On December 7, Business and Economic Centre with cooperation of international organization “Mercy Corps” conducted one day training in Akhaltsikhe. Aim of the training “Advocacy and civil society’s participation in policy making process” was to develop and strengthen lobby group capacity. The targeted audience was representatives from lobby groups which were created in Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Adigeni and Aspindza municipalities.

During the training, participants discussed the following issues:
-    Aim of advocacy and its main steps;
-    The concept of lobbying;
-    Problem identification and presentation;
-    Meeting facilitation process;

Except these issues, Business and Economic Centre’s representatives also introduced the steps of law making process, civil society participation in parliamentary processes and majoritarian MPs main responsibilities. During the training, lobby group participants discussed the problems which they have in region and the ways for solving these problems.

In January, in the frame of the cooperation between BEC and Mercy Corps, the centre will conduct the other training for lobby group participants. They will also be invited on the meetings organized in BEC and would be able to speak about the problems facing the farmers in their municipalities.