From June 12 to June 26, 2022, the most active graduates of the fourth CABAR.asia School of Analytics completed an internship at think tanks and scientific institutions in Georgia. Scholars were given the opportunity to improve their research and analytical writing skills.
Strengthening human capital in Central Asia by increasing the level of knowledge in the field of political and economic analysis, security and social issues is one of the key goals of IWPR CA and its projects. To establish professional and networking links with other think tanks and enrich regional experience, IWPR CA has developed a cross-regional internship program that extends beyond Central Asia and brings together the expert community. For this purpose, one of the leading scientific institutions in the South Caucasus region, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, was chosen as a partner.
Established in 1998, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies – GFSIS (Rondeli Foundation) is an independent non-profit policy think tank (analytical organization) that aims to help improve public policy decision-making in Georgia. The Fund’s activities are aimed at promoting democracy and strengthening regional cooperation. The experts of the Rondeli Foundation are former high-ranking government officials with direct experience and academic recognition.
Working directly with the institution’s researchers, CABAR.asia analysts had a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, as well as gain access to various expert assessments and opinions. GFSIS speakers included such experts as:
- Shota Utiashvili, Senior Fellow (scientific researcher) at GFSIS, former First Deputy Minister of Justice, former Director of the Department of International and Public Relations, and Adviser to the Prime Minister at the State Chancellery of Georgia.
- Kakha Gogolashvili, GFSIS Senior Research Fellow, Director of the Center for EU Studies.
- Giorgi Badridze, Senior Fellow at GFSIS, former Ambassador of Georgia to the UK.
- Alex Petriashvili, Senior Fellow at GFSIS, former Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia, former Ambassador of Georgia to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, former Deputy Director of the Department of Military-Political Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
- Eter Glurjidze, Junior Fellow, etc.
Participating in the educational and academic life of the institution, our interns participated in trainings, seminars and public lectures that are held at GFSIS.
In addition, our interns have taken several study tours to other think tanks in Tbilisi, where they have had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new research landscape.
During the visit of the non-governmental organization Georgia’s Reform Associates (GRASS) and meeting with its director Paata Gaprindashvili, the participants of the internship discussed the issues of building a civil society, freedom of speech and ways to counter fakes.
According to Kamila Smagulova, an internship participant from Kazakhstan, “civil society in Georgia is an important phenomenon. Because of this, it is necessary to work on the promotion of joint projects in the field in this particular area – civil society, think tanks, research. We have a lot to share with each other.”
The meeting with the deputies of Georgia within the walls of the parliament made it possible to take part in the discussion of the internal policy of Georgia, touching upon the issues of policy towards national minorities, democratic transformations, and reforms, as well as the subsequent goals and objectives of Georgia’s development. In addition, the internship participants had a unique opportunity to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ask diplomats questions on the topic of Georgia’s foreign policy and its main directions in a round table format.
Program participant from Kyrgyzstan Asylgul Kanatbekova believes that “there is a lot to learn from Georgia, especially in terms of building a transparent public administration system.”
Direct acquaintance with the founders of such think tanks as the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD), the Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS), the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) made it possible to gain knowledge of new research and projects, as well as get recommendations for developing the skills of novice experts.
Farrukh Khakimov, a trainee participant, shared his impressions: “The internship in Georgia turned out to be useful in terms of studying the experience of the think tanks of this state. In addition, during the internship, I was able to study in more detail the methods and modern technologies that are used by Georgian analytical centers to collect and analyze information. Also, I have an opinion about the need to organize such trainings for civil servants of Uzbekistan in the relevant areas.
The knowledge and skills gained during the internship will be applied in the framework of my work activity. In particular, they will be used when writing analytical notes, articles, implementing research projects, interacting with foreign think tanks, as well as assisting in organizing trainings for researchers in the field of politics and state building.
Particular attention during the internship was also paid to the problems of mass media development, when the founder of the independent Media Outlet-Publika, Zura Vardiashvili shared his experience in promoting his resource, and also gave recommendations to strengthen the sustainability of young and independent online publications.
At the end of the program, after consultations with mentors from the Rondeli Foundation, all participants presented their research projects, shared their ideas and recommendations on relevant topics.
Summing up the results of the internship, Navruz Karimov, an analyst from Tajikistan, noted: “The bright contrast between cultures and the development paths that our countries have chosen helps to feel the unique features of their own national identity. During the lectures, my eyes were opened to the fact that we can follow the path of Georgia, a country that is under heavy oppression from Russia, and build real independence, creating a regional organization without the participation of large players, in which issues of strengthening the sovereignty of each from the countries of Central Asia.”