FINALIZED PROJECTS

Sources of Funding: TDI has been funded through international grants of democratic institutions and countries, namely the awards granted by USAID; European Endowment for Democracy (EED); UNDP Georgia (with funding from EU and Norway); Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway), The Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia; OSCE /High Commissioner on National Minorities; International Organization for Migration (IOM) etc.

Ethical Considerations: TDI upholds a strict ethical policy regarding the sources of its funding. The organization does not accept grants from unverified or suspicious entities. All received funding originates exclusively from reputable, democratic institutions and supports activities that align fully with TDI’s core values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The organization maintains full transparency and thorough accountability with its donors.

Anti-corruption Policy: The organization has a "Financial and Anti-Corruption Policy Document", which is accessible to all staff members and outlines the organization's policy against corruption and fraud.

Finalized projects:

Project title: UN/EU Programme Human Rights for All – Phase 3

Donor organization: UNDP Georgia/EU

Project implementation dates: 01 March 2025 -31 May 2025

Objectives of the project: Safeguarding and upholding human rights and equality by ensuring that vulnerable groups are provided with legal assistance.

Project budget: USD 25,022.50

Project Title: EWMI CSEP Rapid Response Grant Program

Donor organization: USAID by East-West Management Institute, Inc.

Project implementation dates: August 23, 2024 - September 30, 2024

Project budget: 2,951 USD

Objectives of the project: To create a secure environment that minimizes vulnerabilities and enhances the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to security incidents. This will not only protect our physical assets and sensitive information but also contribute to the overall resilience of the organization, ensuring that we can continue to operate smoothly and securely in the face of potential threats.

Project title: Increasing Institutional Resilience and Security

Donor organization: Transatlantic Foundation (TF), in cooperation with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (BST). This Grant is part of the "Enhancing the Resilience of Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership (ERICS-EaP)" funded by the European Union (EU).

Project implementation dates: 20 August 2024 - 20 December 2024

Project budget: EUR 9,979

Objectives of the project: The project aims to strengthen the TDI's resilience against ongoing and expected government threats by ensuring access to relevant legal services, the physical and digital security of the staff and the organization, and the continuation of its legal and advocacy activities.

Project title: Ensuring Access to Justice for Religious, Ethnic Minorities and Migrants in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID Rule of Law Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: 15 July 2024 - 14 May 2026 (After the U.S. government-funded foreign assistance awards suspension, the project stopped on 24 January 2025).

Project budget: USD 93,365

Objectives of the project: The project aims to rectify systemic injustices and enhance access to justice for religious/ethnic minorities and migrants in Georgia by employing strategic litigation accompanied by advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives.

Project title: Institutional Support for TDI

Donor organization: European Endowment for Democracy (EED)

Project implementation dates: 1 July 2024 - 31 December 2024 (extended until March 31, 2025)

Project budget: EUR 30,000

Objectives of the project: Ensuring continued advocacy and litigation of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities and migrants, as well as organizational support.

Project title: Raising Awareness on FoRB (Freedom of Religion or Belief) issues in Georgia

Donor organization: The Netherlands Helsinki Committee

Project implementation dates: 11 March 2024 - 11 September 2024 (extended until 31 March 2025)

Project Budget: EUR 11,994

Objectives of the project: Raising awareness about the FoRB issues in the general public through organizing academic discussions and preparing articles on FoRB-related topics.

Project title: Educating about Freedom of Religion or Belief in Georgia

Donor organization: The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights - University of Oslo / Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway

Project implementation dates: 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Project Budget: 20,050 USD (216,000 NOK)

Objectives of the project: Education and awareness about freedom of religion or belief under the broader framework of human rights and democracy in Georgia; Increasing access to educational materials on FoRB and other human rights for duty bearers at national and local levels, and right-holders have greater.

