CENN, with the German Government’s support, has organised a strategic workshop for the member CSOs of the four Thematic Working Groups under the SDG Council.
The purpose of the strategic meeting was to review activities defined in the Action Plan of the SDG Council for 2023 and set collective actions that can support the implementation of these activities. Member CSOs of the SDG Council’s Thematic Working Groups discussed where and how they could contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the action plan. Also, the organisations reflected on the upcoming initiatives, such as mapping of CSOs’ efforts in the realisation of SDGs, launching CSOs’ consultations for the update of the existing National SDG document (SDG Matrix), and collecting CSOs’ recommendations dedicated to improving meaningful engagement of CSOs in the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of SDGs.
The SDG Council of Georgia is a multi-stakeholder platform working on implementing SDGs in the country. Its functions are coordination of interagency issues associated with the implementation of SDGs; establishment and oversight of relevant working groups to support the strategic planning, integrated implementation, and effective monitoring of assigned SDGs and related thematic fields; incorporating SDGs into Georgia’s national policies etc.;
The CSOs have a decisive role in implementing Sustainable Development Goals in the country to reach the population’s well-being. Civil society representatives are closely working with the most vulnerable, being mediators delivering information on their needs to the governments and advocating for change to protect the population’s rights. Moreover, governments are responsible for reporting progress towards the SDGs to the global society, and CSOs appear as alternative sources for monitoring and evaluating the achievements and challenges. Cross-sector partnerships and united efforts for reaching the SDGs are considered the only way to achieve reinforced results in well-being. Thus, CSOs’ involvement in the work of the SDG Council and their collaboration with other stakeholders are critical.
The workshop was held within the “Continued Nationalisation of SDGs in Georgia” project, which aims to jumpstart SDG implementation, continue the nationalisation of new targets and commence the localisation of SDGs in Georgia. The program is financed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).