The Programme of Community Development through Participation (PCD) which is being implemented by the Red Cross Society of Georgia with support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies started on May 1, 2004 and continues to date.

Main characteristics of the Programme of PCD are the following:

Vision: communities use their right to participate in decision-making that directly affects their lives.

Goal: the Red Cross gives communities the opportunity to use their major right to participate in decision-making
process which has direct impact on their lives.

The Programme of PCD aims at implementing mini-projects with direct participation of communities. The projects would be designed according to the community needs and involve communities members. The Programme of PCD was carried out in branches with their preliminary assessment. Branch evaluation was conducted in 2003 with joint participation of the Federation and the National Society. At first, the programme selected two branches (Gardabani and Kvareli) and then three reserve-branches (Akhaltsikhe, Khelvachauri, Telavi); the feature of the Programme was the mechanism of its implementation, namely without previous selection of community or its needs. A community is selected by the presidium of the local organization and is agreed upon with the local government. According to their decisions specially trained volunteers start implementation of the quick evaluation technologies.

In 2004 two mini-projects (Gardabani and Kvareli) were carried out within the Programme of PCD; the projects established a medical-social centre in Gardabani and a medical-diagnostic centre in Kvareli. The centre located in Kvareli serves the socially vulnerable people (single pensioners, single mothers, mothers with many children and world war invalids/disabled) free of charge and the Gardabani centre supported by the local government serves all categories of population without payment. The projects are successful as presently the centres' future enlargement is widely discussed. Direct interest in their development was expressed by the Embassy of Japan which plans to cooperate in the centre development processes.
The Programme of Community Development through Participation supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was financed by the Red Cross Society of Norway. Its budget for 2004-2005 was 75,000 CHF; the Programme coordinator is Mamuka Burduli and Nino Didberidze is the head of medical and social programmes.
The programme financial support is provided by the Red Cross Society of Norway but co-financer of Kvareli mini-project was the Swiss Development Agency, and of Gardabani project - the local government.
The programme partners are: in Gardabani - City Hall of Gardabani, Ltd. "Gardabani Communal Union", in Kvareli - Ltd. "Kvareli Raisaavadmkopo" (Kvareli Regional Hospital).

In 2005 the Programme of CDP implementation started in three reserve branches: Akhaltsikhe, Telavi and Khelvachauri. The Programme selected communities (communities are selected according to territory or other sharing characteristics), and researched their needs. Society volunteers carried out the quick co-participation evaluation of the branches and presented study results; based on these results mini-projects were elaborated: for Akhaltsikhe (legal-educational centre), Khelvachauri (youth resting-educational centre) and Telavi (youth social club).
The abovementioned projects were presented to the Federation; after discussions the Federation decided to finance the youth social club in Telavi, namely in Vardisubani. Presently, this mini-project is already fulfilled. In addition, working meetings are being held with the Embassy of Japan on expanding centres in Gardabani and Kvareli and financing mini-projects in Akhaltsikhe and Khelvachauri.

For 2006 the Programme of CDP envisages implementation of the following activities:

•  Training for programme heads and regional representatives; establishment of the Programme of CDP fulfilling directions supported by the Ankara regional delegation. 
•  Selection of ten branches for the Programme of Community Development through Participation; 
• Presentation of their capabilities and proposals to other branches;
• Preparation of mini-projects, conduction of quick evaluations and presentation of mini-projects to donors.

It is desirous to ensure direct participation of mass media representatives in trainings organized by the Programme of Community Development through Participation. This will raise awareness on the issue and help the Programme to find local donors.
In our opinion, it will be helpful to prepare and publish informational booklets. The 2006 budget of the Programme of Community Development through Participation includes funds for these activities.