Contribution to the Council of Europe Action Plan in Georgia - Democracy Starts in Schools


Good governance is key to achieving sustainable development and just and peaceful societies. Building on its expertise in governance and human rights, Switzerland will foster Georgia’s culture of democracy by supporting the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan 2020-2023. In particular, by equipping young people with democratic values, attitudes and skills at schools, they should become active and responsible citizens, ready to engage in local decision-making.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Georgia
Governance
Education
nothemedefined
Democratic participation and civil society
Education policy
01.03.2022 - 31.12.2024
CHF  2’580’000
Background

Switzerland’s contribution will support and strengthen Georgia’s reforms in the fields of human rights, the rule of law and democracy so that Institutions, legislations and practices in the area of human rights, the rule of law and democracy are in line with European standards and Council of Europe members’ obligations.

Part of this contribution will be earmarked to ensure that Democracy in Georgia is strengthened by increasing participation of young people in the decision-making processes at the local level through democratic citizenship education and practices in schools.

Target groups The Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 is implemented by the Council of Europe and co-funded by 15 countries. The Democracy Starts in Schools project will be implemented in the framework of the Action Plan. The project will be coordinated with the SDC’s Women’s Economic Empowerment and Arts&Culture projects in Georgia and with the Education for Democracy project in Moldova. In addition, synergies will be sought with projects implemented, inter alia, by the Council of Europe (“Strengthening Participatory Democracy and Human Rights at Local Level in Georgia”), by the Zürich University for Teacher Education (“Better Teaching for a Better Future”) and by USAID (“Momavlis Taoba”, which focuses on civic education and teachers’ training).
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Educational institutions and educational staff develop school children’s competences for democratic culture.

Outcome 2: Schoolgirls and schoolboys exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities by participating in the decision-making processes in their schools and communities.

Results

Expected results:  

- 20 schools pilot the draft methodological guidance

on the democratic school governance.

- 45 school directors and 100 selected teachers

strengthen their professional competences and

support the democratic school governance model.

- At least 10 Georgian schools engage with local stakeholders through community-based projects.

- 85 schools exchange best practices in democratic school governance at national and regional (Moldova) levels.

- Approximately 6’000 schoolchildren consolidate their competences for democratic culture in a non-formal setting and learn to develop and implement projects in schools and communities.

- Approximately 1’000 representatives of school communities support democratic citizenship education in schools, including through the implementation of schoolchildren’s projects.


Results from previous phases:  

Outcome 1: Educational institutions and educational staff develop school children’s competences for democratic culture.

Outcome 2: Schoolgirls and schoolboys exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities by participating in the decision-making processes in their schools and communities.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Other International Organization
  • Council of Europe


Coordination with other projects and actors The contracting partner is the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, which is responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 in close cooperation with its Office in Georgia.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’580’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’495’100
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.03.2022 - 31.12.2024   (Current phase)