On August 22, 2018, the Training Center held a meeting with the representatives of international and local NGOs that are members of the Technical Working Group (TWG). The CEC leadership, CEC members and heads of its structural units also attended the event.

Tamar Zhvania, CEC Chair, opened the meeting. She spoke about the importance of the preparation for supporting the enhancement of qualifications of the Electoral Administration for the President of Georgia October 28, 2018 Elections.

Natia Zaalishvili, Training Center Director, made a detailed presentation about the novelties developed for the trainings of the Electoral Administration, focusing on a novel concept developed for trainings of PEC members and reviewed its key aspects. In particular, according to the new Trainings Concept:

• The training through focused programs is suggested; based on which, leadership and other members (9 members) of PECs will gain specialized knowledge relevant to their competencies;
• It is envisaged to increase the intensity of the training of PEC leadership, according to which two stages of focused trainings will be delivered exclusively to PEC leadership (instead of a one stage envisaged under the current training system);
• Through the focus on increasing effectiveness of learning outcome, the duration of each training session has been reduced. The above-mentioned change was made possible through the introduction of focused programs and the increase of training stages;
• Emphasis has been placed on the increase of the frequency of practical methodology (numerous new practical exercises have been developed; among other topics, they are focused on the matters listed as challenges: vote-counting process and completing polling results summarizing protocols).

The trainings concept also envisages the introduction of practical teaching component related to introducing to PEC members the matter of participation of PWD voters in voting, through showing a video clip and relevant instruction. The CEC and the Training Center will film the video clip through direct involvement of PWDs.

In consideration of the above-mentioned aspects, PEC members’ trainings for the President of Georgia elections will be held in four stages (instead of three stages envisaged under the present trainings system), as well as an additional stage of trainings will be envisaged for replaced (new) members of commissions; while the trainings of DECs comprises a single stage. Detailed schedules of trainings will be posted to the Training Center and CEC websites.

Trainings for the Election Administration will be delivered by the trainers of the Election Administration trained by the Training Center.

Maia Gudadze, Head of the Training Programs' Division of the Training Center, introduced to the meeting participants important novelties included in the guidelines developed for the members of DECs/PECs, including: detailed guidance for developing polling results summarizing protocol/correction protocol, matters of protecting personal data of voters, regulations related to polling day application/complaint, etc.

Meeting participants assessed novelties presented by the Training Center positively; they are in line with the recommendations reflected in the reports of observer organizations.