Project title: Educating about Freedom of Religion or Belief in Georgia

Donor organization: The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights - University of Oslo / Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway

Project implementation dates: 1 September 2023 - 31 December 2023

Project Budget: 220,000 NOK

Project title: Strengthening Georgia’s FoRB Community through Mentoring and Academic Conference on Inter-Religious Issues & FoRB

Donor organization: Netherlands Embassy in Tbilisi

Project implementation dates: 20 November 2023 - 19 November 2024 (extended until 31 March 2025)

Project Budget: GEL 200,000

Objectives of the project: Advancing FoRB issues in Georgia by bringing new and existing stakeholders together through the production of authentic research, facilitation of academic and societal dialogue, and tailored visibility actions. The project aims to foster academic collaboration, produce knowledge on FoRB, inform the public, and increase news coverage of FoRB issues.

Project title: Images of Diversity: Promoting Inclusion and Diversity in Georgia

Donor organization: Leadership, Equality, Advocacy and Democracy (LEAD) sub-project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of Norway

Project implementation dates: 07 June 2023 - 30 June 2024 (extended until 31 August 2024)

Project Budget: USD 107,420

Objectives of the project: The project aims to increase awareness of the public about cultural, ethnic and religious diversity and inclusion in Georgia; Promote tolerance and diversity education sensitizing the youth about the challenges faced by different ethnic, religious and other minorities and fostering inclusive attitudes; Enhance education and awareness-raising about freedom of religion or belief under the broader framework of human rights and democracy.

Project title: Educating About Freedom of Religion or Belief for All in Georgia

Donor organization: Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway

Project implementation dates: 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Project Budget: NOK 216,000

Objectives of the project: Contributing to education and awareness-raising about freedom of religion or belief under the broader framework of human rights and democracy in Georgia, increasing access of duty-bearers and right-holders at national and local levels to educational materials on FoRB in relation to other rights. The project activities include developing a course on FoRB, training civil servants and civil society representatives, and organizing panel discussions.

Project title: Institutional Support for TDI

Donor organization: European Endowment for Democracy (EED)

Project implementation dates: March 2023 - February 2024

Project Budget: EUR 38,364

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to support TDI’s institutional development through supporting fundraising and operational activities.

Project title: Unity Through Diversity

Donor organization: USAID Civic and Economic Integration Program implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG)

Project implementation dates: October 01, 2022 – December 31, 2026 (note: the project stopped due to the USAID program suspension in January 2024)

Project Budget: USD 279,149 (for five years)

Objectives of the project: TDI serves as the Program’s advocacy partner, focusing on freedom of religion and belief and religious minority rights at all levels – from nudge advocacy of procedural improvements with local authorities and public services to strategic litigation on national levels - and provide strategic inputs in feeding the operational functions of PDO’s Council of Religions (CR). TDI is expected to develop and offer special Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training for diverse public and private organizations.

Project title: Enhancing Inclusive and Pluralistic Coverage of National Minorities in National Media

Donor organization: OSCE / High Commissioner on National Minorities

Project implementation dates: September 2022 - August 2023

Project Budget: EUR 44,648

Objectives of the project: Supporting the integration of national minority groups within Georgian society through raising their awareness about inclusive media coverage of national minorities, minority rights in this regard, and the impact of disinformation and increasing the awareness and sensitivity of the national media about minority communities in different regions and foster inclusive and ethical coverage of minority issues in different regions of Georgia.

Project title: Fostering access to justice for religious, ethnic minorities and migrants in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID Rule of Law Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: 15 July 2022 - 30 April 2024

Project Budget: USD 85,521

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to raise awareness among religious and ethnic minorities about their rights and relevant legal and advocacy tools, facilitate the access to justice for victims of discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, national origin, race, and color through strategic litigation and contribute to eliminating discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, national origin, race, and color through challenging legislative norms, policies and practices via inclusive and coordinated civil society advocacy.

Project title: Combatting discrimination on religious, ethnic, and racial grounds and awareness-raising about cultural diversity and tolerance in Georgia

Donor organization: European Endowment for Democracy (EED)

Project implementation dates: 01 August 2021 - 31 July 2022

Project Budget: EUR 77,025

Objectives of the project: Combatting discrimination on religious, ethnic, and racial grounds through litigation and advocacy and raising awareness about cultural diversity and tolerance in Georgia through producing educational/awareness raising materials.

