CDD - Center Of Development And Democracy

Vision

CDD - Center for Development and Democracy, strives to achieve its vision of fostering an open, democratic, inclusive, free, and consolidated society in Georgia.

Mission

CDD is dedicated to advancing Georgia's EU and Euro-Atlantic integration through fostering dialogue among stakeholders, raising community awareness, advocating for positive change, empowering youth, and promoting truth against disinformation and propaganda.

Goal

CDD is committed to promoting democracy through the principles of the rule of law, election observation, gender equality, civil society development, advocacy, voter education, media literacy, and enhancing civic awareness and participation in reform efforts.

Welcome to the official website of CDD!

It brings me immense pleasure and pride to introduce you to our organization—a beacon of democratic principles, impartiality, and representation, led by a team brimming with creativity, dynamism, and enthusiasm. Established on February 26, 2008, in Tbilisi, Georgia, CDD stands committed to advancing the development of democracy in our nation and beyond.

We firmly believe in the power of dialogue, consolidation, solidarity, direct communication, engagement, and public diplomacy as catalysts for positive change. Recognizing the significance of inclusivity and unity among diverse societal groups, we champion active participation from all stakeholders on the path towards Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the overall advancement of our society.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional team at CDD, as well as to our esteemed members, supporters, partners, and donors, who have accompanied us on this remarkable journey. Together, we embody the spirit of progress, guided by the belief that "Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results."As Executive Director, I am honored to lead CDD in our pursuit of a brighter, more democratic future for Georgia.

Thank you for visiting our website. We invite you to explore our initiatives, engage with our resources, and join us in our commitment to building a more democratic and prosperous Georgia.

Warm regards,

Ketevan Chachava, Executive Director

Our Team

Ketevan Chachava

Steering Committee Member of the World Movement for Democracy. Ketevan is the Founder of Sector 3. She is the Executive Director and founder of the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD). During the fifteen years of her successful career in the civil sector, she worked in management positions at several local and international NGOs. From 2016-2017, she served as the Director of the Information Center on NATO and the EU. From 2006 – 2014 She served as an elected member of various committees and working groups at the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Youth Forum (EYF) and the European Students’ Union (ESU). Mrs. Chachava holds a Master’s degree in conflict management. She is a BRIDGE facilitator and certified international observer of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE / ODIHR).

Mikheil Mirziashvili

Mikheil Mirziashvili is a Chairperson and Board Member of CDD. He represents the civil society over 25 years working on topics such as Euro-Atlantic integration, regional cooperation, conflict resolution and prevention. He has 5-years of working experience at the international peacekeeping organization of the EU; in 2005-2013 he led peace projects in the Black Sea and Eastern Partnership regions. He attended the Human Rights Advocacy Program at the School of International and Public Relations at Columbia University. Mikheil Mirziashvili is an author of a number of publications, including the guidebooks on Association Agreement and “About European Union”. He participated in the development of communication strategy 2017-2020 on joining the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by Georgia. He was elected as a member of the steering committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

Natia Zoidze

Natia Zoidze - Deputy Executive Director of CDD, human rights defender. She has 12 years of experience in the field of human rights protection in the public and civil sector.

Natia's goal is to promote the advancement of democratic governance, the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia, and the advocacy of transparent and inclusive electoral processes.

Natia is a Chevening scholar and has been educated in Georgia and Great Britain. In 2019-2020, Natia has graduated from Queen Mary University of London human rights law master's program with funding from the UK government.

News

121 Georgian CSOs and media organizations file a lawsuit against “Russian Law”

House of Commons of Canada Subcommittee on International Human Rights Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Panel of Witnesses: Ketevan Chachava Opening Statement

Yes - to Europe, no - to Russian law!

Report by Center for Development and Democracy on “Elections and Electronic Technologies in Georgia” (Observation results and best practice)

Appeal of Georgian non-governmental organizations to the European Commission

Regarding the restriction of rights and unlawful obstruction of activities of CDD Observers

The Center for Development and Democracy's (CDD) observation mission is monitoring the elections within the majoritarian districts of Gori and Kaspi.

THE LETTER OF THE GEORGIAN CIVIL SOCIETY TO THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES TO GEORGIA

Main findings and recommendations Regarding the use of electronic technologies in the electoral process

CDD - observation Mission 2023

Civil Society’s address to the government of Georgia

Russian Law is not the will of Georgia

he CDD representative participated in the discussion of the draft of the strategic plan of the election administration, the recently implemented electoral reform and the implementation of electronic technologies for the 2024 parliamentary elections.

CDD representative Paata Kavadze participated in the training on "Election Observation and Reporting"

John Pennell, the new Director of USAID mission in Georgia, and Leah Kaplan, director of the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, visited the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) office

Regarding the statement issued by the public movement "People's Power" about the funding allocated to Georgia by the US over the years.

