Background:
A strong legal system and independent judiciary are the cornerstones of democracy. Georgia has made many legislative changes and took significant steps towards establishing judicial independence in the country. Despite such positive changes, many critics argue that Georgian judiciary has yet to become a truly independent branch of the government. Numerous assertions have been made by local civil society organizations (CSOs) and international organizations about the lack of judicial independence, which seems to be a problem in administrative and criminal law cases. In such context, it is important that civil society unites efforts in monitoring the on-going judicial system reform and advocates for an independent and transparent judiciary. Therefore, the Civic Initiative for an Independent Judiciary (CIIJ) project, implemented by Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) and funded by the USAID through East West Management Institute, acquires a special significance.
Goal:
The project is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of legal professional associations, legal rights NGOs, business and professional association. Under CIIJ, EPF aims to engage the local civil society in monitoring the relevant judicial practices and advocating for an independent judiciary. To support judicial independence and transparency, the project participants will undertake the following activities:
• EPF will lead the effort to establish a Coalition for an Independent and Transparent Judiciary, to promote the civil society engagement and government accountability in pursuit of an independent and efficient judiciary. The coalition will foster collaboration and avoid redundancy among the partners and other organizations, unite the CSOs in their monitoring and advocacy efforts, and facilitate legislative and regulatory advocacy in support of further judicial reforms.
• EPF will also issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for advocacy grants to an NGO or to a coalition of at least two NGOs (or a NGO and a media outlet) to promote policy debates and changes in Georgia’s legal system. During the first and third years of the project, EPF will award at least 8 grants for monitoring, advocacy, and public education campaigns.
• To provide quality legal representation to the public in civil, administrative, and criminal law matters, EPF will hold a publicly announced competition to award grants to NGOs willing and able to provide legal services to those segments of population that need it the most. As a result of this grant competition, EPF will award at least four grants during year 1 and an additional four grants in year 3 of the project.
• To help build a stronger and more sustainable NGO community dedicated to democracy and the rule of law development in Georgia, EPF will work with partner NGOs receiving JILEP-supported grants on improving their institutional capacity, through the use of its innovative CMI tool. The CMI will be implemented in two rounds (tied to the grant-making). Grantees will undergo an initial and then a final assessment at the end of the grant period. EPF will consult and assist its grantees in organizational development throughout the lifetime of the grant. Following each organization’s initial, baseline capacity-mapping report, EPF will work together with each organization to collaboratively design an organizational development plan with recommendations and concrete steps to be taken over the course of the grant period.
Throughout the term of the project, EPF’s Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) will engage in baseline collection efforts aimed at measuring the opinions of the public, legal professional groups and court users regarding the independence of Georgian judiciary. It will also conduct focus group sessions among different groups to estimate public opinion regarding judiciary in the country. These efforts will continue throughout the year to measure the impact of the project.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Eurasia Partnership Foundation is seeking an evaluation consultant or team of consultants to undertake an evaluation of a television talk-show, the European Choice. The talk-show is produced with financial support of Eurasia Partnership Foundation and is broadcasted on 1st TV Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster.
Monday, 23 January 2012
On January 23rd, 2012, Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) organised a presentation of the Georgian Media Landscape Survey report:The Georgian Media: Popular Assessments and Development Perspectives.
Friday, 13 January 2012
On January 16, 2012, Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) is holding a presentation of the survey report: Knowledge and Attitudes toward the European Union in Georgia. EPF’s Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) carried out the baseline survey to study Georgia’s knowledge and attitudes toward the EU in 2009 and in 2011, conducted a follow-up assessment. Using the results from the 2009 and 2011 surveys, the EPF/CRRC will present an overview of public’s knowledge of and attitudes toward the European Union and provide information on if and how things have changed over the past two years. At the same time, the report will highlight Georgian public’s attitudes toward their own political system, charting changes in this area as well. For more information about the event, see the press release attached:
Copyright © 2007 Eurasia Partnership. Last updated: Tuesday, 21 February 2012
This website is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and do not necessarily represent the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.
This web site has been financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida. Sida does not necessarily share the views expressed in this material. Responsibility for its contents rests entirely with the author.
