30 local NGOs funded at the decision of the selection committee under the grant contest announced by the Training Center on February 6 2020 continue the implementation of training projects in the following directions:

• First direction – support the development of electoral capacity of political parties;
• Second direction – young voters in the electoral process.

Grant projects of 21 NGOs funded under the first direction envisage the implementation of important awareness-raising and training programs that ensure the development of human resources for political parties that, pursuant to legislation, will be empowered for elections to appoint members and/or representatives at district and precinct election commissions. The training programs familiarize the participants with a number of important topics, such as:

• international electoral standards;
• electoral environment that is free from violence and hate speech;
• the impact of disinformation over credible electoral environment;
• the role of a party in ensuring secure electoral environment;
• electoral ethics and professional standards of stakeholders;
• conducting pre-election campaign and restrictions;
• regulations related to the use of administrative resources in the elections process.

 It should be noted that in coordination with winning NGOs under the first direction of the grant contest, Training Center is going to make its contribution in training implementation by teaching the following modules to the representatives of beneficiary political parties:

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

 Training Center employees and the Electoral Administration trainers will deliver the trainings as part of the contribution; they were trained during July 8-14, 2020 using the distant instructions format.

At the above-mentioned awareness-raising and training meetings, the representatives of the Electoral Administration will also inform the participants about the awareness-raising campaign of the Electing Administration – Talk to Voters that is aimed at enhancing the communication of the Electoral Administration with voters and other electoral stakeholders, provision of information to them within the competence about various important electoral matters.

Grant projects submitted for the topic of the second direction of the contest envisages implementation of awareness-raising/training program for young voters, focusing on the following modules:

• state setup and the rule of formation of elective bodies in Georgia;
• active citizenship and the importance of participation in the governance of the country through elections;
• accountability between the electorate and the institutions elected thereof;
• guidelines of the democratic electoral process (including the principle of the secrecy of vote);
• the protection of voters’ personal data in the electoral process;
• electoral rights and exercising those;
• gender equality in elections;
• inclusive electoral environment (the engagement of vulnerable groups in the electoral process);
• Other matters concerning the promotion of elections and enhancing civic responsibility.

 The grant projects are implemented throughout Georgia (Tbilisi, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Guria and Adjara). The schedule of activities under the project (as of August 15, 2020) is posted on the projects’ map (available in Georgian). The activities under the following stage will be entered in the schedule gradually. The schedule also comprises information about effected changes.