education to promote increased civic participation in electoral processes, boost engagement and informed choice by voters. For enhancing democratic awareness of voters, supporting civic education and invigoration of the new generation in public and political (electoral) process acquires special importance; this, in turn, ensures their participation in public administration. Notably, according to the results of the study performed in December, 2017, the issue of low activity of youth in October 21, 2017 Local Self-Government Elections was reflected in the report of the National-Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Caucasus Research Resources Center (CRRC).

The goal of the announcement of the Competition is to incite local NGO sector to support such important projects that envisage informing young voters and promoting raising civic engagement level in the electoral process.

To promote the enhancement of theoretical knowledge, practical skills and sharing gained experience among youth, a grant project submitted for the above-mentioned competition topic shall contain the following mandatory components:

• Component N1: Implement informational-training program for young voters – beneficiaries may include young voters with disabilities, as well as ethnic minority youth. It is desirable to take into account gender aspects while forming a target group.
• Component N2: In cooperation with project implementing NGO, carrying out initiative(s) aimed at promoting elections through immediate participation of project beneficiary young voters.
• Component N3: Forming a team from among beneficiary youth of the project Youth Debate Club Competition organized through the contribution of the Training Center, training them and ensure engagement.

Note with respect to mandatory components to be envisaged in the grant project:

• Component N1: Awareness-raising and training program should be directed at electoral education and it is advisable for it to comprise informing young voters around the following issues: active citizenship and the importance of participation in the public governance process through elections, the rule of state setup and the forming of elective bodies (electoral systems), suffrage and exercising it, mass media and elections, electoral technologies and international practice, other matters related to the promotion of elections. It is important that informational/education programs to be implemented as part of the Project are modelled, training materials are designed and teaching methodology is selected and applied according to the age and interests of young voters. It is important that the developed awareness-raising and training program/syllabus indicate the used source, literature and author.
• Component N2: Young voters, as well as any person interested in elections may be beneficiary of initiative(s) directed at promoting elections.
• Component N3: NGO shall consider in the project the condition of the contribution by the Training Center that relates to conducting Youth Debate Club 2018. For participating in debate club, NGO shall staff a team of five members from among beneficiary youth, ensure their training and participation (transporting) to a contest organized by the Training Center in Tbilisi; the mentioned expense shall be envisaged in the Project budget (The contest will be held in three stages: selection stage, semi-final, final). The Training Center will ensure reimbursement of organizational expenses for holding the contest Youth Debate Club 2018.

funded NGOs will receive detailed rule of holding debate club.

Grant project duration: May 1 – August 31, 2018 (4 months)

Grant project funding scope: Not to exceed GEL 30,000 (if a project is funded, funds will be disbursed in increments, at timeframes stipulated in a contract)

Total amount for funding the First Direction: GEL 240,000

Competition topic for the Second Direction: supporting electoral capacity development of political parties

According to the results of survey conducted among the representatives of political parties participating in grant projects funded under the grant competition organized by the Training Center in 2017, the demand for continuing electoral awareness-raising and educational projects for the parties has been identified. Recommendations in the reports of international observer organizations also refer to the necessity for the enhancement of electoral capacity of stakeholders.

Considering demonstrated high interest and the Presidential elections to be held in 2018, announcing the competition is aimed at inciting the local NGO sector for implementing such important awareness-raising and training projects that will ensure promoting developing competitive political environment and developing human resources for political parties that, pursuant to legislation, will be authorized to appoint members and/or representatives at district election commissions and precinct election commissions.

Based on the goal envisaged in the competition topic, grant project submitted by an NGO shall envisage implementing training program for political parties, that comprises all modules listed below:

• structure, management (international practice) and legal status of political parties;
• political culture in elections, debates and electoral ethics (professional, ethical standards and communication with electoral stakeholders);
• equal opportunities of parties and candidates in electoral process (It is important that the module include the following issues, among others – access to administrative resources and air/advertisement time);
• public relations mechanisms (it is important that the module include the following issues, among others – relations with mass media and the use of social networks, political and electoral PR);
• the role of a party in ensuring safe electoral environment;
• internal party mechanisms for boosting women participation;
• personnel and volunteers management (it is important that the module comprise the following issues, among others – active citizenship and youth participation in the electoral process, developing regional offices);
• Any other additional training module focused on developing electoral capacity of political parties, in addition to the modules provided below, which teaching the Training Center will ensure as part of its contribution.

