Client: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) South Caucasus Office
Funded by: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)
Start: January 2016
End: December 2016
Country: Georgia
Through the study, the attitudes and behaviors of the generations who grew up after the break-down of the Soviet Union in an independent Georgia were collected and studied to facilitate a better understanding of the country’s transition into democracy and a market economy from the perspective of young people. The overall objective of the project was to identify the needs, attitudes, perceptions, levels of awareness, and expectations of young people regarding social, political, cultural, and educational issues. The study results served as evidence of the challenges faced by young people and the urgent action required in both society and politics.
The ACT team studied the views of young generations on various issues like leisure and lifestyle, religion and social affiliations, family and friends, concerns and aspirations, education and employment, democracy and politics, governance and development, and national and world politics. Commonly held attitudes towards the issues mentioned above as well as specific behaviors were identified, while analytical insights were established and given based on the study results.
As a result of the study, an illustrative account of today’s reality for Georgian youth was drawn, revealing the challenges faced by young Georgians in terms of their private, economic, and political lives. The study represented a starting point for deeper analysis and discussion on how to tackle these challenges to ensure that the country’s development potential is harnessed rather than subdued.
Client: ECORYS
Funded by: The European Union
Start: January 2016
End: September 2020
Countries: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova
The ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project aims to increase the understanding within Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries about EU support, through improved communication. The overall objective of the project is to improve public perceptions of the EU, as well as to ensure a better comprehension of European policies and their impacts, particularly with respect to the regional and bilateral EU support and cooperation programs in the EaP countries.
The ACT team assists the ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project by gathering opinions and gauging the level of information that citizens of EaP countries have obtained about the EU in general and about EU-funded cooperation and development programs/projects specifically. Since 2016, we have been working in the six EaP countries to trace program intervention outcomes in each country year-on-year.
The project has developed information and communication materials, has entailed the carrying out awareness-raising and information campaigns, and has assessed the perceptions of the EU and the support it provides through opinion polling and media monitoring.
Client: MCA-Georgia
Funded by: MCA-Georgia
Start: December 2017
End: November 2018
Country: Georgia
On 26 July 2013, the Government of Georgia (GOG) and the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), signed a Compact Agreement for a US$140 million grant to alleviate poverty and boost economic growth, employing the MCC’s assistance to strengthen good governance, economic freedom, and investments in Georgia. The five-year Compact entered into force on 1 July 2014. The objective of the Georgia II Compact is to support strategic investments in the Program, which consists of three Projects: (1) Improving General Education Quality (IGEQ); (2) Industry-led Skills and Workforce Development (ISWD); and (3) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These projects respond to constraints affecting economic growth and aim to improve the poor quality of human capital in Georgia.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (M&E Unit), established within the MCA-Georgia, is implementing a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (M&E Plan) developed by the MCA-Georgia in collaboration with the MCC to conduct program performance monitoring and evaluations. Accordingly, the MCA-Georgia regularly updates the M&E Plan in which data quality reviews represent a critical component.
The ACT team verified the consistency and quality of data among the Program’s implementing agencies and other reporting institutions. The data reviewed included administrative data collected and reported by government entities and consulting firms contracted by the MCA-Georgia.
ACT conducted a quality review of the data generated by the MCA-Georgia, the GoG, and the MCA-Georgia’s consultants against data quality standards and criteria set out in the M&E Plan. The review covered two main aspects: indicators and baseline data used to develop program logic which are included in the MCA-Georgia’s indicator-tracking tables (monitoring indicators only); and verification of the data on school conditions and cost assessment.
Client: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Funded by: European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD)
Start: November 2016
End: October 2018
Country: Georgia
As part of its Rural Community Capacity Building Program, the UNDP supports rural citizens, and particularly AMAGs, to diversify their activities and switch from engaging in purely agriculture-focused activities to embrace some other activities that boost the rural economy in general.
The overall objective of the Project was to build community capacity and to enable individuals, groups and community activists in rural areas of Adjara to develop the confidence, understanding, and skills required to influence rural policy dialogue, and decision-making through established AMAGs. This was to include: enabling communities to provide and manage local actions to meet rural needs; and enabling communities to have a real influence in the planning, delivery, and quality of mainstream municipal services related to rural development, as well as specific initiatives such as those aimed at achieving six priority goals for the integrated rural development of Adjara.
The ACT team elaborated and delivered an interactive training program for members of AMAGs across Adjara, and, based on an open competition, then developed business plans regarding the initiation of local economic activities.
189 representatives of AMAGs were trained in:
The ACT team comprising business developers assisted individuals or groups of individuals representing AMAGs to devise business plans. Some of the initiatives were funded by the UNDP, and the AMAGs are still being supported in an effort to ensure sustainable rural development.