Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

In new democracies such as Georgia the survival of democratic, pluralistic and effective political parties is continually challenged. The objective of the Political Party Assistance (PPA) programme in Georgia is to promote the institutional development of major political parties and thus support Georgia’s development into a mature pluralistic democracy.

In 2010, the programme involves seven Georgian political parties, namely: the New Rights, United National Movement, Georgia’s Way, Our Georgia - Free Democrats, Christian Democratic Movement, the Labour party and the Republicans. 

To ensure inclusivity, as well as the representation of a variety of political viewpoints and stages of organisational development, NIMD selected the seven parties on the basis of the results of the parliamentary elections in 2008 and the 2010 local government elections.

The first phase of the PPA programme will assist Georgian political parties in their analysis of internal and external environments and stakeholders, enhance interparty dialogue, identify strategic issues and based on the results plan their future development.

To these ends, NIMD has selected the politically neutral period leading up to the elections of 2013, coinciding with the parties’ desire to focus on internal party dialogue, institutionalisation and capacity building.

In order to ensure a thorough and successful SWOT analysis and strategic planning process, NIMD has created a pool of experts and consultants with extensive experience in strategic planning, election monitoring, voter analysis and institutionalisation. The group of experts provided by NIMD is made up of outstanding professionals in different fields who will add value to the programme and guarantee quality assessment of party work.

As stated by the parties, who have already assigned representatives to engage with the NIMD programme, it is crucial to develop a party membership culture, improve party performance at the regional level and increase organisational sustainability between elections.

In the course of the PPA, apart from the SWOT analysis and strategic planning exercise, NIMD intends to commission a survey articulating the Georgian population’s views on political parties and their performance.

Supporting Georgia’s democratisation effort, NIMD has taken the view that ensuring development of party institutionalisation and internal democracy, and the creation of a group of new political leaders, are important steps on the path towards consensus and development.

Based on the SWOT analyses and strategic plans developed over the next six months, NIMD will then determine the pivotal fields where it can provide further support for political parties in 2011 and beyond.