Georgia

Last updated: 09.12.2011

Bilateral development co-operation

According to the Estonian development co-operation strategy for 2011-2015, Georgia is one of the priority partner countries together with five (5) other EU Eastern partnership countries and Afghanistan.

Estonian development co-operation with Georgia concentrates on supporting education, good governance and democracy-building, as well as economic development and environmental sustainability.

In 2010, the Foreign Ministry rendered more than 300 000 EUR bilateral assistance for Georgia and will continue to contribute in 2011 around the same amount. In 2008 the allocated sum was up to 1,1 million EUR due to the humanitarian assistance needs after the war.

Major part of the projects have been focusing to trainings and counselling partners in Georgia. Also infrastructure projects have been launched. Besides allocations from the bilateral assistance budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, projects are also funded from budgets of other governmental institutions and local governments.

In addition to governmental means and experts sent to Georgia, thousands of Estonians have supported the country through Red Cross, Estonian Union for Child Welfare and through co-operation between schools and local governments, which are well received by Georgians. For example there is close cooperation between local municipalities of cities Keila and Chiatura. Estonian expat community in Georgia has also contributed by renovating rooms for computer and English classes in peripheral school in the valley of Pankisi, what is located more than 300 km away from Tbilisi (see the above photo).

Construction of playgrounds in Savšvebi refugee’s village, near Gori, in September 2010.

The following projects are some examples of what are or have been carried out with the support of the development co-operation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

