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2019

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ABOUT US

Established in 1998, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies is anindependent, non-profit policy think tank dedicated to helping improve public policy decision-making in Georgia through research and analysis, training of policymakers and policy analysts,and public education about the strategic issues, both domestic and international, facing Georgiaand the Caucasus in the 21st century.

DONORS AND PARTNERS IN 2019

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)U.S. Department of State British Embassy Tbilisi GGFNorwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) German Marshall Fund (GMF)National Endowment for Democracy (NED)Estonia Development Cooperation (MFA Estonia)OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)European Union (EU)

This publication is made possible by the support of the Swedish InternationalDevelopment Cooperation Agency (Sida). The contents are the responsibility ofthe Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (RondeliFoundation) and do not necessarily represent the views of Sida.

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President

Ekaterine Metreveli, President of the Rondeli Foundation

European and Euro-Atlantic integration, national security, economic development, peacebuilding, radicalization and national integration are among the themes included in practically all of the activities and projects undertaken by the Foundation throughout the past years as well as in 2019.

Within this year, the Rondeli Foundation has further enlarged its target audiences and the geographic coverage of itsactivities. In addition to traditional targets such as public servants, the media and civil society representatives, we haveextended our outreach to encompass and engage with youth groups and young political party staffers from vulnerablecommunities, the Georgian Orthodox Church and other religious communities, ethnic minorities and women’s groups fromthroughout the regions of Georgia.

The Rondeli Foundation is proud to present an important new product which we developed this year in the form of theRussian Monitor which is a group of projects dedicated to the monitoring and understanding of modern Russia’s foreignstrategy. The Foundation believes that it is important to closely follow Russia’s military, diplomatic, information and otheractivities beyond its borders that have an impact on its neighbors, on the West and on the global international system. TheRussia Monitor is our contribution to the broader international effort to understand the Kremlin’s foreign strategy andhopefully contributing to the generation of proactive approaches on how to deal with it.

The Rondeli Foundation’s achievements and accomplishments for 2019 are presented in this report. We are grateful to ourdonors and partners for their trust and support in the pursuit of our joint goal for the benefit of a stable, democratic andprosperous Georgia, part of the European family.

In 2019 the Georgian Foundation for Strategic andInternational Studies (Rondeli Foundation) hascontinued its activities in support of Georgia’sdemocratic development and strive towards Europeanand Euro-Atlantic integration through establishinggood governance practices, contributing to theprofessionalization of the public Service, informingstakeholders of the policy-making process, investing inthe young generation as the future elite of Georgiaand overall contributing to societal resilience.

The Foundation’s theory of change encompasses threepillars – capacity building, research and analysis, andoutreach-awareness raising. Each of the pillars areinterconnected and form part of one puzzle that aimsat improving the culture of policy based decision-making directed to strengthening both nation andstate building processes.

The Foundation’s theory of change encompasses threepillars – capacity building, research and analysis, andoutreach-awareness raising. Each of the pillars areinterconnected and form part of one puzzle that aimsat improving the culture of policy based decision-making directed to strengthening both nation andstate building processes.

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Capacity Building of the Georgian Leadership Community (CBGL)

CBGL, one of the competitive programssupported by the Swedish InternationalDevelopment Cooperation Agency (Sida),aims to address the existing governancechallenges and improve the policy-makingprocess by engaging directly with middle levelpublic servants in practical exercises in policydevelopment and negotiation skills. Theseven-month-long training program involves astudy tour to Tallinn, Estonia which isorganized in partnership with the EstonianSchool of Diplomacy (ESD) and aims toenhance participant knowledge about EUpolicy related topics. Moreover, the publicservants under the supervision of mentorsindividually develop a policy documentfocusing on problematic issues at theirrespective agencies.

Study Visit to Estonia, March 2019

The program was anexcellent chance for meto developprofessionally since itis designed toenhance the capacity of

civil servants by teaching the principles ofEuropean public administration and goodgovernance. I feel that my competence inpolicy development has been enhancedimmeasurably. More importantly, I’vemade new contacts and friends withpeers from other agencies.

