International Telecommunications and Information Center

The International Telecommunications and Information Center was established on March 9, 1995. The Union--International Telecommunications and Information Center (ITIC)--was re-registered on October 6, 1998. Primary goals of the center are to provide assistance in information exchange to Georgian NGOs by providing telecommunication services, IT transfer/training and consultancy, to conduct training courses for NGOs in computer and E-mail/Internet, to create and maintain database of Georgian NGOs which is updated and published every month.

Currently ITIC offers the following services:

Monthly Publications (1998):

• Directory/Database of Georgian NGOs (in English and in Georgian, funded by Winston Foundation for World Peace)
• Directory/Database of Donors, International and Humanitarian Agencies, Embassies and Joint Ventures in Georgia (in English and in Georgian, funded by Winston Foundation for World Peace)
• ITIC Internet Bulletin (monthly organizational newsletter in Georgian and in English, funded by Winston Foundation for World Peace)

Other publications (1997-98):

• International Donors Handbook for Georgia (1997, Georgian/English edition, 3000 copies, funded by OSGF)
• Directory of Donors, Development Agencies, Investment Funds in Georgia (1998, Georgian/English edition, 2000 copies, funded by Save the Children Federation)

Electronic Publications (1998):

• Creation/design and updating of website containing information on ITIC, Georgian NGOs (directory, newsletter, Georgian links, information on Georgian arts and architecture)
• Weekly news service, mailing lists for NGOs, international agencies and small businesses, free (monthly) printed information distribution service for 12 international organizations and embassies

Other Permanently Active Programs

• Regular basic computer/Internet/E-mail training workshops for NGOs and public
• Regular free e-mail/Internet access service for NGOs, free office equipment access/usage service for NGOs
• Free Dial-up offline e-mail for NGOs (new service, introduced in 1998)
• Free Library services for NGOs (new service, introduced in 1998)
• Regional NGO networking program (new program, introduced in 1998)
• Free information search services for NGOs on request
• Sociological Surveys

Grants and Certifications Received (1995-99)

• Eurasia Foundation (1995, 1996, 1999)
• Open Society-Georgia Foundation (1995, 1996, 1997)
• ISAR (1995, 1996)
• Save the Children Federation/USAID (1997, 1998)
• Sacred Earth Network (1995)
• Canadian Cooperation Fund (1996, 1997)
• Winston Foundation for World Peace (1997, 1998, 1999)

Two certificates awarded by Save the Children/USAID for successful implementation of granted projects in 1997 (July) and in 1998 (April).

ITIC is seeking a partner organization from the EU to implement the BISTRO (TACIS) project in Georgia.

General Information on BISTRO

The BISTRO facility was set up with the overall objective of responding quickly to small-scale technical assistance projects in Georgia. It follows the same guidelines as EU Tacis as a whole, the main principle being the transfer of "know-how". The 1999 implementation budget consists of a facility amounting to 500,000 Euros.

The objectives of the programme are:

• to complement the main Tacis programme, when local information reveals promising opportunities for small scale actions (it is essential that there be no overlapping of projects);
• to test on a small-scale innovative concepts for technical assistance projets which could later be spread or deepened through general Tacis projects;
• to follow up on implemented Tacis projects to replicate and disseminate results,
• to be accessible to beneficiaries who do not have access to large international aid programmes.

Areas of Co-operation and Activities Eligible

BISTRO is closely related to the areas of co-operation selected in the Tacis Indicative Programme 1996-99. These are in particular:

• Development of Infrastructure (transport; energy and telecoms);
• Development of human resources (support to legal training, support to management training and support to economic training);
• Development of private enterprise (Support to enterprise reform policies; support and stimulation of SMEs development)
• ln addition exceptional projects in the areas of agriculture and the environment may be considered.

BISTRO activities relevant to the above-mentioned areas can be in the form of either or a mixture of: training activities (e.g. training courses, workshops, study tours) written expertise (e.g. studies)

BISTRO activities often complement or follow up on main Tacis projects. In these cases, no overlapping of the respective Terms of Reference is admitted.

BISTRO activities should normally not benefit one actor only but have a systemic impact, with results that can benefit a number of actors in a particular sector either directly or through repetition and dissemination.

Eligible Partners

Proposals should be submitted by a Georgian applicant jointly with an EU partner, which eventually becomes the Contractor.

Last updated:    November 1999

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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