The international campaign "What's Next"

"Women's, economic empowerment in Georgia - opportunities and challenges"

Happy Independence Day

The cooperation of the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) with George Washington University continues

Projects

Name of the project: Promoting Democratic Ideas and Values in Religious Communities

Name of the project: What’s Next? Claiming the Democratic Future

Name of the project: Future Religious Leaders for Civic Understanding

Crowd Funding campaign: Election Observation Mission for 2021 Local Self Government elections of Georgia

Name of the project: Women’s Empowerment Center in Gori

Crowd Funding Campaign: Observation Mission of CDD for 2020 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia

Name of the project: Strengthening inter-religious cooperation for supporting democracy and fostering education on democracy values in Georgia

Name of the project: Civic Engagement for Religious Educators

Name of the project: Supportive and engaged religious communities in promoting the values of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia

Name of the project: Open Door Program

Name of the project: Civic Education for Religious Educators

Name of the project: EU-Georgia Association Agreement: What Future for Georgia

Voter Education and Awareness Raising Projects from 2014 till 2018

Name of the project: Observation of 2017 Local Self-Government Elections in Georgia

Strengthening democracy through engagement with the Georgian Orthodox Church: Supporting civic education, access to information and providing a platform for open discussion with wider religious leaders

Name of the project: Civic Engagement for Religious Educators

Name of the project: EU-Georgia Association Agreement: What Future for Georgia?

Name of the project: Georgia and NATO

Political Party Development Projects implemented by CDD from 2015 till 2018

Name of the project: Strengthening Georgia’s pro-western course by raising awareness among religious groups

Name of the project: For Increasing Youth and Women Participation in Election Processes in Georgia “Decision is Yours”

Name of the project: TV Series: “Georgia – Member of the European Family”

Name of the project: Observation of October 8th, 2016 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia

Name of the project: “Georgia and EU – part, present and future perspectives”

Name of the project: “Georgia and EU”

Name of the project: Work assessment and analysis of existing challenges for the home owners’ committees

Name of the project: Involving religious groups in strengthening Rule of Law in Georgia “Georgia and EU”

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2014 Local Self - Government Elections - Second Round

Name of the project: New Initiative for Peaceful future

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2014 Local Self - Government Elections

Organizational Support Grants

Name of the project: Choice is up to you!

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2013 Presidential Elections of Georgia

Name of the project: Voter Education Program “Decision is Yours”

Publications

Statements

Recommendations

Reports

Memorandums

Publications

CDD and the Elections

Election Observation

Voter Education

Promoting the development of political parties

Advocating legislative changes

Monitoring the polling stations

Photo gallery

Donors

ორგანიზაცია	მუნიციპალიტეტი
1. ააიპ ახალგაზრდული ორგანიზაცია ცვლილებები თანაბარი უფლებებისათვის	ბათუმი
2. ააიპ იურიდიული განათლების ფონდი	რეგიონები
3. ააიპ “საათი”	ქუთაისი
4. ააიპ რაჭის ტურისტული კლუბი	ამბროლაური
5. ააიპ სტეფანწმინდა	ყაზბეგი
6. აგროგარემო TV	საქართველოს რეგიონები
7. ადამიანის უფლებათა და სოციალური სამართლიანობის დაცვის კვლევის ცენტრი	ფოთი
8. ადამიანის უფლებათა ცენტრი (HRC)	თბილისი, შიდა ქართლი და კახეთის რეგიონები
9. ადამიანის უფლებების ადვოკატირების და დემოკრატიის ფონდი	თბილისი
10. ადგილობრივი დემოკრატიის სააგენტო საქართველო	ქუთაისი
11. ათინათი	ზუგდიდი
12. ალტერნატივა ჯორჯია	თბილისი
13. არ გადადო	აჭარა
14. არასამთავრობო ორგანიაზაცია “უფლებებისა და განათლებისათვის”	ქუთაისი, იმერეთი
15. ასოციაცია ,,დეა”	ზუგდიდი, წალენჯიხა და ფოთი
16. ასოციაცია “ათინათი”	ზუგდიდი
17. ასოციაცია “ევროპის დროით”	თბილისი
18. ასოციაცია “მერკური”	სამეგრელო-ზემო სვანეთი
19. ასოციაცია “ქალები რეგიონების განვითარებისთვის”	ქუთაისი
20. აფხაზური ამბები	ზუგდიდი
21. აღმოსავლეთ ევროპის ცენტრი მრავალპარტიული დემოკრატიისთვის (EECMD)	თბილისი, თელავი (კახეთი), გორი (შიდა ქართლი), ქუთაისი (იმერეთი), ბათუმი (აჭარა), წალენჯიხა (სამეგრელო).
22. ახალგაზრდა პედაგოგთა კავშირი	ოზურგეთი
23. ახალგაზრდა ფსიქოლოგთა და ექიმთა ასოციაცია ქსენონი	ზუგდიდის მუნიციპალიტეტი
24. ახალგაზრდები დემოკრატიული ცვლილებებისთვის / Youth for Democractic Changes	სამცხე-ჯავახეთი, ნინოწმინდა
25. ახალგაზრდები სამეგრელოს განვითარებისთვის	ზუგდიდი
26. ახალგაზრდობის განვითარობის ცენტრი-XXI	საგარეჯო
27. ახალგაზრდული ალტერნატივა	თბილისი
28. ახალგაზრდული ინიციატივების რეგიონალური ასოციაცია – აირა	რუსთავი
29. ახალგაზრდული ორგანიზაცია ცვლილებები თანაბარი უფლებებისათვის	ბათუმი
30. ხალქალაქის ბიზნეს ცენტრი	ახალქალაქი
31. ახალციხის ახალგაზრდული ცენტრი	ახალციხე
32. ახალციხის დემოკრატიული ჩართულობის ცენტრი	ახალციხე
33. ბავშვთა კეთილდღეობის ლიგა	თბილისი
34. ბავშვთა სიმსივნეები და სუპერგმირები	საქართველოს მასშტაბით
35. ბათომი	აჭარა, ბათუმი
36. ბათუმელები	ბათუმი
37. ბათუმის დამოუკიდებელი ცხოვრების ცენტრი’	ბათუმი
38. ბათუმის დემოკრატიული ჩართულობის ცენტრი	ბათუმი
39. გამომძიებელ ჟურნალისტთა გაერთიანება “აი, ფაქტი”	თბილისი

