The Hope Arose.
Five Community-based organizations created in Imereti Region, Georgia

In Georgia , the Association for Protection of Landowners' Rights (APLR), is assisting villages to form community-based organizations (CBOs) to manage pasture lands. The project Endowment for Community Mobilization Initiative in Western Georgia , part of ILC's Community Empowerment Facility (CEF), targets five villages in the Imereti Region - Banoja, Mekvena, Persati, Dimi and Sakraula - which have each formed CBOs with members from the village communities.

In selected highland villages, the pasture land will be transferred to private ownership by the CBOs implementing land management. APLR's project provides training to members and local government representatives on issues such as the organizational development of CBOs, land legislation, usage of cadastre maps, and private arbitration.

Through this work, village populations have been provided with comprehensive information to help decrease the incidences of violation of landowners' rights. "In the past" observed Koba Gureshidze, chairman of CBO in Banoja, "the villagers had no information on the functions of CBOs", whereas now "the CBO is able to settle those problems which cannot be resolved by the authorities". The population used to purchase land without [receiving] title to it. Now, according to Gureshidze, farmers can try to legalize their rights,

The initial results of training are already being observed. "We have arbitrated in 20 disputes" said Gureshidze. "After the training we have become able to arbitrate in a professional manner, according to the regulation and procedures of arbitration. Of course, there are different disputes among the village population. They feel shy about publicizing their problems and avoid bringing the action to court. As a result the disputes continue for years. To settle disputes through arbitration is a more acceptable way for the populations". In settling disputes, owners have come to prefer arbitration to the courts because of the simper procedure which allows conflicting parties to reach agreement more quickly.

As part of the project, each CBO must resolve the key problems existing in their village. In Dimi village, the CBO is planning to restore the acacia forest that has been cut down. According to Robert Nergadze, chairman of Dimi CBO, the forest covers an average of 10 hectares, land which farmers use for making the support for vines. The forest also plays an important part in the development of stock-breeding and bee-keeping. As a result of the CBOs' fencing and restoration of the forest, revenue will increase and village lands will resist erosion.

Shota Asatiani, chairman of the Mekvena CBO, remarked that, initially, other village residents were sceptical of this approach. "Mekvena is an abandoned highland village. Whenever the government, or any other organization, contacted us, we considered their offers to be just another lie. We had no hope and were doubtful about everything". Asatiani continued, "APLR offered to establish the CBO and a certain hope arose. We were trained on different issues, which were absolutely new and unavailable for us. We did not know before how to manage the CBO, or draft project proposals and find donors. We have already begun to collect information on such disputes, which can be settled through the newly created arbitration".

APRL plans to publish a book on the questions and answers raised during the CBO training sessions. This CBO manual will provide important assistance to those establishing a CBO and the principles of CBO functioning.

The Georgian version is on the website http://www.aplr.org/en/publications.shtml and an English version will be released in the near future.

Upon completion of this project, the CBOs of Imereti highland villages plan to continue their work independently and, if necessary, they can consult with the APLR Kutaisi regional office. While developing projects, resolution of vital problems in the village will be their priority.

Author: Rusudan Bokeria