Project title: Images of Diversity: Promoting Tolerance and Non-Discrimination in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID / Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: February 2021- July 2021

Project Budget: USD 23,517

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to raise public awareness about discrimination problems faced by religious and ethnic minorities, as well as foreign nationals residing in Georgia, and to empower representatives of minority groups through the online platform Images of Diversity. For public awareness purposes, TDI developed multimedia products, such as graphic videos, articles, and other educational materials demonstrating Georgia’s ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. Products are used for awareness-raising purposes at the presentations and events that the organization conducts in Tbilisi and the regions.

Project title: Enhancing the Capacity and Knowledge of Media on Migration

Donor organization: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Project implementation dates: February 2021 - October 2021

Project Budget: USD 24,828

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to build media capacity and sensitize Georgian students of journalism about the issues related to the acceptance of foreign nationals, their social and political rights, provide background information about migrants and asylum seekers, and, in general, culture and migration as a phenomenon.

Project title: Awareness Raising of and about Migrants' Rights in Georgia during COVID-19

Donor organization: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Project implementation dates: July 2020 - December 2020

Project Budget: USD 9,335

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to raise public awareness about the rights and most pressing issues of migrants in Georgia, provide information to foreign nationals about their most essential services and rights, and offer them online legal consultations related to their rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project title: Combating Discrimination on Religious, Ethnic and Racial Grounds through Strategic Litigation

Donor organization: USAID / Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: April 2020 - July 2021

Project Budget: USD 62,727

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to combat discrimination on religious, ethnic, and racial grounds. TDI advocated freedom of religion and belief for all and protected the rights of discriminated religious organizations/individuals, ethnic minorities, and foreign nationals/migrants. The strategic advocacy and litigation included litigations at national and international legal mechanisms. In the frame of the project, TDI prepared the Study of Racial Profiling in Georgia to identify the discriminatory police practices towards ethnic minorities and migrants.

Project title: Images of Diversity: Promoting Tolerance and Non-Discrimination in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID / Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: February 2020 - December 2020

Project Budget: USD 29,236

Project title: "I Choose Equality" - part of the Council of Europe project "Fighting Discrimination, Hate Crime and Hate Speech in Georgia".

Donor organization: Council of Europe

Project implementation dates: September 2019 - June 2020

Project Budget: EUR 8,285

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to raise awareness and sensitivity of the public about religious/ethnic minorities who often face discrimination in Georgia due to their identities, tackle the ideological polarization and foster cultural dialogue between different societal groups. The project also provided powerful examples of people who went through personal transformation, overcame prejudices, changed their attitudes and now can share their experiences with the audience.

Project title: Fostering Religious Tolerance and Cultural Diversity in Public Schools of Georgia

Donor organization: Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia

Project implementation dates: September 2018 - July 2021

Project Budget: GEL 456,110

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to foster religious tolerance and cultural diversity in public schools of Georgia. The main activities of the project included training 150 public school teachers/directors/administration, revising public school textbooks (grades 7, 8, and 9), and developing recommendations for the authors and publishers. Within the framework of the project, various guidelines and teaching materials have been prepared for teachers, scholars, authors, publishers, and media.

Project title: Promoting Interreligious Dialogue in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID’s "Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program [PITA], implemented by UNAG

Project implementation dates: October 2017 - June 2018

Project Budget: GEL 31,040

Objectives of the project: Promoting interreligious, interfaith dialogue among religious organizations, and fostering academic discussion with participation of representatives of religious communities, field experts, the youth, NGOs and media on freedom of religion and belief.

Project title: Empowering Religious Minorities and Raising Awareness of State Representatives on Non-Discrimination, Freedom of Religion and Equality

Donor organization: Embassy of the Netherlands in Tbilisi

Project implementation dates: August 2017 - June 2018

Project Budget: EUR 41,031

Objectives of the project: Raising awareness of local municipality representatives on human rights, religious neutrality, non-discrimination and freedom of religion, enhancing dialogue between religious minorities and local municipality councils on human rights, religious neutrality, non-discrimination and freedom of religion and strengthen capacities for political parties to reflect non-discrimination and freedom of religion issues and avoid hate speech in their pre-election campaigns and agenda.

