For better involvement of community members, community mobilizers implemented various measures in all three target communities, such as: informing and consulting; community social media group (Baisubani, Khurvaleti, and Rukh community platforms); Selection of project volunteers (community members as volunteers are involved in the maintenance and operation of low-carbon technologies installed at three facilities. As a result of the project implementation, they have enough information to perform minor maintenance and operation works); Training, community events, and strengthening of existing platforms: Engagement with CCC network members was done through existing platforms. CCC network member organizations were given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with three demonstration projects in their region. In order to inform the local community about climate change, a project video was prepared and distributed, a media briefing was held, and continuous engagement was carried out through social media platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkh41HBkWKE&t=131s
https://mcm.ge/152942/?fbclid=IwAR1p-q6apuKt98hMZRCQzg1O4wo_R37ZWaHGNRS4Sy876zCuJYjMyJU2u1Q
In August 2021, an online meeting was held with the GEF small grants program coordinators on raising the project's financial reporting and visibility. The project coordinator and financier attended the meeting.
For the three target communities, CHCA implemented the following capacity-building activities: 1. In the framework of community mobilization process (social media communication principles and methods for community leaders; providing knowledge on solar panels and basics of their functioning and maintenance to the local communities); 2.Trainings (increased knowledge of target groups (local community members, CCC network member NGOs, local self-government representatives) on climate, energy efficiency, clean energy, and participatory governance); 3. support in advocacy and representation of interests of the local population in the local administrative bodies).
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Information about the goals, objectives, and results of the project was provided to community members, community organizations, and other interested persons as a result of various types of communication. Personal and electronic means of communication were used in the project. During the project, media releases about the actions of the project and the results achieved within it were posted on the web and social media pages of CHCA. Through a round table discussion, project results, and adopted practices were discussed with stakeholders and future synergies were planned. Information about the results of the project was disseminated through a media briefing. The energy efficiency manual with recommendations was disseminated to relevant stakeholders from central, local government, and NGO representatives. The manual is a Georgian-language document that includes information on both energy efficiency and the advantages of obtaining energy from renewable sources. Green initiatives were planned and covered by the local budget.
Gender Focus
Research conducted by us prior to the implementation of the project revealed gender inequality and increasing burden of household chores on women due to distance learning, increased hygiene needs in target regions with low access to basic hygiene, sanitation equipment and household technologies. Gender roles were unevenly distributed in the target communities. Local people's views on stereotypical activities of men and women contributed to the unequal distribution of livelihoods and opportunities, which determined women's poverty and marginalization, lack of representation in decision-making processes at the family and community levels. The project has empowered women and women's groups as key actors in climate change mitigation, clean energy promotion and engagement with local administrative bodies. Women were represented at each stage of the project. They also have enhanced abilities and become stronger as a result of capacity building trainings. Although problems with gender equality still remain in the community, as a result of the measures implemented within the project, the role of women as community leaders has significantly increased that leads to the gradual improvement towards authentic equality. All activities of the project were subject to gender mainstreaming and there was an opportunity for equal participation of women and men in its activities.
Notable Community Participation
The project employed different instruments for involving young people. These included: 1. meetings and consultations with the local young people as a part of community mobilization activities; 2. engaging the local young people as volunteers of the project in the project implementation areas; 3. young people through trainings grew their capacities on the topics of climate change, energy efficiency, and participatory governance; 4. A group of young people in the village of Baisubani developed a "green" initiative and in the framework of the project, they implemented a green event (tree planting) in the yard of the public school of Baisubani; 5. organisations working on the issues of young people from the CCC network were empowered in the framework of the project; 6. Among the volunteers of the project are young people with technical education, who have the opportunity to undergo a short practice on solar energy systems (panels and supporting equipment) installed in the three target communities of the project.; 7. local high schoolers with the support of their teachers were invited to observe the functioning of the installed solar panels. Through direct interaction with technology, the interest of young people, including girls, in technical professions has increased.
Policy Impact
The project has improved participatory governance on environmental issues. As a result of the project, low-level governance, local self-government and community participation in achieving local environmental goals have been strengthened. At the budgeting stage of the local self-government, advocacy was carried out on environmental issues important to community members. Social service providers have been informed and capacitated to encourage their transition to clean energy sources. Within the project, a survey of energy consumption of social service providers was carried out, based on which the interest of these institutions in the production of clean energy was identified. Ultimately, the project contributed to the achievement of the priorities of the 2021-2023 action plan of the 2030 Climate Change Strategy of Georgia in terms of the energy generation and transmission sector, which includes a 15% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in this area compared to the baseline scenario
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project implemented actions to improve alternative living conditions, specifically, the supply of electricity generated by low-carbon, solar energy-receiving technologies by social service institutions to three target sites (a total of 50 beneficiaries, 15 educators, and employees). With this action, the three institutions save expenses for electricity and water heating. With the savings received, a new social service was introduced for local communities, home care and service for 20 bedbound senior persons. In addition, funding the three "green" projects was supported as part of the project's advocacy campaign, which reduced the harmful emissions into the environment.
project activities are gender-mainstreamed so that women and men could equally participate.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The project's knowledge management was carried out through different methods of sharing and disseminating the knowledge and experience gathered during the project: 1. By the participants themselves: Project participants who were provided with information on the project topic were appropriately empowered to share their experiences with members of their family, community and social circles. 2. training sessions, meetings, information sessions and discussion groups within the project. 3. in the context of events organised by the CCC network. 4. useful information for the project was recorded in the energy efficiency manual developed as part of the project. Based on local and international experiences, including a focus group survey of CCC network member organizations, the manual was developed. Each chapter of the guide concludes with recommendations regarding energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies. Stakeholders from the central government, local government, and civil society received the manual. The manual is available online at the Charity Humanitarian Center "Abkhazeti", 5. The results of the project were shared with Zugdidi Shota Meskhia University. At the meeting, students discussed the technical aspects of installing, operating, and maintaining energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies, as well as the need for programs. 6. brochures are widely distributed in target communities and at project events. 7. A promo video about the project, which outlines the project's objectives and community involvement in climate change mitigation measures, has been disseminated through various means. 8. Project results are accessible to more youth, women, and community members through project volunteering and project practice. Information about the project and its results, including visibility materials, was placed on the web and social media pages of the Center "Abkhazia", through a media briefing, and disseminated at the organization's events within the project and after the end of the project.
Project Results
As a result of the project, information on climate change mitigation measures, as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency benefits, became available to target groups in the Georgian language, ensured by the project manual with recommendations, and brochures. The role of citizens and NGOs in environmental and climate change mitigation, including through clean and renewable energy sources, has been enhanced through opportunities offered by the project: community mobilization activities, installed demonstration solar systems, volunteering, and practice. Solar energy systems have been installed at the three target facilities and clean, renewable energy is available for the beneficiaries of the three social service providers.
The local community members, as well as 38 CCC network member organizations, raised their interest in transforming and managing the energy systems of more than 100 community centers and institutions under their management (1,200 beneficiaries), as well as improving their advocacy opportunities.
The local authorities of the three municipalities in the target communities and the ministry of internally displaced persons from the occupied territories, labor, health, and social affairs of Georgia, as stakeholders and supporters, had been actively involved in the planning and implementation of ?green? projects by ccc community organizations and local community members.
The six thematic trainings of the project were attended by 90 participants (international and local experts, public servants, the president of the "ccc network", leaders of the community center) and a rounded table discussion was held with the project participants, donors, and external stakeholders.
Three "green" projects have been developed and donors found. Ultimately, the project had been one of the incentives for the transition to renewable and clean energy sources in social service providers in Georgia, which would facilitate the transformation of the sector as a whole into energy efficient and renewable, and promote the use of clean energy sources.