Lili Lezhava, Senior Specialist, Policy Planning and Coordination Department, Administration of the Government of Georgia

Ambassador of Sweden to Georgia, Ulrik Tideström, and Rondeli Foundation President, Ekaterine Metreveli, at the Graduation Ceremony, March 2020

Through capacity building programs the Rondeli Foundation aims to improve good governancepractices and introduce policy-based decision-making. In order to stimulate a broaderunderstanding of the public policy agenda and cultivate a culture of strategic thinking, theFoundation employs a cross sectoral and cross agency approach by targeting high and mid-levelpublic servants, political party staffers, the Georgian Orthodox Church (GOC) and other religiousleaders, youth, media, civil society, ethnic and religious minority communities.

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

National Security and Public Policy Program

The Foundation’s flagship program,running since 2001 with the support of theUS Embassy, aims at the capacitybuilding of the national securitycommunity by targeting policy analystsfrom defence and security agencies anddiplomats as well as civil societyrepresentatives and journalists. Theprogram focuses on the enhancement ofthe skills and the knowledge necessary toparticipate in the national security policyprocess and shape its future. The coursesare delivered by Georgian and U.S.instructors.

This program was aunique discovery as itshaped the futureaspirations of my civilianlife. My views onnational security systems

and public policies enriched and expanded.The Rondeli Foundation inspired me tocontinue my civic education andimmediately after completing the course, Ipassed the exams for the Master's programat the International Black Sea University inIR and Politics. I am a proud graduate ofGFSIS as this organization has become partof my success story.

Graduation Ceremony, September

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Strategic Communication Module by Dr. Vivian Walker, Executive Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, November 2019

U.S. National Security and Russia Module by Dr. Celeste Wallander, President and CEO of the U.S. Russia Foundation, March 2019

Beka Ambroladze, Commander of the Command and Staff Training Centre at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre, Defence Forces of Georgia

Nino Javakhadze, program graduate of the class of 2008-2009, the Deputy Minister ofInternal Affairs of Georgia (2017 - June 2020) and the Deputy Minister of Economy andSustainable Development (2016-2017).

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

HR Seminar for Public Servants, June 2019

Training on Modern Human Resources Management

As a part of the strengthening of Georgianinstitutions, the Foundation has continued itswork to advance the professionaldevelopment of Human Resource (HR)specialists in public institutions. Topicscovered by Swedish consultants included theSwedish experience of modern HRM andareas of possible application in Georgia, thedevelopment of HRM in the Georgian civilservice, performance appraisal and the useof human resource indicators as a tool forattracting and motivating public servants aswell as organizational culture and otherrelated issues.

Seminar for HR Specialists, April

I’ve been involved inthe HR trainingprogram since 2017.Overall, the seminarsin Tbilisi and the studyvisit to Stockholmhave contributed to myprofessional development

leading to my promotion to a managerialposition. Moreover, I’ve gained andmaintained contacts with Swedish expertsand trainers who helped me get involved inthe internship program at the SwedishSocial Insurance Agency and Wise GroupAB.

Tamta Chrikishvili, Head of the Civilian Personnel Policy Section at the Ministry of Defence of Georgia

HR Seminar for the Public Servants, April, 2019

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Interreligious Group Visit to Brussels

The Rondeli Foundation in partnershipwith the European Parliament organized astudy visit to Brussels for representativesof the Georgian Orthodox Church andother religious denominations. It was forthe first time in Georgian history that adelegation such as this had theopportunity to meet with high-rankingofficials at NATO headquarters, theEuropean Parliament and the EuropeanCommission. The visit enabled theparticipants to raise the issues ofGeorgia’s occupied regions and expresstheir support for Georgia’s Europeanintegration.

Workshop in for the PR department of GOS , November

Conference on the Role of Churches and Religious Communities in the Process of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, the European

Parliament, November 2019

We will not adapt to theoccupation of ourterritories by Russia. Wewill continue a peacefulfight. We hope that ourEuropean and Americanpartners will help us in

our effort. Russia does not want to see astrong Georgia. The majority of Georgiansconsider themselves Europeans and we arestriving towards Europe and not theoccupier. I urge our European friends not toforget mentioning Georgia while talkingabout Ukraine!