Vision

Mission

Goal

Our Team

Ketevan Chachava

Mikheil Mirziashvili

Natia Zoidze

News

121 Georgian CSOs and media organizations file a lawsuit against “Russian Law”

House of Commons of Canada Subcommittee on International Human Rights Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Panel of Witnesses: Ketevan Chachava Opening Statement

Yes - to Europe, no - to Russian law!

Report by Center for Development and Democracy on “Elections and Electronic Technologies in Georgia” (Observation results and best practice)

Appeal of Georgian non-governmental organizations to the European Commission

Regarding the restriction of rights and unlawful obstruction of activities of CDD Observers

The Center for Development and Democracy's (CDD) observation mission is monitoring the elections within the majoritarian districts of Gori and Kaspi.

THE LETTER OF THE GEORGIAN CIVIL SOCIETY TO THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES TO GEORGIA

Main findings and recommendations Regarding the use of electronic technologies in the electoral process

CDD - observation Mission 2023

Civil Society’s address to the government of Georgia

Russian Law is not the will of Georgia

he CDD representative participated in the discussion of the draft of the strategic plan of the election administration, the recently implemented electoral reform and the implementation of electronic technologies for the 2024 parliamentary elections.

CDD representative Paata Kavadze participated in the training on "Election Observation and Reporting"

John Pennell, the new Director of USAID mission in Georgia, and Leah Kaplan, director of the Office of Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, visited the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) office

Regarding the statement issued by the public movement "People's Power" about the funding allocated to Georgia by the US over the years.

The international campaign "What's Next"

"Women's, economic empowerment in Georgia - opportunities and challenges"

Happy Independence Day

The cooperation of the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD) with George Washington University continues

Archive

Projects

Name of the project: Promoting Democratic Ideas and Values in Religious Communities

Name of the project: Promoting Democratic Ideas and Values in Religious Communities

Name of the project: What’s Next? Claiming the Democratic Future

Name of the project: Future Religious Leaders for Civic Understanding

Crowd Funding campaign: Election Observation Mission for 2021 Local Self Government elections of Georgia

Name of the project: Women’s Empowerment Center in Gori

Crowd Funding Campaign: Observation Mission of CDD for 2020 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia

Name of the project: Strengthening inter-religious cooperation for supporting democracy and fostering education on democracy values in Georgia

Name of the project: Strengthening inter-religious cooperation for supporting democracy and fostering education on democracy values in Georgia

Name of the project: Civic Engagement for Religious Educators

Name of the project: Supportive and engaged religious communities in promoting the values of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia

Name of the project: Open Door Program

Name of the project: Civic Education for Religious Educators

Name of the project: EU-Georgia Association Agreement: What Future for Georgia

Voter Education and Awareness Raising Projects from 2014 till 2018

Name of the project: Observation of 2017 Local Self-Government Elections in Georgia

Strengthening democracy through engagement with the Georgian Orthodox Church: Supporting civic education, access to information and providing a platform for open discussion with wider religious leaders

Name of the project: Civic Engagement for Religious Educators

Name of the project: EU-Georgia Association Agreement: What Future for Georgia?

Name of the project: Georgia and NATO

Political Party Development Projects implemented by CDD from 2015 till 2018

Name of the project: Strengthening Georgia’s pro-western course by raising awareness among religious groups

Name of the project: For Increasing Youth and Women Participation in Election Processes in Georgia “Decision is Yours”

Name of the project: TV Series: “Georgia – Member of the European Family”

Name of the project: Observation of October 8th, 2016 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia

Name of the project: “Georgia and EU – part, present and future perspectives”

Name of the project: “Georgia and EU”

Name of the project: “Georgia and EU”

Name of the project: Work assessment and analysis of existing challenges for the home owners’ committees

Name of the project: Involving religious groups in strengthening Rule of Law in Georgia “Georgia and EU”

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2014 Local Self - Government Elections - Second Round

Name of the project: New Initiative for Peaceful future

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2014 Local Self - Government Elections

Organizational Support Grants

Name of the project: Choice is up to you!

Name of the project: Observation Mission for 2013 Presidential Elections of Georgia

Name of the project: Voter Education Program “Decision is Yours”

Publications