Georgian PM announces state-funded grant for NGOs operating with “national interests”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday announced the establishment of a grant programme fully financed by the state budget to support domestic non-governmental organisations operating “in the national interests".

Kobakhidze made the announcement during a briefing held in the Government Administration, adding “necessary institutional and financial foundations” for the grant fund’s operation would be prepared within the next two months, while the first projects would be financed starting in January 2025.

The grant projects will focus on tasks aligned with the interests of the Georgian people. These tasks include strengthening democratic institutions, fighting corruption, addressing hybrid threats, caring for disabled people, protecting the environment, and safeguarding the rights and interests of ethnic and religious minorities”, he said.

NGOs doing commendable work for the Georgian people will receive one to two times more funding from the state budget than they previously obtained from foreign donors”, he added.

The Prime Minister also stated “every amount” allocated and spent within the grant programme would be transparent to the public.

The public will have the opportunity to verify the activities of relevant NGOs and how they correspond to the national interests of Georgia. We invite in advance all NGOs interested in advocating for the Georgian people and advancing the country’s national interests to actively take part in the competitions announced as part of the grant programme”, he said.

When it comes to free operation of organisations, the key to ensuring it is transparency. The main issue with many NGOs is their lack of transparency and accountability to the people and society of Georgia. In contrast, NGOs funded by the state budget will have complete transparency in their activities. This fundamental difference means that the public will be able to see how these organisations are financed and how they serve national interests”, Kobakhidze added.

The Prime Minister also said “freedom” would be the “starting point and guiding principle”, adding “no task can be effectively carried out without it”.

Kobakhidze noted more than 450 NGOs had applied to the Ministry of Justice for registration under the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence passed by the Parliament in May, requiring non-commercial entities and media outlets to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Subjects could submit their applications to register with the status at branches of the Public Service Hall in 30 cities across the country.

• Foreign transparency law registration deadline for Georgian-based organisations passes

Kobakhidze commended the organisations for their “civic responsibility” and emphasised that receiving foreign funding should not automatically imply pursuing the “negative interests of a foreign power”.

Those who have nothing to hide are not afraid of transparency [...] It is logical that NGOs operating with foreign funding that do not attempt to create a political agenda in Georgia, participate in revolutionary plans, undermine the country's religious identity, engage in LGBT propaganda, or create artificial obstacles for the construction of strategic economic facilities do not hesitate to register”, he said.

Kobakhidze also alleged the registration occurred “amid active pressure and threats from both local and foreign donor organisations” against the process.