Promoting IDPs' and Women's Voices in Post-Conflict Georgia

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IDP COMMUNITIES AND NGOS‣ Strengthen community organizing for IDPs to participate in politics (Immediate to IntermediateTerm)IDP NGOs should continue and expand social mobilization efforts around IDPs specific needs andinterests in their communities, while at the same time purposefully making connections with IDP NGOSand communities in other municipalities and regions to establish a network to facilitate shared learningand cooperation. Once established, this network can attempt to address wider issues of IDPparticipation, providing a forum for IDPs to choose whether or not they think it appropriate or desirableto embark on more broad-based national advocacy campaigns.Given conflicting issues with IDP identity, IDP NGOs should engage IDPs in broad discussions about thevalue, relevance, and opportunities for promoting a national identity-based movement as opposed tofocusing on individual needs and interests at the local level. This effort should also include a discussionregarding the role of local populations in these efforts and ways in which IDPs can promote connectionswith other members of their communities.The network should consider calling on and capitalizing on the resources and abilities of a wide range ofIDPs, including those who already hold positions of influence in society, which they can leverage topromote IDP interests at the national level. This nationwide campaign of community organizing thatcould first target IDP collective centers and then expand to include IDPs in private accommodations whomay initially be harder to reach. Such a project would require financial support and capacity buildingfrom international donors, and perhaps the Government, which could participate as well through theinvolvement of the MRA.‣ Support capacity building for IDPs to participate in politics (Immediate to Intermediate Term)NGOs should build on efforts to conduct workshops and trainings for IDPs that promote their capacity toengage in public life. Leadership and public speaking trainings, for example, could be modeled on effortsto promote women’s political participation while taking a gender-sensitive approach that addressesboth women’s and men’s participation. NGOs should also engage in broader efforts and learning aroundcommunity building. Immediate quantifiable outputs are important, but this programming can alsosignificantly benefit from a long-term perspective. This should assess the overall effectiveness andsustainability of political skills-building in promoting IDP fellowship and self-esteem, with an ultimateimpact of increasing participation and improving governance.102