Note:

• The failure to meet the condition concerning submitting the above-mentioned training program will be the grounds for removing competition documentation from competition.
• The duration of trainings to be conducted by an NGO as part of the training program shall be at least 21 hours (training hours are envisaged without counting break time).
• For the purposes of evaluation, it is important that the training program contain the goal, content of the module, learning outcome, methodology, duration and information about individuals responsible for delivering the training (See. The Sample (available in Georgian)). It is important that the developed training program/syllabus to contain reference to source, literature and author.

Through coordination with a grant competition winning NGO, in the course of the implementation of projects, contribution will be ensured from the Training Center for teaching the following modules to target groups:

• the rule of operation of the Election Administration, organizing elections (electoral cycle) and polling day;
• Grounds and technique for drawing up a complaint/application.

Note:

• The duration of trainings to be conducted as contribution by the Training Center as part of the Project is 6 hours (consider that the duration of the training program mandatory to be implemented by an NGO which is 21 hours, does not include the mentioned 6 hours).
• NGO shall consider in the project the condition of the Training Center’s contribution. Labor and business trip expenses incurred by the Training Center employees with respect to implementing the Training Course will be reimbursed by the Training Center.

Target groups of a Grant Project

to support the development of electoral capacity of human resources of political parties and promoting the development of competitive political environment, in the process of staffing target groups from among the representatives of political parties, NGO is required to meet all the requirements provided below, in particular:

1. a) the following shall be submitted to the Training Center:

• A document evidencing that a letter of invitation to participate in the project has been sent to 18 qualified political parties (available in Georgian) and a letter of consent received from at least 9 qualified parties on participating in the project, according to the invitation letter;
• A document proving that a letter of invitation to participate in the project has been sent at least 4 unqualified parties (available in Georgian) that took part in one of the general elections held over the past two years. And in case of receiving consent to participate in the project according to the letter of invitation, such letter of consent.

1. b) letters of consent received from parties shall be signed by an individual authorized for managing/representation of parties. Letters of invitation sent to parties and letters of consent received from parties shall be submitted to the Training Center within no later than 5 days from sending a notice about the mentioned demand to an NGO’s e-mail (letters shall be submitted in hard copy and electronic format (CD)).

Note:  In case of failure to meet the above-mentioned requirements, the Commission shall make a decision on rejecting the funding to an NGO.

Keep in mind: to ensure equal conditions and proportionality, for the purposes of the competition, out of 18 qualified political parties the parties that pursuant to legislation, are authorized to appoint members at election commissions for elections (4 parties (available in Georgian)), shall be allowed to nominate two representatives of the party to target group for each district election commission active in a relevant area (see the areas below), while the remaining parties (qualified as well as unqualified) – one representative each.

Area of grant project implementation and scope of funding

For the grant project, which, for the purposes of the competition, comprises maximum number of representatives submitted by political parties (26 representatives considering each district election commission active within the are determined below 26 representatives), funding area is determined as follows:

• Tbilisi (Mtatsminda, Vake, Saburtalo, Krtsanisi, Chugureti) – not to exceed GEL 97,500;
• Tbilisi (Isani, Samgori, Didube, Nadzaladevi, Gldani) – not to exceed GEL 97,500;
• Kakheti (Sagarejo, Gurjaani, Signagi, Dedoplistskaro) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Kakheti (Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Telavi, Akhmeta) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Kvemo Kartli (Rustavi, Gardabani, Marneuli, Tsalka, Tetritskaro, Bolnisi, Dmanisi) – not to exceed GEL 136,500;
• Shida Kartli (Kaspi, Gori, Kareli, Khashuri) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Mtskheta, Tianeti, Dusheti, Kazbegi) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Samtskhe-Javakheti (Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspinda, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda) – not to exceed GEL 117,000;
• Imereti (Tkibuli, Terjola, Zestaponi, Kharagauli, Sachkhere, Chiatura) – not to exceed GEL 117,000;
• Imereti (Bagdati, Kutaisi, Samtredia, Vani, Khoni, Tskaltubo) – not to exceed GEL 117,000;
• Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti (Oni, Ambrolauri, Tsageri, Lentekhi) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Abasha, Martvili, Senaki, Chkhorotsku, Khobi) – not to exceed GEL 97,500;
• Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Poti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Mestia) – not to exceed GEL 78,000;
• Guria (Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri, Lanchkhuti) – not to exceed GEL 58,500;
• Adjara (Kobuleti, Batumi, Khelvachauri, Khulo, Keda, Shuakhevi) – not to exceed GEL 117,000.

