The CivicLab and UChange methodologies were developed by Council of Europe experts to facilitate and stimulate citizens’ interest and awareness in political decision-making in their communities. The CivicLab tool is a consultation tool, that allows for the development of national strategies, proposals for action plans, regulations, local programmes, draft laws in a participatory manner, including a digital and educational component. UChange is a learning process tool for citizens and public servants, civil society organisations, schools and institutions, to better understand political decision-making processes. It also explains how citizens can actively participate and contribute to this process.

Both methodologies are used to ensure more citizen-oriented, gender-sensitive, open and transparent accountable at local government.

On 23-25 February 2022, in partnership with the NGO "Civil Society Development Forum - Kyiv", the first certified training of trainers for CivicLab and Uchange Methodologies was organised in Tbilisi. Three Ukrainian experts worked collaboratively with Georgian experts, representatives from local authorities and civil society organisations to develop their competencies in the practical application of these tools.

Three further sessions are planned to allow the participants to deepen their knowledge and put into practice what was learned.

The event was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening Participatory Democracy and Human Rights at Local Level in Georgia” run by the Council of Europe with the financial contribution of the Austrian Development Cooperation within the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023.