Internally Displaced Persons in Georgia - Challenges for Change

Abstract: This thesis deals with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on global and local level. The researchquestion deals with the problems associated with IDPs - what challenges IDPs are facing and thefuture prospects for IDPs worldwide and on local level in the Samegrelo region in Georgia.The thesis is divided into two parts: In the first part I define the IDPs using the GuidingPrinciples on Internal Displacement, the critique towards the Guiding Principles and adescription of the vulnerability of IDPs worldwide. (Part 1, Chapter 1, Sections 1,2 and 3).I continue to describe the IDPs on local level, paying special attention to those in the Samegreloregion, in Georgia. In addition, I point at a delicate issue regarding ethnicity. Further, I providefigures on the IDP population, by showing the massive IDP movement in 1994 and 2008.Further, I use a description to the Indicators of Vulnerability with regards to integration of IDPs inthe region, and alongside with these indicators I contrast the content with the Government ofGeorgia Action Plan for the Implementation of the State Strategy for IDPs, and the Guiding Principleson Internal Displacement. (Chapter 2, Section 1,2 and 3).In the following chapter I define foreign aid as a tool of policy and I point out the absence ofearmarked Official Development Assistance (ODA) destined for IDPs, although there isearmarked ODA specified for Refugees according to ODA policy.ODA disbursements to Georgia indicate that a majority of the ODA is used as humanitarian aidand the traceable assistance directed to IDPs is predominantly humanitarian. (Chapter 3, Sections1 and 2).A brief overview explains the transition from early rural cooperatives in the West, to the NGOsoperating in post-Soviet states from early 1990s, within the sectors humanitarian anddevelopment assistance. Despite a long list with short-term hard and soft projects implementedby Local NGOs, the outcomes never reached sustainable levels. (Chapter 4, Section 1).Second part of the thesis encompass a case study of a development project I managed during aninternship at the Human Rights Center of Georgia. I describe the conduct of the project and howthe team, working together with young IDPs, achieved to formulate an idea for sustainableincome generation. I also present the technicalities and the process on how we negotiated toconvince the elder IDPs about cooperating with us on the idea and the project. I describe theprocess of renovating a food processing room at the collective center where the IDPs were living,and how this project was aborted due to lack of funds. (Part 2, Case study).