Georgian PM highlights “specific, standard” criteria for state-funded grant for NGOs

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said the criteria for the recently announced plans for state funding for non-governmental organisations would be not registration but “specific, standard” requirements, in particular “experience, competence and integrity”.

The PM 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".

Registration is not a criterion for funding NGOs. Moreover, it can be an organisation that is not funded from abroad at all, therefore it does not have to register in the registry, and it can, of course, submit an application [for funding]”, Kobakhidze said.

“There will be specific criteria for granting funding, which are experience, integrity and competence. These are standard criteria”, he noted.

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