Since August 2023, FUE and CENN have been collaborating on a regional project in the South Caucasus region, supported by the German Foreign Ministry. Their mission is to fortify the efforts of South Caucasus Organizations (SCOs) focused on sustainable development. The project concentrates on three primary areas: SDG networks, SDG monitoring, and SDG advocacy. On October 9, 2023, CENN hosted a pivotal one-day workshop in Tbilisi, centered on SDG advocacy. This event attracted participation from representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) hailing from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. International experts, Mrs Nelya Rakhimova, a Sustainable Development Specialist with a PhD, and Mrs Valentina Bodrug Lungu, the President and Founder of Gender Centre Moldova and the Europe and Central Asia co-organizing Partner for the Women’s Major Group, were key contributors to the workshop. They shared invaluable experiences and successful case studies from various nations, all in the context of SDG advocacy, with the aim of propelling the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process in all three South Caucasus countries. In the latter part of the day, under the guidance of CENN representatives, participants engaged in group sessions designed to identify the needs of the CSOs. The sessions also provided a platform for deliberations on potential solutions and specific action plans pertaining to VNR reporting in 2024. This dynamic exchange promises to foster a stronger, more coordinated approach to sustainable development in the South Caucasus region. |