Parliament committee chair calls for “more open and transparent” NGO funding

Irakli Kadagishvili, the chair of the rules and procedural issues committee of the parliament of Georgia, on Monday said it would be “good” if the funding of domestic non-governmental organisations was made “more open and transparent”.

Kadagishvili recognised the role of the NGOs in helping civil society and the country in “institutional development”, but added concern over their alleged “use” in political interests.

Activities of non-governmental organisations help civil society and the country in institutional development, but when we see that a non-governmental organisation is directly used as a tool of political struggle, this is unacceptable for the nature of [NGOs]”, the parliament official said.

He said the funding of the organisations “really needs more transparency”, adding “it would be good if other non-governmental organisations also have the opportunity to obtain international grants”.