Note:

• An NGO is authorized to submit just one grant project as part of the announced competition, in one of the areas divided according to district election commissions.
• For the purposes of the competition, one winning project will be identified in every area divided according to district election commissions.
• In case of funding the project, amounts will be disbursed in increments, at timeframes stipulated in a contract.
• If it is identified from the letters of consent from parties on participating in the project that the number of participants in target groups envisaged under the project has decreased, an NGO is required to submit to the Training Center corrected project budget considering the above-mentioned calculation principle. NGO shall submit the adjusted budget to the Training Center along with the letters of invitation sent to parties and letters of consent received from parties (in hard copy and electronic format (CD)). In case of failure to meet the mentioned requirement, the Commission takes a decision to reject funding of an NGO.

Grant project duration: May 1, 2018 – August 31, 2018 (4 months)

Total amount of funding the second direction: GEL 1 423 500

Who is eligible to participate in the grant competition

Local non-commercial legal entities (hereinafter – NGO) registered pursuant to Georgia legislation prior to the announcing of competition are eligible to participate in the competition.

Those NGOs whose managers and/or the individuals envisaged to implement submitted grant project shall not be eligible to participate in the competition if they are either of the following: a member of the Central Election Commission of Georgia; a Head of a structural unit of the CEC Apparatus; a Head, a Deputy Head of the Training Center; Head of a structural unit of the Training Center; a member of a grant competition committee, committee secretariat and monitoring group. NGO management implies individuals having the authority to lead/represent an NGO according to an extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and Non-commercial Legal Entities.

Documentation to be submitted to the grant competition

To participate in the grant competition, an NGO shall submit the following documents according to the indicated rule:

1. a)  Grant application as per the format indicated in the Annex #1 (available in Georgian) (hard copy and an electronic version (CD));
2. b)  An extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and Non-commercial Legal Entities obtained after the grant competition announcement (February 8, 2018) evidencing that the NGO does not have the following obligations: attachment/injunction, tax lien, registry of creditors (hard copy);
3. c) a founding document (statute, charter, etc.) verified according to Georgia legislation (hard copy).

Note: An NGO is authorized to submit just one grant application under the announced competition to participate in the competition.

Reviewing body

Grant Competition commission takes a decision on dismissing competition documentation, on funding/refusal to fund an NGO, removal of competition documentation from competition. Grant competition commission takes such decisions in absentia of a representative of an NGO that has submitted the competition documentation.

Members of grant competition commission will evaluate grant projects according to the criteria stipulated in the competition documentation evaluation sheet (See Annex №2 (available in Georgian)).

Publicity of grant competition results

Bidders will be informed about competition results via e-mail notice to their e-mail. Information about NGOs funded based on the grant competition committee decision will also be posted to the CEC and the Training Center websites: www.cesko.ge; www.electionreforms.ge

Grant competition schedule

• Competition announcement: February 8, 2018;
• Deadline for submitting competition documentation: from February 8 through February 22, 2018 (except for weekends), 10:00 to 18:00, at the address: 13^th km, David Agmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi (CEC Building), 5^th floor;
• Informational meetings with regard to the rule for submitting competition documentation: February 13 and 16, 2018, 14:00, at the address: 13^th km, David Agmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi (CEC Building);

For the Grant awarding rule follow the Link (available in Georgian).

For additional information contact us: 261 21 11 (17)