ODIHR-IMD-CIPDD Programme 2006-2008
"Political Institutions in Georgia" 

Description of the Programme for 2006/2007

Introduction

In 2005-2006 ODHIR-IMD and local partner CIPDD (Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development) carried out the so-called first phase of the Georgia-Programme. After several consultations with local and international stakeholders in Georgia during ODIHR/IMD missions in the second part of 2004, the conclusion was drawn that a concise identification and analysis of the situation of local institutions was needed. In coordination with all main local stakeholders, the political parties represented in parliament as well as another one outside, civil society organizations and the international community, ODIHR/IMD initiated a research programme together with the CIPDD in January 2005.  

Research

Six major Georgian political parties were chosen to take part in the program: Conservative Party of Georgia, Georgian Labour Party, Industry Will Save Georgia, New Rights, Republican Party and United National Movement. Five of which had representation in Parliament, and the one in Tbilisi City council. The CIPDD assessment team, together with the identified liaisons within these political parties and IMD, executed in 2005-2006 the interactive assessment of political institutions.
On the basis of several workshops conducted with the political parties throughout 2005 the research team analyzed all relevant political institutions in Georgia, including their organization, internal democracy, the role of women and youth, among others. After careful analysis and discussion of the content, the texts were finished and the book called “The Political Landscape of Georgia - Political Parties: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects” was published, presenting practical recommendations for the modernization of political parties and the institutions surrounding them. On the basis of these recommendations, and after careful coordination with the political parties involved, IMD, CIPDD and OSCE/ODIHR developed the content for the second phase of the “Political Institutions in Georgia” programme.

General outline 2006-2008

Taking into account the main findings of the first phase, the general objective for the second phase of this programme is to assist Georgian political institutions to modernise their internal organization and capacities as well as Georgian inter-party ties, with a specific emphasis on increasing the participation of youth and women.
From the debate with all the parties involved emerged the clear necessity and the will to develop more local expertise and capacity to analyse political developments more closely and more structurally. These necessary facilities and expertise, particularly through academic and professional training, are clearly lacking. The few scholars who can do this kind of analysis are overwhelmed by requests to participate in projects, studies, forums and congresses.
The final goal of the 2006-2008 programme will be to work on the establishment of a multiparty centre in Tbilisi and to ensure through that the sustainability and the complete local ownership of the programme after its period of execution.  
To ensure that the objective and the goal will be met, a number of activities will be organised during the coming two years (April 2006-end of 2008). These activities will be implemented by an IMD-OSCE-ODIHR local coordinator in cooperation with the CIPDD. IMD will be responsible for the general management and coordination of the programme, and will be represented in Georgia by a Local Programme Officer. CIPDD will be the local partner in charge of the programme-activities in 2006-2008. IMD and CIPDD will pay especial attention to the production of information and analytical material on the political party system.
Because of confrontational, polarised and personalised inter-party conflicts, IMD, CIPDD and OSCE/ODIHR have opted for a multi-party approach for the programme to be implemented from 2006 to 2008, rather than only working with parties individually. The fact that IMD itself is a joint national institution that includes all relevant parties is expected to be conducive to the project. Its cross-partisan approach is expected to contribute to the improvement of the inter-party relations in Georgia and to the consolidation of a moderate multiparty system with consolidation of the existing parties. It is therefore crucial that the multi-partisan character of the project is maintained as much as possible. Bilateral meetings with political parties will be organised as a follow-up to the multiparty activities and will focus on topics related to the political party system, the administrative structure of Georgia and related competences for political parties at the local level, as well as the development of action plans regarding internal party issues like democratic participation of cadres and members. To ensure the ownership of the programme, the group of representatives of political parties will be maintained and will have monthly meetings to discuss schedule and content of the programme.  The long-term objectives of the program are to:
•  Improve the internal organisation and democracy of Georgian political parties;
•  Improve knowledge of politics and political institutions;
•  Encourage debate on the legal regulation of political parties and public funding as well as assistance with institutional development (especially with regard to legal matters);
• Increase the participation of youth and women