Governance, Public Sector & Institutional Development; Children & Youth; Human Rights & Social Inclusion
Through the project “Advancing Participatory and Human Rights-Based Local Democracy” in Georgia, the Council of Europe supported local authorities, their national associations, and civil society organisations to strengthen citizen participation in local decision-making. The project promoted the active use of existing participatory mechanisms, piloted and institutionalised innovative citizen engagement approaches, and supported the development of local policies that respond to citizens’ needs. It also strengthened the involvement of local authorities and civil society in shaping decentralisation strategies and action plans, embedding participatory governance and human rights principles throughout the reform process.
The assignment involved conducting focus group discussions to provide baseline information, engaging youth, women, and economically vulnerable individuals, in three localities: Tbilisi, Akhaltsikhe, and Batumi. The focus groups included participants from varied backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, rural and urban residents, and ethnic and religious minorities.