Irakli Shengelia, Acting Chairman of the Kutaisi City Council, met with representatives of non-governmental organizations at the Kutaisi office of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association.

At the meeting, Irakli Shengelia presented the document of communication strategy with the public of Kutaisi City Council and introduced the information campaigns planned for 2020 to non-governmental organizations.

During the meeting, new forms of cooperation were discussed, including the participation of non-governmental organizations in the information campaigns and events envisaged by the strategy. As well as issues of increasing citizen involvement in the decision-making process.

At today's meeting, Anna Shalikiani, Secretary of the General Equality Council of Kutaisi Municipality, presented the current projects of the Gender Equality Council and the interim report of the work to the non-governmental organizations.

Kutaisi City Council’s Public Relations Document is a strategic communication plan for 2020. The document defines the mission, vision and main principles of communication with the public of Kutaisi City Council.

The strategy includes communication goals and objectives, on the basis of which Kutaisi City Council together with other local self-government bodies and interested groups will develop and implement information campaigns and other activities.

"In order to increase the efficiency of the Kutaisi City Council and to institutionalize the public relations process and establish a systemic approach, we have developed a strategic document for communication with the public, which includes a one-year period. The document defines the communication mission, values and tasks of the City Council, the strategy document contains important information campaigns and other activities planned for 2020.

Our goal with this activity is to increase the involvement of citizens, non-governmental and non-governmental organizations, media, local entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. At today's meeting we talked about new forms of cooperation, this includes the introduction of an effective mechanism for exchanging information on issues to be discussed at City Council and Commission meetings and ongoing infrastructure or social programs, receiving feedback from local NGOs and developing new programs in the 2021 draft budget.

Similar meetings will continue in the future, we will meet with all interested groups in the community and listen to their opinions. The main value and goal of Kutaisi Citu Council activities by 2020 is to increase the inclusiveness and accountability of City Council’s activities and to ensure the involvement of citizens in the decision-making process. "- said Irakli Shengelia.