Metropolitan Bishop Jakob of Bodbe addressing the European Parliament

Visit at NATO Headquarters, Brussels, November 2019

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

National Minorities in Political Processes – Engagement for a Better Future

Representatives of the political party youthwing from 15 political parties and movementsdeepened their knowledge in ethnic policies,public policy analysis, policy paper crafting,legal framework and international guidingprinciples. More importantly, the participantsdeveloped policy documents and policy briefsreflecting the problems faced by nationalminorities in the regions of Georgia. Theproject is implemented with the support andactive participation of the OSCE HighCommissioner on National Minorities(HCNM). Youth from Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo

Kartli at the Georgian Parliament, Study Visit, Tbilisi, November 2019

Meeting of Ethnic Minority Representatives and Political Parties, Tbilisi, December 2019

Each meeting, lectureand and training in Javakheti

was extremelyinformative and helpfulfor the participants.Besides the activities

organized by the Rondeli Foundation, itsstaff and senior fellows have beenalways out there to help us inprofessional development. The processof developing policy briefs is also worthpointing out. This project is a huge stepforward on the path of our careerdevelopment. I would highly recommendit to my peers.Rima Marangozyan, Project Participant

The Rondeli Foundation targets the non-inclusive governance and the informationalvacuum existing in Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli which translates into the alienation of theethnic Azerbaijani and Armenian communities and their vulnerability to anti-Westernpropaganda and radicalization. Capacity building activities are carried out with the aim topromote good governance practices in the regions and the inclusion of minorities inpolitical processes.

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CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

Nasakirali old school, May 2019

Supporting Participatory and Inclusive Governance in Mountainous Guria and Adjara

Sozar Subari attending the roundtable discussion with Muslim clerics, June 2019

Nino Tslilosani, MP, and central government representatives participating in the working meeting with the local community from Khulo, Zoti and Nasakirali, March 2019

Meetings and roundtables, held on a regularbasis, aimed at bringing togetherrepresentatives of the central government andlocal key stakeholders from mountainousGuria and Zoti for discussions.

As a result of improved communication andincreased knowledge of local problems, GELseven million were allocated by the centralgovernment to build a new school andkindergarten in the village of Nasakirali.

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WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Enhancing the Capacity of Women Entrepreneurs

About 50 women entrepreneurs frommountainous Adjara, Javakheti and thePankisi Gorge increased their capacity inrural tourism development through theproject implemented in partnership withthe Jaan Tonisson Institute (Estonia) andthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

In July the participants visited Estoniawhere they met with the representativesof the Ministry of Rural Affairs of Estonia,the NGO Rural Tourism and the Mayor ofHaapsalu. The group travelled to touristfarms in the regions to gain on-the-ground experience from their Estoniancounterparts.

Seminar on developing rural business in Pankisi, October 2019

Seminar on developing rural business in Pankisi, October 2019

Gender is a major cross-cutting theme which the Foundation remains committed topromoting in all of its activities. Throughout the year, the Rondeli Foundation carried out anumber of activities aimed at women’s economic and political empowerment. The series oftraining sessions, seminars, roundtable discussions and study tours foster women’sengagement in the decision-making process, empower them economically and raise theirawareness on policy-making in general.

The most useful part of the project for me was the visit to Estonia. It was something like an eye-opener for me. I will always remember

how we were greeted at the Vaskna Farm; the hostess met us with a crown of flowers….. Now I am building a wine cellar which I want to do in the same way as I saw in Estonia at one of the farms I visited. When my guests come, they will participate in various activities so they can better understand our customs and traditions.

Izolda Surmanidze, Skhalta Guest House Owner from Khulo

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WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Sharing Experiences from other Regions – Women to Women

Exchange Women’s economic empowerment hasbeen one of the main components ofthe Foundation’s activities.Experience-sharing meetings withsuccessful women entrepreneurs fromvulnerable and economically deprivedregions serving as a role models hasbecome one of the most engagingevents for the women participants fromethnic and religious minoritycommunities.

Seminar on developing rural business in Pankisi, October

Irine Zhvania, Gender Expert, discussing the issues of gender policies with representatives of the local Assembly and City Hall, Khulo,

February 2019

Nino Zambakhidze, Chairwoman of the Georgian Farmers Association meeting with local women, Zoti, July 2019

Promoting Gender Policy Issues

The topics on gender mainstreaming,women’s political participation andgender sensitive policy analysis arepart of the training programs of allongoing projects at the RondeliFoundation.

