A Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the Youth Agency of Georgia. The document was signed by the Chairperson of the CEC, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, and the Acting Head of the Youth Agency, Vakhtang Baakashvili.

Prior to signing the memorandum, the parties discussed the significance of the document and their partnership. As Giorgi Kalandarishvili noted, the purpose of the memorandum is to foster collaboration within the available resources of both institutions and to promote youth civic engagement and active participation in electoral processes through various projects. Additionally, it aims to enhance the awareness and civic consciousness of young voters, including first-time voters, by providing information on innovations in electoral processes and the introduction of electronic technologies. The memorandum also envisions encouraging youth participation in educational, learning and informational programs.

Through this cooperation, the CEC and the Youth Agency will support each other in ensuring that young voters have access to accurate and reliable information. This will enable them to gain a comprehensive understanding of electoral processes, their rights as voters, and the importance of participation in elections. In turn, this will help young people to effectively navigate the challenges of modern elections.

“Youth participation in democratic processes is crucial. To reach a large number of young people, we have been actively cooperating with the Youth Agency in recent years. By signing this memorandum, we aim to strengthen our collaboration and engage in joint projects that focus on raising youth awareness”, - stated Giorgi Kalandarishvili

Vakhtang Baakashvili also highlighted the importance of such memorandums. “One of the key objectives of the national youth strategy is to increase meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes. This memorandum will contribute to raising awareness about elections and ensuring youth involvement in democratic processes”.

The signing ceremony took place at the Central Election Commission and was attended by Otar Javakhishvili, Head Coordinator for International Relations at the Youth Agency; Giorgi Santuriani, Head of the CEC Office/Legal Department; and Ketevan Dangadze, Head of the Strategic Communications Department.

It is worth noting that promoting youth engagement has always been a cornerstone of the Election Administration’s efforts. Over the years, the CEC has remained committed to fostering a culture of youth participation in electoral processes through a wide range of informational and educational initiatives aimed at strengthening civic culture and enhancing an inclusive electoral environment.

In line with this commitment, the administration has successfully implemented numerous initiatives, including three ongoing educational and informational projects launched earlier this year in public schools and universities.