USAID to Announce New Partnership to Support Electoral & Political Processes
On October 18, in the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, at an event titled ‘Countdown to 2020: Empowered Citizens for Responsive Politics,’ USAID publicly announced its new, four-year, $14 million Elections and Political Processes program. In partnership with nine international and Georgian civil society organizations (CSOs), the new program will support more responsive and citizen-centered political processes. It will be the US Government’s primary electoral assistance initiative for Georgia’s 2020 and 2021 electoral cycles and beyond.
The new program will be implemented by nine partner CSOs. These include three international organizations: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES); the International Republican Institute (IRI); and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), as well as six Georgian CSOs: the Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP); the Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD); the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA); the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED); the Public Movement Multi-National Georgia (PMMG); and Transparency International Georgia (TI). The organizations will carry out various activities to support greater civic engagement and strengthened oversight over political institutions.
USAID as well as representatives of each partner organization will participate in the program launch. The event will include remarks from US and Georgian government officials as well as two panel discussions devoted to electoral assistance under Georgia’s new proportional system and the role of watchdog organizations in Georgia’s electoral and political processes.
About USAID in Georgia: As the leading development agency of the U.S. government, USAID supports Georgia to build the capacity to finance, plan, and implement its own solutions to development challenges. USAID has worked in Georgia since 1992, supporting the country’s transformation into a developing democracy that is increasingly integrated into Western political, security, and economic institutions. More than 30 USAID programs stimulate inclusive economic growth, develop democratic governance, enhance energy security, and foster social inclusion.
For more information, please visit: www.usaid.gov/georgia