Aleksandre Kvakhadze, GFSIS Research Fellow, presenting the findings of his research entitled Women from Georgia in the Syrian and Iraqi Conflicts, January 2019

Aleksandre Kvakhadze’s research shedslight on the issue of women participantsfrom Georgia in the Syrian conflict. Theresearch touches upon the physiologicalaspects of the transformation of genderroles in the region, domestic violence, theradicalization of women and the functionalrole of Caucasian female foreign fightersin the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts.

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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Youth Journal – MY WORLD

My World is the only Georgian youth quarterlymagazine and has been published with thesupport of the U.S. Embassy since 2013. Theoverall goal of the publication is to increasethe resilience of Georgian teenagers in theface of anti-Western propaganda andradicalization and instead focus their intereston the values that support the development ofan inclusive, tolerant and democratic societyand foster their integration into the Georgianstate.

Youth from the villages of Zoti and Nasakirali attending a discussion on foreign affairs, June 2019

Discussion on the importance of democratic development with the youth from Zoti, June 2019

Youth Discussion Clubs are organizedthroughout the Georgian regions, includingin ethnic and religious minoritycommunities. Discussions cover the issuesof foreign policy, democracy, civics,EU/NATO integration and developments inthe neighbourhood, etc.

The Rondeli foundation places special emphasis on increasing the awareness of youth onthe state and nation building processes as well as on the values consistent with a civic,democratic and modern state. Particularly, the Foundation targets the youth in the minoritysettled regions in order to advance their development opportunities and become fullfledged citizens.

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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Summer Camps at the Rugby Base in Aspindza and the Gori National Defence

Academy

Over 90 teenagers took part in the summercamps - My World organized by the RondeliFoundation at the National Defence Academyin Gori and at the rugby base in Aspindza. Thesummer camps gave teenagers from differentregions of Georgia (Samegrelo, Kartli, Adjaraand Guria) the possibility to become familiarabout how the Georgian state operates, issuesof foreign and domestic policies, the basis andprinciples of democracy and free societies.Participants also were able to interact, establishfriendships and become part of one big networkof likeminded individuals.

UK Ambassador to Georgia with summer camp participants in Gori, August 2019

Seminar during summer camp, Gori, August 2019

Seminar during summer camp, Aspindza, July 2019

Outdoor Activity, summer camp, Gori,August 2019

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EUROPEAN AND EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION

Responding to Hybrid Threats

The Rondeli Foundation in partnership withthe Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Armenia,the WatchDog.MD Community, Moldova andUkrainian Core has contributed to theimplementation of the research project,entitled Building a Common Response toHybrid Threats – Enhancing Cooperationof EaP CSOs in Policy Solutions Building,funded by the European Union.A study on hybrid threats in the respectivecountries also includes recommendations forEU and U.S. policy-makers when developingtheir foreign policy strategies.Best Project award at the CSF EaP Annual

Assembly, Brussels, November 2019

Advocacy event at the European Parliament,Brussels, November 2019

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European and Euro-Atlantic integration is one of the priority directions of the RondeliFoundation’s work. The organization assists the Government of Georgia in its Europeanand Euro-Atlantic integration efforts by creating a space for dialogue with the expertcommunity, raising the awareness of different groups and stakeholders on the importanceof European integration and countering anti-EU propaganda and hybrid threats.

Joint Study on Russia’s Strategic Activities

Russia’s Strategic Activities in EasternEurope – Systematic Analysis andAwareness Raising, supported by theGerman Marshall Fund, the Black Sea Trustfor Regional Cooperation, aims to encourageinternational cooperation and coordinationbetween civil societies and organizations ofthe Eastern European countries to addressthe common issues posed by Russian foreignand security policies. The project isimplemented in partnership with the WarsawInstitute (Poland), the Foreign Policy Council“Ukrainian Prism” (Ukraine) and the EasternEurope Study Centre (Lithuania).

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RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Expert Opinion Papers – Bi-monthly Expert Opinion Papersserve as supporting analysisand a source of additionalinformation for the political,analytical and intelligencedepartments of governmentalagencies as well as the wholenational security community.

Policy Papers – Elaboratedby public servants through thementorship of the RondeliFoundation’s expertsaddress the ardent issues oftheir respective agencies.

Policy oriented research and analysis is one of the important directions of the RondeliFoundation. The organization responds to the emerging threats and challenges in thecountry and the region through its publications covering topics of nation-wide importanceranging from national security to international affairs and regional cooperation.

