SOCIETY

Team Europe: EU, France & the Czech Republic Launch Project on Social Protection in Georgia

The European Union, France and the Czech Republic have joined forces to strengthen the social protection system in Georgia. The signing event allowed the parties to kick off the project and show their common engagement in improving access to social protection and the extension of social rights and coverage of the Georgian population.

The cooperation agreement was signed at Embassy of the Czech Republic in Georgia on November 10 to mark the beginning of an EU-project implemented by Expertise France (Agence Française de Développement Group − AFD Group) and the Czech Development Agency (CzDA), with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia (MoIDPHLSP).

Their Excellencies, Petr Mikyska, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Georgia, and Diego Colas, Ambassador of France to Georgia, and Catalin Gherman, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation, attended the signing ceremony. Tamila Barkalaia, Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the occupied territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia presented her ministry’s perspective, followed by with a short presentation of the project.

“Social protection goes back to the core values of the European Union. In a democracy, it is all of our responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable members of society, to make sure that everyone can be part of social life and the democratic process,” said Mr. Gherman. “This is especially relevant in times of COVID-19, where many people need additional support and protection. We are therefore proud to launch this new project together with our Team Europe partners, and look forward to many positive steps over the coming years.”

“There is a global alliance between the French and Czech Development Agencies and I am very happy that this fi nds an application here in Georgia,” said Ambassador Colas. “We strongly support the choice of the Georgian people and of successive governments to build a strong, dynamic, European democracy in Georgia, and it makes sense to do this with another dynamic successful Eastern European democracy such as the Czech Republic. The implementation of this joint project, to strengthen the delivery of social services and work towards the social code, will be a key aspect of this broader democracy and institution building agenda”.

“Development of the Social Code is a key reform that will direct Georgia towards the establishment of an effective social welfare management system, including decentralization of provision of social protection,” noted Czech ambassador Mikyska. “The Czech Development Agency is happy to join the forces with Expertise France and move a long-term successful partnership with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia to a new level.”

“By elaborating the Social Code, we aim at creating broader perspective of social welfare,” stated Deputy Minister Barkalaia. “Our goal is to guarantee that Georgian citizens are protected from social risks from childhood to old age. Therefore, relevant healthcare and social protection systems and mechanisms need to be developed. This will be a big step forward towards European and international Standards.”

The project Strengthening Social Protection in Georgia aims at supporting the Government of Georgia and state organizations in improving social services, evidence-based policy making and extending social protection rights. The project will last 24 months with implementing partners Expertise France and Czech Development Agency.

The project will focus on three components. The first component will improve access and delivery of social services and remittances from Social Service Agency (SSA) and at local level. The second component of the project will support better analysis of information and the creation of communication materials around social rights and promotion of social work. The third component will support the Ministry in the elaboration of the social code in extending social rights in Georgia through a collaborative and inclusive process, following evidence-based policy and legislation proposals.

The project is now offi cially launched and is in its inception phase. The fi rst action of the project will be to identify key policies and strategies for improving delivery and access to social protection services in Georgia.

Once Bitten: Etseri, Svaneti

BLOG BY TONY HANMER

The shop doorbell rang, and after I called, “Come in!”, His Highness Prince Alain Murat of Chkaduashi, Mingrelia (also a descendant of Napoleon) walked in. Along with a family of four from France, the parents both dentists, the boys along for the ride. A total surprise, but the Prince and Princess do occasionally show up unannounced. I welcomed them and their driver in.

“My friends are in Svaneti with a large gift for the dentists of Mestia: some equipment from their practice in Paris, now being replaced but still very much useful,” he said. “Would it be possible for you to interview them for Georgia Today?” Delighted, I replied, always glad to showcase local connections with outside and aid coming in. I seated them at our dining table with coffee, put my cellphone on a tripod to record, and began. The interview below is edited for brevity and clarity.

What brought you to Georgia?

Dr. Thomas Clément: I grew up traveling a lot with my parents, and decided to continue this with my wife, Marta, originally from Poland, and our two teenage boys. Our fi rst visit to Georgia was in 2018, but it was really only for a few days, an introduction. It had been my dream to come here for a long time after hearing so many people say what a marvelous place it is. We loved it then, though.

We try to combine traveling and working. I wanted to make a long trip by car as my uncle used to: I visited Afghanistan with him when that was possible, and although now it is not, I wanted to cross all of Europe and reach the border of Iran as he did, to enter all the Caucasus countries in honor of him. We also began asking ourselves what we could do to help where we go; we have all this dental equipment which we needed to replace but which is still totally useful, and decided to bring it.

A patient of mine was the former Ambassador of France to Georgia, and he put me in touch with the Prince and Princess. We wanted to put everything into a car we bought for the trip, took two months off, arranged everything… and then Corona came! We had to rethink everything and to send the equipment by truck. The fi rst part was partly “disappeared” by Customs here, and they also wanted $5000 to get it back last year! Nightmares. The Princess went and “talked” to Customs, found someone there she knew, and the French Embassy tried to help; but not with total success. A dental company in Austria, and also one in Germany, gave us many thousands of Euros’ worth of equipment… and most of it disappeared here. We sent clothes to the Prince and Princess as well, and these they delivered to needy families [including some here in Etseri]. This was very stimulating for us, seeing the photos, and enabled us to arrange more aid.

Some of the dental equipment which we did not send by truck made it through to Kaspi and Mestia, and we have seen it in place, and we now know how to proceed with future projects. A couple of architects, Mr and Mrs Caravit, she is Bulgarian and he is Austrian, were the only company which gave us money to make this thing possible. They are also involved in a project in Congo, Africa, a school for deaf children, and I made a donation to this in exchange.

“We have not made it to Georgia by car yet (never say never!); we fl ew here this time for a week, to see how things are going in person, so much better than trying to understand it from a distance. It’s diffi cult to get motivation from donors, though, if you have to explain that everything is “complicated”!”

***

We also took the Prince and the family to buy some honey from my neighbor, and then to the school, where they were well met with great interest. They will be back, I have no doubt. Georgian Customs, though… needs some work…

Their websites, in French and English: www.drs-clement.fr and www.smilecaucase.fr

And…as always at the moment, in Georgia’s current political season, #mishavs means: “It matters to me”!

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/ groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti