OCHA Georgia: IDP Bulletin Issue No. 3

Contents:
Programs for IDPs in Georgia:

• Individual Entrepreneur "Otar Khvistani" - Georgia Self-Reliance Fund (GSRF) Round I Winner
• Charity Humanitarian Center "Abkhazeti" (CHCA)
• Skill Trades And Re-employment Training (START) Program by Counterpart International
• Information, Counseling and Legal Aid for IDPs (ICLA) by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Assistance Situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Internally Displaced Persons and Post Conflict Zones in Georgia

Situational Updates:

• Geneva Process Update
• Sochi Process
• IDPs Discussed at Rights Commission

Interesting Information:

• "Regional Conflicts in Georgia - the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia, the Autonomous SS Republic of Abkhazia (1989-2000). The Collection of Political-Legal Acts"
• "An IDP's Reference Book"

IDP Statistics
Useful Links

Programs for IDPs in Georgia:

Individual Entrepreneur "Otar Khvistani" - Georgia Self-Reliance Fund (GSRF) Round I Winner

The New Approach to IDP Assistance and one of its components - Georgia Self-Reliance Fund (GSRF) was introduced to the IDP Bulletin readers in its first (October) issue.

In short, the New Approach partners (UNDP, UNHCR, World Bank and OCHA) established the Georgia Self-Reliance Fund (GSRF) in 2000 to determine more appropriate assistance programs and test potential projects to help the displaced people and their host communities take care of themselves and become self-sustainable. This has been done in cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The first round of competition was held from October 2000 to April 2001. The GSRF was seeking proposals for pilot programs, which would make use of creative, inventive and innovative concepts, strategies and modalities to help IDPs, their host families and their host communities improve their self-reliance.

Proposals to the GSRF Round I could only be accepted from legally constituted entities. Proposals, therefore, were welcome from national/legally registered NGOs, international NGOs/ organizations, registered community based organizations, accredited universities, legally incorporated businesses, and local government agencies. Consistent with the purpose of the GSRF, proposals were also welcome from communities comprised of IDPs and communities comprised of IDPs and local citizens.

Out of totally received 267 proposals, three applications were selected for the final consideration. One of these projects has been rejected and two have been approved. Below described are activities of the Individual Entrepreneur "Otar Khvistani" - the first winner of the GSRF Round I. We think that the detailed description of this project, problems faced and overcome, as well as its positive impact should be interesting and useful for readers, as well as for potential applicants for the GSRF Round III to be announced in the summer of 2003.

The project by the Individual Entrepreneur "Otar Khvistani" has been implemented from 28 February 2002 - 28 February 2003. The budget amounted to 99,394.10 US$. In brief, the project envisaged resettling of 10 IDP families in Tsalka district and involving them in agricultural activities. Beneficiaries of the project were not only IDP families, but the host (Greek) community of Tsalka as well.

Due to delays in the grant disbursement, some activities envisaged in the project were changed and adjusted to reflect the seasonal needs. The project started from bee breeding, planting of potato and barley (to ensure fodder for winter months). A decision to postpone the purchase of cows till the end of August (when, in general, prices for the cattle are lower) was made by the manager of the project with the intention to save money. Meantime 89 cows, 2 bulls, 1 sow with 8 piglets, 1 horse and 60 families of bees have been purchased. At present there are already 92 families of bees. 20 calves were delivered successfully.

The farm rehabilitation was considered as the next step in the implementation of the project. As there were no funds envisaged by the budget for this purpose, IDPs themselves rehabilitated the farm. The December monitoring mission evaluated the conditions of livestock and the rehabilitation of the farm as satisfactory.

Currently, the farm has 230 ha of land leased, including arable land (30 ha), pastures (100 ha), and hayfield (100 ha). The arable land was cultivated by potato (10 ha), barley (10 ha). 10 ha land was not cultivated yet. IDPs received 1,5 tons of honey from bee breeding activities. Honey will be their main source of income for the coming months.

Challenges/Problems Faced During the Project Implementation:

- Delay in funds disbursement;

- Bad weather conditions resulting in poor harvest of potato and barley;

- Repair of the water supply system was not included originally in the project, which made the provision of the farm with water difficult;

- Lack of applicant's experience in managing the grant money, lack of knowledge of UN reporting requirements. Mr. Khvistani was provided with consultations, and reporting improved;

- Lack of insurance services in the region did not allow insuring the livestock, which increased the risk of the project.

Positive Impact of the Project:

- The predominantly Greek population of Tsalka district also benefited from the project implementation. Local peasants were hired for different agricultural works and paid from the project budget. As a result of the mutual cooperation, friendly relationships were established between the new comers (IDPs) and local residents. Without any kind of financial support, IDPs rebuilt the school in the village, using old construction materials. The school was officially opened in September 2002. Both - Georgian and Greek children will attend the new school.