Research – Research isconducted on importantpolitical, social and economicissues which Georgia faces.

Security Review – A quarterly analysis of national and regional security issues.

Rondeli Blog – Covers a wide range of topics from foreign policy, national and regional security to economics and foreign trade.

The Foundation’s Regular Publications

Georgian Economic Review – The quarterly online publication aims to inform readers about the ongoing processes within the country’s economy.

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RUSSIA MONITOR

Kremlin Roadmap

The weekly Kremlin Roadmap outlinesthe policies conducted by Moscow inAbkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.The Roadmap gives the chronology ofthe annexation process carried outgradually in both occupied regions ofGeorgia by the Russian Federation.

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Protesters in front of the presidential residence in Sukhumi, 2019

The Russia Monitor is a group of the Rondeli Foundation’s projects dedicated to themonitoring and understanding of modern Russia’s foreign strategy. It is important toclosely follow Russia’s military, diplomatic, informational and other activities beyond itsborders that have impact on its neighbors, on the West and on the global internationalsystem. We monitor Russia’s armed forces and military policy, its actions towards theneighbors and its global strategy.

Interactive Map of the Russian Military Forces

The regularly updated interactive mapof the Russian armed forces showsland manoeuvre and artillery units, airbases, naval bases and air defenceunits. It also shows Russian militaryinstallations of all kinds beyondRussia's borders.

The map is unique among publiclyavailable products in fully depicting thegeographic scope of the Russianarmed forces while reflecting the latestchanges that are taking place inRussia's military structure.

Military Digest

The Rondeli Russian Military Digest isa weekly online publication aboutmilitary activities and developmentswithin the armed forces of the RussianFederation.

Russian Expansion in the Caucasus and Georgia

The project offers the reader acollection of scientific and populararticles covering the Georgian-Russianrelations of the XVIII-XX centuries.

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

5th South Caucasus Security Forum, May

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, at the Security Forum

6th South Caucasus Security Forum, May

Dr. Celeste Wallander, public lecture on U.S. Policy Towards the Region, March 2019

Public awareness raising on the ongoing political developments and international affairsthrough outreach activities is one of the key components of the Foundation’s strategicdirections. The conferences, workshops, public discussions, roundtables and guestlectures contribute to qualified policy decision-making and increase civil society’sengagement in the policy development process.

South Caucasus Security Forum -One of the top international securityplatforms in the South Caucasusbringing together high-level experts andofficials from the region and Europeaccording to tradition was organized inMay 2019.

Regular discussion on the Middle East, December 2019

Discussions – organized regularly on thedevelopments in the Middle East and Russia

Discussion on the Deoccupation of Ukraine and Georgia: The Role of the State, INGO’ and CSUs, February 2019

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PUBLIC OUTREACH

The months I spent at the Rondeli Foundationwere decisive in helping me define my career asan academic and a researcher. I had theindependence to steer my own projects but couldalso count on the support from the Foundation’sfellows for all of my questions and needs. Fromaiding me with the local context and thescheduling of interviews to invitations to fieldworkand events, my internship supervisor and thewhole Foundation team were always helpful,encouraging and attentive. During my internship,I also had the opportunity of exploring wonderfulGeorgia and making long-lasting friendships withother fellow interns who shared the sameresearch interests as me and came from allaround the world.

The time I spent at the Rondeli Foundationhelped develop my skills in social research.Being an expert-led institute, the experience ofbeing mentored by the leadership is veryvaluable for young graduates. This helps tomotivate people and stimulate their interest ingaining an in-depth, academic understanding ofwhat’s happening in Georgia. I benefittedimmensely from this internship, bothprofessionally and personally.

Nikola Xaviereff,University of Sarajevo

Clara Ribeiro Assumpcao, Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree

Supporting international scholars and students has been one of the important dimensionsof the Rondeli Foundation’s work since 2001. Throughout these years, more than 240undergraduates, graduate and doctoral students have carried out internships at theFoundation. In 2019, the Foundation hosted 24 international scholars and students.Some of the most outstanding and interesting research papers written by the intern havebeen published on the web page.

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS OF 31 DECEMBER 2019(in GEL)

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

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GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE OF THE ACTIVITIES

CONTACT INFORMATION

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

+995 32 473555 | Fax: +995 32 985265

info@gfsis.org; www.gfsis.org

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