Under the initiative of the Sports and Youth Issues Committee and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung South Caucasus Office, special surveys have been conducted in Tbilisi and Imereti municipalities to study youth policy implementation at the local Government level.

Speaking at the event, the Chair of the Committee, Mikheil Kavelashvili dwelt on the importance of the research and the problems and challenges identified in the implementation of youth policy at the municipal level.

“The role of youth in the development of the country is an important issue, which is why the Parliamentary Committee and the Government in general are taking deliberate action to integrate our youth as quickly as possible into the civic life and development of the country. In this regard, the Committee has undertaken a number of important activities, and one of these activities was carried out by the Committee together with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, which is conducting research in 13 municipalities of the Imereti Region and Tbilisi. Two important factors emerge from the results of the research: first, the problem of employment, self-actualization and motivation of young people, and the other - non-formal education, which requires more effort. Research has shown that young people are expected to address their needs mainly to municipalities and are less likely to take initiatives. Research also suggests that young people may have other needs, however, municipalities offer them other directions”, - M. Kavelashvili remarked.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, the Parliamentary Working Group on the development of the concept of youth policy at the committee level, involves almost all youth organizations. The Committee also initiated a new agency under the Prime-Minister - a youth agency that coordinates various youth issues.

"When it comes to youth development, it is fundamental that all reforms take place with their involvement thus justifying our motto - "with youth and for youth”, which is to listen to them, ask them what and how they want, and to create opportunities where young people's potential can be realized", - M. Kavelashvili noted.

The Member of the Sports and Youth Issues Committee, Irina Pruidze welcomed the participants and thanked the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the author of the research - Analysis and Consulting Team for the work embarked.

Felix Hett, Director of the FES South Caucasus Office, also addressed the representatives of the Imereti Regional Administration, Youth Agency leadership, civil society members and field experts at the conference, and spoke about the joint project and its results.

Post hoc the welcome part, the senior researcher of the Analysis and Consulting Team, Keso Esebua made the presentation on the research and scrutinized the methodology of the research, including the mechanisms of working with the target audience, and the main challenges.

The speaker also presented conclusions, recommendations and findings to the conference participants.

The event resumed with a discussion where invited guests, education and youth experts and municipal officials expressed their views and suggestions.