NGOs in Adjara

The reshuffle of Georgian authorities has not triggered any cardinal changes in the life of the civil society organizations of the Adjara Autonomous Republic. However, particular positive tendencies are still observed.

“The non-governmental sector was weakly developed in the region. However, significant changes are not observed in this regard after coming new authorities to power,” says Guranda Tavartkiladze , head of the Batumi Office of the UN Association of Georgia.

However, nobody expected any cardinal changes in such a short period of time. According to the representatives of the civil society, the most important thing that has changed is the approach of the authorities towards the sector, which has become more positive.

“The non-governmental organizations avoided establishing cooperation with the previous authorities [led by Aslan Abashidze], since the old authorities tried to assume control over the non-governmental sector,” says Geno Tebidze, chairman of the Young Journalists Association of Adjara.

The representatives of the Adjarian non-governmental sector also claim that because of the policy of previous authorities, public organizations actually fail to perform their functions.

“During the previous authorities the third sector was actually dead, if we do not take into account the Adjarian offices of the Tbilisi-based organizations and several local NGOs. Under conditions of Abashidze’s governance, their activities were equal to heroism,” Geno Tebidze adds.

Presently the situation has essentially changed. The non-governmental organizations do not find it difficult to undergo registration, they also can freely implement various projects and civil initiatives without any political pressure.

Following the revolution the Adjarian non-governmental organizations have an expectation that international donors and organizations will spare no efforts to promote further development of the sector. However, a year after the revolution no radical changes have been observed in this direction.

“The donor organizations are limited only with research, fact-finding measures and refrain from implementing large-scale initiatives,” Guranda Tavartkiladze said.

However, the joint program of the UN Association of Georgia and the Catholic Relief Services named New Adjara – New Challenges is an exception. The program is oriented to development of the civil sector in Adjara and includes a training component, small grant competition, a probation program at the Tbilisi-based non-governmental organizations, as well as information provision of the Batumi-based non-governmental organizations regarding the novelties and new projects ongoing in the civil sector of Georgia. 

However, number of such initiatives is very small, while the Adjarian  non-governmental organizations need institutional development. “The non-governmental sector needs assistance, institutional development, establishment of democratic-liberal values,” says Sopo Pataraia of the Young Journalists Association.

At the same time, the representatives of the Adjarian non-governmental organizations claim that only small and short-term initiatives will not be enough for the sector’s development. Along with trainings and other development-oriented measures, it is necessary that the non-governmental organizations perform a watchdog function as well, that was almost impossible during the previous authorities.

“Currently the Adjarian non-governmental organizations are also implementing the projects oriented to legal assistance, human rights. Despite their readiness, they are not able to perform a watchdog function. This is basically caused by lack of knowledge and experience, as well as lack of relevant financial resources,” Sopo Pataraia claims.

The problem of staff outflow is  very important for the Adjarian non-governmental organizations as well. Following the November revolution many persons moved from the non-governmental sector to the authorities. This tendency is also observed in Adjara.

“Although in Adjara the non-governmental sector performs its functions, the process of staff outflow from the non-governmental sector to the authorities, is still observed,” Sopo Pataraia said.

As for the cooperation with the new government, “most non-governmental organizations consider that the less they cooperate with the authorities, the better their activities will be. In reality, I think that a constructive dialogue with the government is necessary. For example, our organization, together with the Municipality, organized an exhibition-sale of the works of homeless children. The measure aimed at attracting public attention towards the problems of homeless children,” Geno Tibadze said.

At the same time, Nana Manjgaladze, the representative of the Service for Relations with Religious and Non-governmental Organizations, claims that a desire of the governmental structures to establish cooperation with the non-governmental organizations is clearly observed. “In its time, this Service was set up just for this purpose. Cooperation was the main goal of the Service. After the revolution we implemented particular acquaintance measures, held meetings with the representatives of the non-governmental sector. The next stage envisages discussion of actual problems and launching a dialogue with the non-governmental sector,” Nana Manjgaladze said.