Project title: Combating Discrimination on Religious, Ethnic and Racial Grounds

Donor organization: USAID / Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: May 2017 - March 2020

Project Budget: USD 132,388

Objectives of the project: The project aimed at protecting freedom of religion and belief, increasing access to justice for persons who experience religious, ethnic, and racial discrimination, eliminating the violation of their rights on discriminatory grounds, and providing full legal aid (civil, administrative, and criminal) free of charge. The project ensured strategic litigation by using national and international legal mechanisms.

Project title: International Tolerance Day Event in Tbilisi

Donor organization: The Embassy of the Netherlands in Tbilisi

Project implementation dates: November 2016

Project Budget: USD 3,030

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to produce materials and hold an event to promote the International Day for Tolerance throughout Georgian society and raise awareness of minority issues.

Project title: Study of Discrimination Issues and Promoting a Culture of Tolerance at Universities

Donor organization: Open Society Georgia Foundation

Project implementation dates: October 2016 - May 2017

Project Budget: USD 29,481

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to identify specific issues related to religious/ethnic/racial discrimination in the higher educational space and develop relevant recommendations for the state, promote a tolerant environment in the regions and raise the awareness of the youth.

Project title: Pre-election round-tables of religious minority organizations with political parties participating in the 2016 parliamentary elections

Donor organization: USAID’s Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness Program [PITA], implemented by UNAG

Project implementation dates: September 2016

Project Budget: USD 3,020

Objectives of the project: The project aimed to create a space for dialogue between political parties participating in the 2016 parliamentary elections and representatives of the religious community.

Project title: Combating Religious, Ethnic, and Racial Discrimination in Georgia

Donor organization: USAID / Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia (PROLoG) Program implemented by the East-West Management Institute

Project implementation dates: January 2016 - February 2017

Project Budget: USD 77,996

Project title: Advancing Tolerance, Religious Freedom and Human Rights in Georgia

Donor organization: Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia

Project implementation dates: June 2014 – May 2016

Project Budget: EUR 90,000 (TDI component)

Objectives of the project: Advancing Tolerance, Religious Freedom and Human Rights in Georgia was a joint project that was implemented with the partners: Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI) and Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC). TDI was leading the educational part of the project, aiming to revise the public school textbooks from the perspective of reflecting tolerance, diversity and nondiscrimination, and develop recommendations for the state, holding discussions and preparing readers to enhance the knowledge of the youth on tolerance culture.

Project title: Study of Constitutional Secularism and Religious Discrimination in Georgia

Donor organization: The East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development in Georgia (G-PAC) Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Project implementation dates: January 2014 – June 2014

Project Budget: USD 14,965

Objectives of the project: Support the protection of rights of religious minorities and combat discrimination on religious grounds; spark public dialogue about the necessity of entrenching religious neutrality and supporting the formation of the secular state; facilitate relevant policy changes. For the above-mentioned purposes, the study provided: 1) a review of religiously motivated offenses; 2) an analysis of the existing legislative framework and state practice regarding freedom of religion in Georgia; 3) an assessment of politicians' rhetoric from the perspective of observing secular principles.

Project title: The Assessment of the Needs of Religious Minorities in Georgia

Donor organization: ‘Advancing National Integration in Georgia’ (ANI) project’s Small Grants Mechanism, implemented by the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) and the Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) with the financial support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Project implementation dates: September 2013 – August 2014

Project Budget: USD 10,000

Objectives of the project: The project's objective was to deliver comprehensive analyses of the needs of religious minorities in Georgia through qualitative field research and provide key stakeholders with relevant recommendations.

Tolerance and Diversity Institute

Tolerance and Diversity Institute

FINALIZED PROJECTS

Finalized projects: