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ABOUT US

Established in 1998, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies is an independent,non-profit policy think tank dedicated to helping improve public policy decision-making in Georgiathrough research and analysis, training of policymakers and policy analysts, and public education aboutthe strategic issues, both domestic and international, facing Georgia and the Caucasus in the 21stcentury. Most of the Foundation’s staff members are former high-ranking government officials. Theypossess a unique mixture of government policy expertise and academic achievement.

DONORS AND PARTNERS IN 2018

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)The U.S. Department of StateBritish Embassy Tbilisi GGFNorwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)USAID/Governing for Growth (G4G) in GeorgiaGerman Marshall Fund (GMF)National Endowment for Democracy (NED)Estonia Development Cooperation (MFA Estonia)Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)

This publication is made possible by the support of Swedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency (Sida). The contents are the responsibility of the GeorgianFoundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation) and do notnecessarily represent the views of Sida.

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MISSION STATEMENT

“Promote the dialogue between the government and research community, and train the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of the country”.

The Georgian Foundation for Strategic and InternationalStudies (Rondeli Foundation) holds that the only wayGeorgia to succeed in the changing internationalenvironment and against a background of new hybridthreats is through democratic development and strivetowards European and Euro-Atlantic integration,translated in good governance practices, professionalpublic service, an educated youth - a basis for the futureelite, equal rights, respect for the rule of law andeconomic development. The democratic, inclusive,stable Georgia would be attractive not only for itsneighbours as a safe and secure place for business andtransit routes not only for its neighbours, but wouldcontribute directly to Euro-Atlantic security.

As development, democracy and human rights are bothinterdependent and mutually reinforcing, thesestandards and principles crosscut all programming workat the Foundation.

Throughout 2018, the Foundation continued itsactivities – teaching and training, research andanalysis, public outreach and awareness-raising,directed at strengthening the policy-based decision-making culture in the country to promote goodgovernance practices. All the activitiesencompassed at least one of the following strategicdirections pursued by the Foundation – NationalSecurity and Public Policy, Peace building andNational Integration, European and Euro-AtlanticIntegration, or Youth Issues. We aim to convey theFoundation’s achievements and accomplishmentsin the following report.

We are grateful to our donors and partners fortrusting and supporting us in the pursuit of our jointgoal for the benefit of a stable, democratic andprosperous Georgia, part of the European family.

President

Address of the President

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TARGET AUDIENCE

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MAIN APPOACHES

The Foundation’s thematic directions target both the opinion crafters and all key stakeholders ofdecision-making process including public servants, journalists, religious and ethnic minoritycommunities, political party staffers, academia, Orthodox clergy and youth.

Journalists

Political Parties

Youth

Experts/Academia

Public Servants

Civil Society

Ethnic and Religious Minorities

Georgian Orthodox Church

Capacity Building

We aim to provide Georgia’sstrategic community both inside

and outside the government withvarious professional

enhancement opportunities bydrawing on our human resourcesand attracting the best expertise

available.

Research and Analysis

We bridge the gap betweeninternational scholarship and

policymaking in Georgia bybringing cutting-edge knowledge

to the attention of decisionmakers and offering scholars

interested in the Caucasus regiongreater insight into public policy

issues – with a focus oninternational best practice.

Public Outreach

We regularly host discussions,public hearings and

roundtables to spread the ideasand values that we share

among the wider public withan aim to raise awareness on

strategic domestic andinternational issues of national

importance.

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STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

Stimulate broader understanding of national security agenda and cultivate culture of strategicthinking through inter-agency efforts to address the security challenges that Georgia faces.

PEACEBUILDING

Intensify intellectual efforts within expert community and civil society to reconsider existingattitudes in order not only to find the way out, but prevent new conflicts on the national andregional level.

NATIONAL INTEGRATION

Foster integration of ethnic minority communities of Georgia into the Georgian State and stimulatetheir engagement in the policy decision - making process.

