Awarding ceremony of contest for journalists working on social topics will take place at Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel (hall Kala) on December 26 at 2 p.m. "Welfare Initiative- Caring for Each Other" - this is a name of contest initiated and organized by Civil Society Institute for the second time.
For more information please apply:
Civil Society Institute
2, May 26 Square, V floor
Tbilisi 0171, Georgia
Phone: +995 32 941 605/330 417

Civil Society Institute announces Let Us Care for Each Other Award for the journalists working on the social welfare related issues.
Award aims to increase public awareness of the social welfare issues.
Would be winners shall compete in 4 nominations:

• Best TV Story
• Best Radio Story
• Best Article
• Best Photo

Nomination winners shall be awarded with a Diploma and money prize of 1,000 GEL!

Within the framework of Legal Program of Civil Society Institute Monitoring of Labor Code of Georgia has been carried out in May-July of the current year. Monitoring aimed to expose deficiencies of the Labor Code of Georgia and propose appropriate recommendations. Monitoring has been carried out in cooperation with Open Society Georgia Foundation as part of the ongoing Civil Society Involvement in Legislative Process Project. Researches have been carried out in Tbilisi and Batumi with target groups selected in advance, up to 50 respondents (employed, employers, judges, independent experts, trade unionists, lawyers) participated in the research.
Monitoring Report (Georgian version)
Recommendations (Georgian version)

On September 26-30 and October 1-4, 2008 in Tbilisi, at Conference Hall of Public Broadcasting Company, Project and Time Management Training has been carried out for the benefit of Public Broadcasting Company high and middle management.

On September 17, within the framework of Economic Development Program, Agricultural Fair has been held in Batumi where first year harvest of Economic Development Program has been brought for sale. 21 beneficiaries from Adjara highlands participated in the Fair. 8 tons of potatoes, 1,5 tons of tomatoes and 25 kg of honeys is to be sold.

On September 12-19, 2008 Training in to HR Management and Effective Communication has been held for the benefit of Adjara Ministries and Tourism Department representatives in Batumi Intourist Hotel Conference Hall.

On July 3-5, 2008, in Bazaleti Hotel Complex Bazaleti European Center for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL) in cooperation with Civil Society Institute and financial support of European Union (EU) has held regional conference on New Opportunities: Government - Civil Society Relations.

On June 27-29 in Batumi Hotel Tanamgzavri, 3 day training has been held for the benefit of former South Ossetia Autonomous District Territory Provisional Administration Government Members and representatives of self-governance units, dedicated to budget system and financial management related issues.

Training aimed at increase of theoretical knowledge of Provisional Administration representatives as well as acquisition of practical skills in budget preparation and execution, accounting and control.

On June 13-24, 2008, Training in Project and Team Management and Innovations in Public Administration has been held for the benefit of Adjara Ministries and Tourism Department representatives in Bakuriani Village Hotel Victoria.

The Training aimed at increase of theoretical knowledge of the personnel of the Ministries and Tourism Department of Public Administration, Project and Team Management basics and delivery of innovations thus helping authorities of the bodies mentioned to improve management practices and increase performance efficiency.

Within the frame of Strengthening the Legal Framework for Citizen Action through Freedom of Association Project being implemented in collaboration with ECNL and with financial support of European Union, draft law on State Grants has been elaborated by the working group made up of Civil Society Institute representatives and invited experts. Initially state grants regulations as elaborated by the working group have been intended to make part of the law on Grants currently in force, yet, following particularities of issuing grants by the state that are significantly different from grant relations between private entities, it has been decided to prepare separate draft law.

3 day Training has been carried out by Civil Society Institution experts with financial support of ECNL/EU in Zugdidi. Training has been attended by 18 representatives of 10 non-governmental organization. The training subjects have been selected, on the one hand, to reflect recent amendments to non-commercial legislation and, on the other, based on requests collected by Civil Society Institute and encompassed the following:

• Foundation and Registration of Non-for-profit Legal Entities;
• Acquisition of Charity Organization Status;
• Participation in State Procurement.

For a year running, Civil Society Institute with financial support of OXFAM Georgia is engaged in implementation of Agriculture Project aiming to support acquisition of intensive agricultural production technologies, rising awareness of populations’ poorer layers engaged in Agriculture and development of agriculture skills in Samegrelo and Adjara regions.

On March 5, in Courtyard Marriot, welfare journalists competition award ceremony took place. Event has been attended by mass-media, international and local non-governmental organizations representatives.

On February 27-29 of the current year, Efficient Organization Model, Management Basics and Managerial Skills Training has been held in Tbilisi Hotel Tori for Public Welfare Organizations. Training was aiming to acquaint participants with efficient organization model, general principles of management and new approaches, improvement of practical management skills.

On February 16-17, 2008, in Batumi Hotel Inturist, for the benefit to Adjara Autonomous Republic Government Apparatus Heads of Departments and Personnel, presentation of human resources management and project management guidebooks has been held

On February 4-6, 2008, in Bakuriani Hotel Vilavita, 3-day training for former South Ossetia Provisional Administration Personnel has been held on management and management organization basics. The training formed first step of Provisional Administration Institutional Development and Support Project and constituted third event of the first step.

Civil Society Institute is honored to inform you that on December 7, 2007, the Parliament of Georgia has passed on third reading draft law of Georgia – Amendment to Tax Code of Georgia. Among others, Article 281 Clause 23 has been altered, whose edition in force has been regulating issues related to 12% income taxation of wages paid to citizens of Georgia out of granted funds and by international organizations enjoying diplomatic status and which has been questioned due to its ambiguity. In amended edition technical defects have been eliminated and thus, up till 2011, wages paid to citizens of Georgia out of granted funds and by international organizations enjoying diplomatic status shall be taxed with income tax equal to 12%. Civil Society Institute would like to thank MP Mr. Shota Gvenetadze and Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Vazha Petriashvili for support given in amending questionable Article. New edition of the Article (in Georgian).