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

international working for a major donor, “IDP feedback is only indirectly influencing decisions made bydonors on which priorities to finance.” 463 Speaking specifically of the European Union’s agenda-settingprocess, however, she noted that cooperation with other international agencies working directly withIDPs plays a “decisive” role in funding decisions. 464 Donors naturally have their own goals, and auniversal complaint among local civil society dependent on foreign donors is that donor policy oftenreflects the needs and interests of the donor more than those of the beneficiaries. It is important thatinternational actors seek to avoid this in their activities in Georgia. Moreover, they should continue tobe proactive in using their leverage in favor of greater IDP inclusion in policymaking.International Influence on the Peace Process and IDP ReturnIn many ways, international organizations and donors fail to put explicit pressure on the Georgiangovernment and other parties to the conflict to come to an agreement in the peace process. Thisdirectly impacts IDPs in that a lack of a settlement prevents their safe and dignified return to their placesof origin, as the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement stipulates. International actors play a keyrole in influencing the peace process, however. Unseen backchannel dialogues between internationalactors and parties to the conflict have undoubtedly impacted the political calculations of those involved.However, the policies of the major international donors and organizations working on IDP issues –among them the European Union, UNHCR and other UN agencies – are avowedly apolitical, making itdifficult for these international actors to vocally assert the need for greater inclusion of IDPs in peaceprocesses as a means to conflict resolution. 465International organizations and local civil society have recently been successful in pressing for greaterinclusion of women (and among them, IDP women) in peace processes at all levels. As previouslymentioned, this culminated in the adoption of the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. It remains to beseen whether or not this action plan will provide the critical political leverage to have the role of womenIDPs in peace processes supported at both the Track I and Track II levels.Opportunities to Leverage Political Factors in Favor of IDP ParticipationWe have described the significant role international actors, particularly major Western donors, play inGeorgian policymaking. The international community should look to improving opportunities for IDPs,who are experts on their own needs and interests, to influence donor priorities. They should also workto create targeted incentives for the Georgian government to adopt a more systematic participatoryapproach to policymaking around IDPs. Displaced persons and IDP advocates should also seek toincrease political pressure to include IDPs in decision-making by tying their concerns to issues facingGeorgia as a whole (such as poverty and unemployment). Greater collaboration with a range of politicalactors on cross-cutting issues would help IDPs gain allies and secure a seat at the table. Both new and463 Caroline Stampfer, Personal Interview.464 Caroline Stampfer, Personal Interview.465 UNHCR Representative, Personal Interview.89