Mercy Corps Launches Community Investment Project in Georgia

Community planning in Tivi, Georgia. Photo: Najia Hyder/Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is starting to implement the 3-year Community Investment Project - East (CIP-E) funded by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Company and Southern Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) Company. Mercy Corps will carry out the CIP-E in Kvemo Kartli Region. CIP-E will focus on 31 villages along the planned BTC pipeline route through Gardabani, Marneuli and Tetritskaro districts.

The CIP-E is aimed at promoting sustainable social and economic development for communities along the BTC and SCP pipeline routes in order to ensure that whole communities benefit from the pipeline.

Mercy Corps overall strategy in Georgia is to strengthen Georgian Civil Society by promoting sustainable and equitable socio-economic development involving civic groups, government and the private sector while emphasizing the leading role of local communities. During CIP-E, Mercy Corps plans to work with local communities as they address their development priorities in such a way as to leave them more confident and competent at the end of CIP-E.

The methodology Mercy Corps will use in CIP-E includes a series of mobilization cycles that stimulate and encourage communities to participate in their own development. Mercy Corps has successfully employed similar approaches in the Balkans, Central Asia and the East – Georgia Community Mobilisation Initiative (E-GCMI) program in Georgia.

CIP-E will operate in a similar way to E-GCMI. The main aim if all Mercy Corps projects, including CIP-E, is to empower communities through a participatory process so that they are able to respond to their evolving needs and become catalysts of social change within their own and other communities.

Questions and Answers about Mercy Corps in the Caucasus

Where does Mercy Corps operate?

Mercy Corps currently has programs in Georgia (E-GCMI), Azerbijan (AHAP, The Azerbijan Humanitarian Assistance Program) and the Northern Caucasus (Ingushetia and Chechnya).

What does Mercy Corps do in Georgia?

Since 2000, Mercy Corps has been managing the East-Georgia Community Mobilisation Initiative. To date it has mobilized 187 communities, supporting them carrying out 279 micro-projects, and given 140 grants to local NGOs

Who works for Mercy Corps?

Mercy Corps employs 76 people in its Georgia Programs, 74 of whom are Georgian citizens.

Questions and Answers about the Community Investment Project – East (CIP-E)

How many people will benefit from CIP-E?

Approximately 41,000 people will benefit, directly or indirectly.

When will CIP-E begin?

After carrying out an assessment of all the Pipeline-affected Communities in March 2003, a series of Action Planning Workshops will be held in order to assist communities in prioritizing their most important issues. Project staff will then assist communities in planning their projects. Once a project has been approved, project staff will continue to work with and train communities so as to build their capacity to implement and manage their own development initiatives.

What is the connection between Mercy Corps and the pipeline?

The money for the CIP-E comes from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Company (BTC) and Southern Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). Mercy Corps is responsible for implementing the Community Investment Project – East in communities designated by BTC as "Pipeline-affected Communities". Mercy Corps is not involved in planning, building or maintaining the pipeline. Mercy Corps has no influence over the design or routing of the pipeline. As a not-for-profit organization it has no commercial interests in any of its operations, including the BTC pipline.

Which Sakrebulos can participate in the Community Investment Project -East?

25 Sakrebulos in Gardabani, Marneuli and Tetritskaro Districts have been designated as "Pipeline Affected Communities" during BTC's initial assessment of the area. These are the primary participants in CIP-E.