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Independent policy analysis institutes are a vital component of a modern democracy, therefore GFSISis committed to improving policymaking in the country by providing training opportunities to Georgiangovernment.

YOUTH ISSUES

Raise future elite of the country by encouraging strategic thinking and introducing civic ideas throughpromotion of education on the essence of politics and economics.

EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Support to the AA implementation process and create the space for dialogue with the civil society onEuro-Atlantic integration by providing the qualified analysis and recommendations on the policy areasessential for Georgia’s European integration path.

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Capacity Building of the Georgian LeadershipCommunity (CBGL)

CBGL, one of the most popular programsimplemented since 2009 aims to improvegovernance and modernize Georgian publicadministration by engaging directly with middlelevel public servants in practical exercises in policydevelopment and negotiation skills. The trainingcourses contribute to the improved policy baseddecision making, stimulate broader understandingof public policy agenda and cultivate culture ofstrategic thinking. Throughout the program publicservants individually work on policy documentsreflecting issues of national importance under thesupervision of GFSIS mentors. The seven-months-long program involves a study tour to Tallinn,Estonia.

Study Visit to Tallinn, Estonia, March

“The program gave me the skills, knowledge, and professional credibility required for success, also confidence and courage to see myself as a future leader in the public sector whose work can influence positively on people. So if you are looking at the program, I would say this is a chance you must take –and if you are already in the program, please get fully engaged. This will pay off much earlier and on a much larger scale that you can imagine.”

Ulrik Tideström, the Ambassador of Sweden in Georgia at the Graduation Ceremony, September

Twenty-two public servants from various governmental agencies have successfully completed the program in 2018

Davit DameniaChief Specialist, Legal Department,

Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection and Agriculture

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

National Security and Public Policy Program

National Security and Public Policy is anotherflagship program running since 2001 with thesupport of the US Embassy. It aims at capacitybuilding of public administration, specificallynational security community by targetingpolicy analysts from defense and securityagencies, diplomats as well as civil societyrepresentatives and journalists. The programfocuses on the enhancement of the skills andknowledge necessary to participate in thenational security policy process and to shapeits future. The courses are delivered byGeorgian and U.S. instructors.

“The National Security and Public Policy Course has enriched my experience of legal practice and policy planning by providing a wider picture of regional and global matters. After completing this course, one becomes more confident as issues around you make more sense, dots are more connected, linkages are made.”

Graduation Ceremony, September

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Strategic Communication Module by Vivian Walker, October

Jeffrey Reneau, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission US Embassy, at the Graduation Ceremony, July

Keti TsanavaSenior Policy Advisor, Policy Planning and

Coordination Department, Administration of the Government of Georgia

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Training in Modern Human Resources Management

The Foundation remains committed toimproving skills of Georgian HumanResources professionals in public sectorinstitutions in modern Human ResourcesManagement (HRM) practices. In 2018GFSIS continued the series of seminarsconducted by Swedish experts with anaim to share their expertise andintroduce the best practices of theSwedish public as well as the privatesector. In addition to training sessionsnetwork meetings are held in order toenable HR managers and specialists todiscuss themes of common interest andshare their experiences. The activitiesare funded through Sida contribution.

Encouraging Public Policy Discourse with the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC)

The project aims to engage with the GOC toaddress the knowledge gaps through the seriesof tailor-made seminars and discussions onvariety of policy issues, ranging from domesticto international affairs.

The overall objective is to raise awareness ofthe GOC representatives on the topics thateffect democratic development of the countryand to promote a culture of informed debate.In addition to the lectures in Tbilisi, thediscussions with the clergy are held in theregions of Georgia.

HR Workshop, September

Discussion on the formation of the foreign policy of Georgia with the representatives of Georgian Orthodox Church, June

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Supporting Participatory and Inclusive Governancein Mountainous Guria and Adjara

Rondeli Foundation with the support of the UKGood Governance Fund has launched a new, one-year-long program Supporting Participatory andInclusive Governance in Mountainous Guria andAdjara, which intends to engage local government,stakeholders, religious leaders, civil society, mediarepresentatives in the policy development process;strengthen capacity of local youth on thenationwide issues; and empower local women toimprove their economic opportunities. In the long-term the project activities are targeted to promoteparticipatory decision-making and inclusivegovernance and hence, make those communitiesless vulnerable to outside propaganda andradicalization.

Policy Trainings for Young Political Party Activists

Rondeli Foundation with support of theNational Endowment for Democracy(NED) renewed the capacity buildingprogram targeting young political partystaffers. The six-months-long programfocuses on increasing the generalknowledge of young politicians onpolitical theory and policy issues.

Retreat for young political activists, Chaetae Mukhrani, June

Meeting with Local Youth, Khulo , April

Meeting with Local Representatives, Khulo, December

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

DCFTA Awareness Raising Training

In January Rondeli Foundation organizedthe final round of training course in Kutaisifor the representatives of local media,NGO and municipality on Deep andComprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)within the framework of the projectAwareness Raising Trainings for Journalistsand Civil Society Organizations. Theproject implemented since 2017 with thefinancial support of USAID/ Governing forGrowth (G4G) in Georgia aimed toenhance the knowledge on trade andDCFTA and strengthen the supporttowards DCFTA-related policy reforms.

Total Number of Participants: 976

DCFTA Awareness Raising Training, Kutaisi, December

Percentage of Each Group Trained

In total Around 170 Participants were Trained in Telavi, Tbilisi, Akhalkalaki, Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi and Marneuli

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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Youth Journal – MY WORLD

For the sixth consecutive year with the support ofthe US Embassy Rondeli Foundation has beenpublishing the only Georgian youth-orientedquarterly magazine My World The overall goal ofthe project is to increase the resilience of theGeorgian teens towards the anti-Westernpropaganda and radicalization, focus theirinterest on the values that support developmentof inclusive, tolerant and democratic society andfoster their integration into the Georgian state.

Within the framework of the project the summerschool was organized in partnership with theNational Defense Academy (NDA) in Gori. It gaveopportunity to the teens from different regions ofGeorgia (Samegrelo, Kartli, Adjara and Guria) tointeract, establish friendships and networks.

Summer School, Gori, NDA, August

Summer School, Gori, NDA, August

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RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

As part of its effort to strengthen Georgian institutions,GFSIS is actively engaged in conducting research onimportant political, social and economic issues thatGeorgia faces.

The Middle Class in Georgia Quantitative Assessment,Dynamics and Profile

Increasing the Accessibility to the Theaters for Personswith Disabilities

The EU’s Black Sea Policy and Enlargement

Russia – The Main Threat to the Global Order: The UrgentNeed for Counteracting and Creation of the DeterrenceSystem

Women from Georgia in Syria and Iraqi Conflicts

Georgian and Russian and Experts Searching for Ways ofNormalization

OPINION PAPERS

Rondeli Foundation has been engaged inpublication of Opinion Papers since 2013 with thesupport of the US Embassy in Georgia. OpinionPapers are published twice a month in English andGeorgian on military and non-military aspects ofnational security as well as domestic and foreignpolicy issues.

Totally 19 issues were published and more than4000 hard copies distributed among civil societyand media organizations, governmentalinstitutions, embassies, expert community, etc.

POLICY PAPERS

Through the policy training projects the publicservants under the supervision of GFSIS mentorsdevelop a policy document reflecting theproblematic issues at their respective agencies.The best policy paper are published annually.

The selected topics in 2018 range from foodsafety regulations to right of people withdisabilities, dishonest usage of shelter system toflaws in the personal data protection system.

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RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

RONDELI BLOG

GFSIS has been responding to the majornational and international developmentsin a format of Rondeli Blog. Topics coveredrange from foreign policy, national andregional security to economics and foreigntrade.

SECURITY REVIEW

GFSIS’s quarterly Security Review digestoffers an analysis of national and regionalsecurity issues.

GEORGIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW

The quarterly online publication GeorgianEconomic Review aims to inform readersabout the ongoing processes within thecountry’s economy. The review is based ondata of official statistics and expert estimates.

ORAL HYSTORY: Formation of the Georgian State

The initiative Oral History about Formation ofGeorgian State aims to produce a series of video,audio and transcript material depicting the recenthistory of Georgia dating back from 1991 to2000. The interviewees are former members ofgovernment, diplomats or public figures who areactual witnesses and participants of the eventsthat unfolded in the 90s. The overall objective isto produce intellectual capital for futuregeneration and research material for foreignscholars interested in the country.

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RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Roadmap to Kremlin's Policies in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region

Kremlin Roadmap aims to inform decision-makers, think tanks, experts and media sources aboutpolicies conducted by the Kremlin in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region after 2008 Russia-Georgia War.Based on the monitoring of open sources, the project makes available materials regarding variousaspects of relations between Abkhazia, Tskhinvali region and Russia. The project also makes itpossible to learn about the chronology of important developments in bilateral relations afterRussian recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, as well as bilateralagreements signed between the parties.

Interactive Map of Russian Military Forces

Regularly updated interactive map of theRussian armed forces shows landmaneuver and artillery units; air bases;naval bases; air defence units. It alsoshows Russian military installations of allkinds beyond Russia's borders.

The map is unique among publiclyavailable products in fully depicting thegeographic scope of the Russian armedforces while reflecting the latest changesthat are taking place in Russia's militarystructure.

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

Conferences, workshops, panel discussions, guest lectures, presentations held in Tbilisi and regions havebecome integral part of GFSIS activities aiming at raising awareness on the important security and foreignpolicy issues. The activities target widest possible audience including representatives of civil society andpublic administration, expert community and foreign delegations, students and media.

The South Caucasus Security Forum hasbecome one of the top internationalsecurity platforms in the South Caucasusbringing together high-level experts andofficials from the region and Europe.Every year decision-makers, academics,experts, state officials, think-tank andmedia representatives from variouscountries get together to discuss themost challenging issues of the region.

5th South Caucasus Security Forum, May

Conference Global and Regional Determinants of Trilateral Cooperation, June

5th South Caucasus Security Forum, May

5th South Caucasus Security Forum, May

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

Supporting international scholars and students is one of the important dimensions of GFSIS’ work since2001. Throughout these years more than 220 undergraduates, graduate and doctoral students havecarried out internship at the Foundation.

In 2018 the Foundation hosted 17 international scholars and students. Some of the most outstanding and interesting research papers written by the interns were published electronically on the web page.

Support to International Scholars and Researchers

During my internship at the Foundation I receivedfantastic support: I could talk to the Foundation'sexperts about my research and approach the staff forany advice. Also, the environment proved to be verystimulating, both intellectually and socially: I couldengage in interesting discussions with my fellowinterns and explore Tbilisi after work. Besides, asintern you take part in the Foundation's activities,such as the various work trips to different locations inGeorgia.“

My summer internship at the GFSIS came with agreat working environment and exposure to keyEuropean and International issues and affairs.Rondeli Foundation works closely with Europeanand other international partners, and made itpossible for me to engage in cooperativemechanisms, round-tables, develop and enrich theunderstanding of current affairs, particularlyrelated to the Caucasus Region.

Anastasiya Kochetkova, University of Glasgow, UK

Alexander Van Der Wusten, University of Bristol, UK

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT

ASSETS NOTES 31 December 31 December 2019 2017

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018(in Georgian Lari)

Deliotte &Touche has conducted an audit for the Rondeli Foundation’s financial statement

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GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE OF THE ACTIVITIES

CONTACT INFORMATION

3a, Sh. Chitadze St., Tbilisi, Georgia, 0108

+995 32 473555 | Fax: +995 32 985265

info@gfsis.org; www.gfsis.org

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