GEL 1,650,000 was allocated from the 2026 state budget to the State Grants Management Agency, which was established under the government’s control in April 2025 and which, according to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, is now being phased out and will be closed by the end of the year.

Georgian Dream stated that the purpose of establishing the agency was to support civil society organizations registered in Georgia by providing state grants. The grants are financed from the state budget and, in accordance with the agency’s regulations, are awarded in line with priority areas and targeted programs determined by the government.

GEL 1,650,000 was allocated to the agency from the 2026 state budget. According to the main financial document, GEL 1,122,000 was allocated for salaries (with 16 employees), GEL 1,624,000 was designated under “expenses,” while GEL 26,000 was allocated for non-financial assets.

At the same time, a separate program titled “Support for Civic Initiatives” was included in the budget to finance public initiatives. Initially, GEL 20 million was allocated for this program, although the budget was subsequently amended and the final amount was set at GEL 2 million.

The State Grants Management Agency announced a public grant competition in July 2025 and, in November of last year, decided to fund 17 civil society organizations through state grants. According to the agency, the total budget of the winning civic initiatives amounted to GEL 1,657,775. The state grants were distributed among the following organizations and projects:

Georgian Red Cross Society - The project aimed to strengthen social services in Kutaisi and support the development of professional home-care services. Grant awarded from the state budget: GEL 100,000.

Agency for Development of Democracy - The organization received a grant for the project “Positive Parenting Program in the Regions,” which aimed to support parents and other caregivers involved in the project in using positive methods of child-rearing and development, strengthening values-based nonviolent communication and childcare skills. Grant awarded: GEL 99,980.

National Network of Women with Disabilities - The project aimed to support increased participation of persons with disabilities in public life through the development of an inclusive psychological assistance service. Grant awarded: GEL 99,997.

Peace Research Center - The program aimed to study cultural and ethnic diversity and the influence of the media in Marneuli Municipality. Grant awarded: GEL 97,950.

Environmental Ecological Association DEA - The organization received funding for a project aimed at protecting biodiversity, including habitats of migratory birds, in the area adjacent to the Kolkheti National Park within the administrative boundaries of Zemo Chaladidi in Senaki Municipality. The project sought to achieve this through raising awareness among the local community, creating birdwatching systems, and establishing sustainable cooperation. Grant awarded: GEL 99,366.

Georgian Center for Demographic and Health Research - The organization was funded for a project aimed at comprehensively and multidimensionally studying the factors contributing to declining birth rates within Georgia’s national context. Grant awarded: GEL 97,900.

Merani Chess Club - The project aimed to develop an inclusive chess club for autistic children. Grant awarded: GEL 100,000.

Avlip Zurabashvili Georgian Psychiatric Society - The organization received GEL 93,480 for the program “Another Step Toward a Dignified Old Age,” which aimed to support the creation of a national dementia program.

Enagram - The project aimed to introduce artificial intelligence into the education system. Grant awarded: GEL 100,000.

Center for Participation and Engagement - CIPIS - The organization’s project aimed to increase the effectiveness of municipal councils. Grant awarded: GEL 99,920.

Public Defender - The project involved studying the needs of women from ethnic minorities and promoting pathways to integration by identifying and analyzing the social, economic, educational and civic status and needs of women and girls belonging to ethnic minorities in Georgia, as well as systemic barriers to their full participation in public life. Grant awarded: GEL 99,688.

Autism Research and Support Foundation - The project aimed to establish a greenhouse facility at the National Autism Center to help develop independent-living skills among people with autism and improve their level of social integration. Grant awarded: GEL 99,535.

Georgian Center for Culture, Education and Sports of the Union of the Blind - The project aimed to support the development of education, arts and sports for blind people. Grant awarded: GEL 99,910.

National Institute of Debate and Education — The organization received GEL 100,000 for the project “Youth for Regional Development,” which involves a series of public speaking events and discussions aimed at identifying and advocating for local problems.

Art Hall+ Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Adolescents with Disabilities and Diabetes - The project, “Youth Podcast - Art Hall’s Microphone: Protecting Youth Rights and Developing Opportunities,” aimed to create and distribute original podcast episodes. Grant awarded: GEL 99,825.

Abkhazia Union of the Blind and Deaf “Hera” - The organization received GEL 70,495 for a project on inclusive education for persons with disabilities through assistive technologies, involving the use of assistive technologies in the form of audiobooks for blind and visually impaired students.

New Georgian Hub - The organization received GEL 99,729 for the project “Together We Can Do More,” which aims to strengthen parental engagement and competencies in inclusive relationships, emotional intelligence, equal communication and social integration.

Accordingly, in the small grants competition announced in 2025, the Grants Management Agency funded projects submitted by 17 organizations, with a total budget of GEL 1,657,775.

The establishment of the Grants Management Agency was preceded by amendments to the Law on Grants, under which the issuance of grants in Georgia by foreign donor organizations became subject to the consent of the Government of Georgia. Under the current law, receiving a foreign grant without government approval is prohibited. During the period when the law was adopted, the government also established the State Grants Management Agency, announcing that its purpose was to support civil society organizations by providing state grants.

Last week, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the State Grants Management Agency is “being phased out” and will be closed by the end of the year. Irakli Kobakhidze described non-governmental organizations as an “artificial phenomenon” and also said that NGOs were created for “foreign political intervention.”