Lessons Learnt:

- The creation of a joint community of IDPs and local population and its development is quite possible, if both sides are ready for the cooperation and equal contributions. Participation of IDPs in local electoral campaign, supporting a local Greek candidate, proved that different community (i.e. IDPs) and ethnic minority groups could coexist and successfully cooperate;

- Activities envisaged in the agricultural project, should be as diverse as possible, because if some of the activities are not being implemented (e.g., due to weather conditions), other activities could easily substitute them, and IDPs will still receive the expected income. Also, if an applicant demonstrates a good expertise in the agricultural field and a high responsibility during the project implementation, s/he should be able to alternate different activities, based on changing conditions in the region;

- The experience of the project implementation shows that the purchase of the minimum machinery and technique for agricultural projects should be allowed. Otherwise, much more money will be spent on its rent, which does not support the sustainability of the project. To prevent the misuse of the procured equipment, it is possible to go for the purchase after certain period of time, i.e. after the project proves to be viable.

Future Plans:

- The success of the project allowed the Manager to invite two more IDP families, experienced in bee breeding, for spring. These additional costs will be covered by the IDP community itself.

Charity Humanitarian Center "Abkhazeti" (CHCA)

Increasing the self-reliance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is the main purpose of the Charity Humanitarian Center "Abkhazeti" (CHCA). This national NGO, established in 1995 provides socio-economic services to IDPs in Western Georgia. In 2003, the priority of the organization has been the Community Development Program, which incorporates three main dimensions.

First direction serves children and youth from vulnerable IDP families. This program funded by UNHCR has been working with thousands of children since 2000. It aims at assisting youth in realizing their socio-economic potential and increasing their participation in community development through training and capacity building. Network of youth clubs provides courses in the English language, computer, personal empowerment, business and civic education in five towns of Western Georgia. Children have opportunity to receive small grants to implement socially beneficial community projects, as well as to obtain interest-free loans for testing their business ideas in practice. Flow of the "currency" used in youth clubs and called "Boni", presents concept of time-money, promotes voluntarism culture among program participants. In 2003 the program is offering vocational training opportunities to IDP school-leavers. CHCA promotes linkages and networking among 25 youth clubs in Western Georgia contributing towards the creation of the regional youth associations active in the community development.

The program ensures involvement of wider community, which is crucial for the accumulation of the social capital in the society.

CHCA's second innovative scheme is the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) implemented in cooperation with four partner NGOs. The project was funded by the Georgia Self-Reliance Fund (GSRF) under the New Approach to IDP Assistance initiative. SIP was set up in the town of Tskaltubo where about 7,000 IDPs live mostly in collective centers. The first ten-months phase of the project is almost completed. To date IDPs from all collective centers have been organized into the flexible structure, formed by elected informal leaders. The governing body and SIP representatives are actively engaged in studying and solving social problems. IDPs themselves discuss problems and manage resources for funding small community projects. SIP serves IDPs to increase their knowledge, information and skills. All these factors ensure the better fulfillment of IDPs' rights. The creation of the primary health care units has been successfully completed. These networks of practitioners organized health surveillance system and provide primary health care services to every resident of Tskaltubo.

Moreover, SIP has become a serious instrument for lobbying on behalf of IDps and socially excluded groups. The organization established positive relationships with local authorities, and even serves as a consultative body regarding the issues of public concern. SIP is a place of dialogue and partnership between local and IDP population. SIP has acquired organizational capacity to continue independently provision of socially beneficial services to its constituents. It is remarkable, that formula "working together" creates positive impulse and constructive environment even in such a difficult place as Tskaltubo.

Recently, CHCA has been awarded a grant from the Dutch refugee Foundation (Stichting Vluchteling) to implement the project, which provides job opportunities to unemployed IDPs. This is the most vulnerable part of IDP community, which has been remained beyond the assistance of micro finance service-providers due to the lack of skills and assets. CHCA will provide beneficiaries with micro business start-up funds cooperating closely to develop their income generation activities. This financial scheme avoids grant component and considers the principles of participatory development. In fact, the outcome of the project is that IDPs will improve their status from "grantable" to "loanable", which itself represents a clear indicator of increased economic self-reliance. On the other hand, CHCA will support IDPs in setting up small enterprises and allowing them to become business owners alongside with intensive training and mentoring. In 2003, CHCA plans to serve 50 vulnerable IDP households by ensuring them with stable job opportunities.

Besides program activities, CHCA jointly with its partner NGOs strives to advocate on behalf of IDPs within the government and international community. Newly established CHCA Tbilisi office will mainly work on research, planning and advocacy of the issues concerning IDPs in Georgia. Detailed information about CHCA is available at the web-site: www.chca.org.ge.

Unfortunately, due to their small scale, the above-described activities of local NGOs cannot significantly change the general socio-economic picture. In reality they manage to address only small part of needs existing in the region. Therefore, it is crucially important to spread positive experience and expand NGOs' services to the wider part of the IDP community.

The information was kindly provided by the Charity Humanitarian Center "Abkhazeti" (CHCA)

(pdf* format - 219 KB)

Produced by OCHA-Georgia.

For more information, please contact Coordination Assistant

Ms. Tamuna Tsivtsivadze
Tel/Fax: 99532-959516; Tel: 99532-943163; e-mail: unocha@unocha.org.ge

Contributions are welcome to OCHA-Georgia Office at UN House, 9 Eristavi St., Tbilisi 380079, Georgia