From May 31, 2017, the Center of Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training, LEPL (hereinafter - the Training Center) is announcing a grant competition for the following directions to be funded through the grant competition stipulated in the Central Election Commission of Georgia May 22, 2017 Ordinance (available in Georgian) N 33/2017:

• First direction – raising voter awareness for the 2017 Local Self-government Elections
• Second direction - support participation of vulnerable groups and women in the process of the 2017 Local Self-government Elections

Background

Supporting the Election Administration initiatives aimed at ensuring full-fledged awareness of voters through a grant competition is related to the 2017 Local Self-government Elections. The results of the electoral process analysis, as well as the recommendations of international/local observer missions evidence the necessity to conduct regular awareness-raising/educational programs.

Competition is aimed at promoting NGO sector initiatives to support such important projects as the voter awareness and raising the level of civic engagement of voters, including supporting the integration of vulnerable groups.

Competition topic of the first direction: raising voter awareness for the 2017 Local Self-government Elections

Grant project proposals submitted for the above topic shall envisage the implementation of informational programs and/or other activities aimed at promoting electoral awareness, raising civic responsibility and facilitating more active voter participation in the 2017 local self-government elections. It is desirable to include gender aspects in the project.

Grant project duration: August 1 – September 30, 2017

Grant project implementation area and funding

The funding is determined according to geographic areas, as follows:

• Kakheti (Sagarejo, Gurjaani, Signagi, Dedoplistskaro) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Kakheti (Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Telavi, Akhmeta) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Kvemo Kartli (Rustavi, Gardabani, Tsalka, Tetritskaro) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Kvemo Kartli (Marneuli, Bolnisi, Dmanisi) – not to exceed GEL 19,000;
• Shida Kartli (Kaspi, Gori, Kareli, Khashuri) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Mtskheta-Mtianeti (Mtskheta, Tianeti, Dusheti, Kazbegi) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Samtskhe-Javakheti (Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda) – not to exceed GEL 38,000;
• Imereti (Zestaponi, Kharagauli, Sachkhere, Chiatura, Terjola, Tkibuli) – not to exceed GEL 38,000;
• Imereti (Kutaisi, Baghdati, Samtredia, Vani, Khoni, Tskaltubo) – not to exceed GEL 38,000;
• Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti (Oni, Ambrolauri, Tsageri, Lentekhi) – not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Abasha, Martvili, Senaki, Chkhorotsku, Khobi) – not to exceed GEL 31,700;
• Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Poti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Mestia) -- not to exceed GEL 25,400;
• Guria (Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri, Lanchkhuti) -- not to exceed GEL 19,000;
• Ajara (Kobuleti, Batumi, Khelvachauri, Khulo, Keda, Shuakhevi) -- not to exceed GEL 38,000;

Note:

• An NGO is authorised to present only one grant proposal in one of the areas within the anounced grant competition.
• One winner will be identified per each geographic area identified for the grant competition.
• Based on the goal set under the competition topic, grant project submitted by NGOs shall provide implementation of informational programs and/or other activities across all election districts within the geographic area of a project. Failure to comply with this condition is the basis for the removal of competition documentation from competition.

Competition topic of the second direction: support participation of vulnerable groups and women in the process of the 2017 Local Self-government Elections

Grant project proposals submitted for the above topic shall envisage the implementation of informational programs and/or other activities for the purpose of integrating of vulnerable groups and women in the electoral process of the 2017 Local Self-government Elections. It is desirable to include gender aspects in the project.

Target groups that will be covered by the project shall incude at least one of the target groups listed below:

• Women;
• Ethnic minorities;
• Persons with disabilities;
• Internally displaced persons.

It is important that if ethnic minorities and/or persons with disabilities are identified as target groups, the project shall be implemented with consideration of language, traditional/religious barriers and needs of persons with disabilities.

Grant project duration: August 1 – September 30, 2017

Scope of the grant project funding: not to exceed GEL 19,000

Attention:

Over the course of implementation of activities envisaged under the project, the head of an NGO and individuals involved in project implementation shall be independent and impartial, and avoid any such action that may be perceived as an action in support/against any party or an electoral entity, as well as refrain from engaging individuals who are electoral subjects for the 2017 Local Self-government Elections in project implementation functions. If an NGO is found in breach of this requirement, the measures of responsibility envisaged in the Rule for Awarding a Grant will be applied against it.

Who is eligible to participate in the grant competition:

Local non-commercial legal entities (hereinafter – NGOs) registered pursuant to Georgia legislation prior to competition announcement 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.

Bid documentation to be submitted for 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 produced after the grant competition announcement (May 31, 2017) 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).

Reviewing body:

NGO bid documentation is evaluated, decision on funding/refusal to fund an NGO is taken by a grant competition committee, formed according to the Rule on the Awarding a Grant, in absentia of a representative of an NGO submitting the bid documentation.

Grant project applications will be evaluated by grant competition committee members based on the criteria set forth in the proposals evaluation sheet (See Annex #2 available in Georgian).

Publicity of Grant Competition results:

Bidders will be informed about competition results via e-mail notives. 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: May 31, 2017;
• Deadline for the submission of competition documentation: June 1 through June 14, 2017 (except for weekends), from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, to the address: CEC Building, 5^th Floor, 13^th Km, D. Aghmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi;
• Informational meetings about the rule of submission of competition documentation will be held on June 6 and 7, 2016, at 2:00 pm, at the CEC Building, 5^th Floor, 13^th km, D. Aghmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi.

Follow the link for the Rule for Awarding Grants.

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