Projects in 2010 and 2011

Construction of Children and Youth Playgrounds in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) villages of Shida-Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
The aim of the project was to support the IDP communities, particularly the children and the youth through building public playgrounds. Playgrounds complemented the facilities already operating as Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) in some of the IDP villages. The need for CFS-s and playgrounds for the children was expressed by the IDP communities during on site visits in September 2009 and by letters by the communities. Five children’s playgrounds and four youth playgrounds have been installed and equipped. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 53 689 EUR.
Development of European Union-Georgia Mobility partnership.
Project implemented by the Estonian Public Service Academy. As a result of the project respective Georgian agencies were trained to observe the repossession procedures. Other topics of the 4-day long seminar covered identification of documents and detention of a person. 20 387 EUR was allocated from the budget of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Scholarships for Georgian and Moldovan young diplomats and civil servants for 2010/2011.
Project implemented by the Estonian School of Diplomacy (ESD). As a result of the project, four young diplomats/civil servants were trained in Estonia during 9 months. The ESD curricula in English “International relations and European Integration” has been increasingly popular, attracting more and more students since 2005/2006. 23 396 EUR was allocated from budget of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Eastern partnership seminars and conference 2010 – in April 2010 and November 2010 two seminars were conducted in Tallinn, focusing on the Local Governance Reform for the higher and medium level government employees of Eastern Partnership countries (Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). A more general conference on Eastern Partnership issues will follow in November.
Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 32 100 EUR.
Supporting the improvement of the quality of teaching at the social faculties of Tbilisi and Batumi Universities, raising the qualification of the lectures and implement the effective e-learning system. Project implemented by the Tallinn University is realized in September 2010 - September 2012, with Estonian share of 115 365 EUR.
Traffic prevention among school pupils of Tbilisi by experience of Estonia.
The aim of the project is to share the experiences of the Estonian Police work in prevention work and lessen the traffic injuries. For this purpose a practical course of the prevention work will be carried out in the schools of Tbilisi and the application and correct usage of reflector is introduced. Project is funded from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 201 EUR and implemented by SA Lõuna Koolitus during September-December 2010.
Transferring the experience of Estonian business support system development, implementation and youth training in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps of business start-up and possibilities for SME’s in Georgia. Project is implemented by the Harju Economic Development Centre during November 2010 - October 2011. This pilot project is focussing on developing entrepreneurship skills among young people and contributing to alleviating the unemployment issues in the refugee community. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 26 347 EUR.
Computerizing European Library in European House in Tbilisi.
Project of Estonian Embassy in Tbilisi. European House Foundation in Tbilisi was launched in 2009 to create European information centre and cultural meeting point in the middle of Tbilisi. During 2010 Estonia has funded the project of computerizing the European Library with 5 238 EUR, to provide access to information about Europe, the European Union and its Member States.
Study tour of the Georgian Data Exchange Agency to Tallinn.
The purpose of the project was to familiarize with the Estonian fellow Agency’s work and the information system architecture (X-road). The project was carried out in May 2010. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 3 687 EUR.
The rehabilitation of the Georgian refugee kids in summer camps in Estonia.
In 2010 still hundreds of thousands of the refugees were living in temporary habitations and had no opportunities for summer vacations. During July-August 2010, 13 young people took part in a summer camp in Estonia and socialized with Estonian youth. Project was funded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 4 241 EUR and implemented by the NGO Soometsa Külaselts.
Scholarships (6) for the Georgian Master degree students in Estonian Universities (Tallinn Technical University, Tartu University, Tallinn University) during the 2010/11 Academic Year. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 32 055 EUR.
Support to the Gali Women’s Association in Abkhazia.
Project of the Embassy of Estonia in Tbilisi is carried out since 2009. As a result of the project, the approximately 50 000 residents of the region have access to first aid and psychological assistance in Gali, a region populated by ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 6400 EUR
Support to Psycho-Rehabilitation Center.
The project supports in 2011 the Gali Psycho-Rehabilitation Center in order to provide free of charge medical and psychological assistance to those in need in the region. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 5000 EUR
Support to the Development of Georgian Vocational Education and Training (part 2) by Foundation Innove. The aim of the project is to support the Georgian vocational education and training centres and the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science in enhancing the quality of vocational education in the framework of the Georgian education strategy and the objectives of vocational education in EU. Project period 2011-2013. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 99 135 EUR
Obstetrics care collaboration project of midwives of Tartu and Batum
The aim of the project is to pass our practical experience to Georgian midwives so it could, with minimal resources, be realised in development and arrangement of Batum obstetrics practice immediately. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 29 730 EUR
Tbilisi State University Start-up Enterprise Workshops Project by Areneva Eesti Foundation. The project seeks to improve the reputation of entrepeneurship and teach the recent graduates the necessary skills to start their own businesses. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 38 177 EUR
Distribution of Estonian enterprising experience and support of start-up businesses in Georgia by Harju Economic Development Centre. The aim of the project is to develop entrepreneurship, increase employment and reduce poverty by developing the Georgians' entrepreneurial ability and sustainability of businesses. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 50 586 EUR
Construction of traffic grounds to Georgian pupils based on the Estonian example by Lõuna Koolitus Foundation. The idea of the project is to continue the development of traffic prevention and build traffic grounds with correspondent equipment – traffic signs, traffic lights, etc on the territory of two Georgian schools. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 45 989 EUR
Good Citizens' School
The idea of the project is to continue the development of traffic prevention and build traffic grounds with correspondent equipment – traffic signs, traffic lights, etc on the territory of two Georgian schools. The project is implemented by the Estonian NATO Foundation. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 40 888 EUR
Developing Tourism Entrepreneurship in the Bathumi region in Georgia and the Simpheropol region in Ukraine. The project aims to develop regional tourism entrepreneurhsip in Bathumi region in Georgia and Simpheropol region in Ukraine (Crimea) through (1) sharing and learning from the experience of the cluster of Pärnu region tourism destination and (2) the cooperation between universities providing tourism education in Estonia and in Georgia and Ukraine. The projevt is implemented by the University of Tartu, Pärnu College. Funding from the Development Cooperation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 39 863 EUR

Eastern Partnership Training Centre

Starting from 2011 the Eastern Partnership Training Centre started to operate in Tallinn. Based on the experiences of Estonian School of Diplomacy, the training centre has been created for arranging training programs and seminars related to various aspects of good governance reform to the government officials from EU Eastern Partnership countries, including Georgia. An important aspect of the work of the centre is enhancing the regional cooperation and integration of the Eastern Partnership Countries.
The activities of the Centre are funded from the development co-operation budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.