Mesures prises:
For the Georgia Red Cross Society, the National Society Development is essential. It is crucial to have the strong National Society (national as well as bran level) to ensure the longevity of the needs-based services for the most vulnerable groups of our society as the GRCS represents the main humanitarian organization, with the country wide coverage, and has the special role and mandate during the emergencies.
During the reporting period the Georgia Red Cross Society was actively working to strengthen its capacity and resources on all levels: volunteers and staff, local communities, gaining knowledge and expertise for provision of the relevant humanitarian assistance. Despite the fact that during the reporting period the National Society was mainly I response phase (COVID-19, Ukrainians Crisis, several disasters in the country during 2023, etc.), he National Society seized every opportunity to build its capacity and further strengthen itself.
During the reporting period the National Society was actively working to ensure that to use the part (up to 7%) of the donations received by individuals or corporates to cover the administrative costs of the organization.
For decades, the GRCS headquarters was located at 15 Jansug Kakhidze Street, Tbilisi, in an old and structurally unstable building, posing potential dangers to employees, volunteers, and visitors. In December 2018, the GRCS applied to the Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau for an expert examination of the building, which deemed it unfit for further operations due to structural deficiencies. Consequently, the GRCS sought a temporary solution by renting office space, which created significant financial burdens and associated risks. Having an HQ space in ownership is crucial for the GRCS to fulfill its humanitarian mandate. Soon after securing rental arrangements, the National Society began raising funds for a new HQ building from International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners and donors. With their support, the GRCS mobilized initial funds and applied to the Bank of Georgia to cover remaining costs through a loan, allowing the GRCS to move to the new office at the beginning of 2023.
The Tax Code of Georgia contains several norms establishing relief and incentive mechanisms for the charitable activities of companies. These include various tax benefits if the recipient organization has charitable status, as per Georgian legislation. As a result of the long-term humanitarian work of the GRCS, in March 2022, the National Society received the status of a charitable organization, enabling donating companies to receive tax benefits for their charitable actions. This will serve as a motivator factor for the private sector to start charity.
Since 2020, the GRCS has been actively working with the National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA), receiving funds for income-generating activities. The National Society has been developing a project to establish a factory to produce hand sanitizers, securing the relevant resources for the factory’s construction. At this stage, the project is finalized, land has been reallocated for the factory, and the GRCS is awaiting final permissions to proceed with procurement and launch the building and subsequent manufacturing processes.
During the reporting period, the GRCS has established a comprehensive feedback mechanism that unifies various channels, ensuring that feedback can be received through multiple avenues, making it more comfortable and accessible for beneficiaries. Equally important is the National Society’s commitment to ensuring that feedback is a two-way process. This means that any information, requests, or questions received by the National Society are promptly followed up on in a timely manner. This approach not only helps in addressing the immediate needs of the beneficiaries but also strengthens the trust and relationship between the GRCS and the communities it serves.
The GRCS has launched an in-house Face-to-Face (F2F) program to further strengthen the National Society and work towards building its future financial sustainability. The aim is to gather unrestricted funds for the National Society. This initiative was successfully launched in 2023. As part of this effort, the GRCS has established a well-developed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This system ensures regular two-way communication with donors and guarantees transparency and accountability to them. Through this, the GRCS can maintain a strong relationship with its supporters while securing the necessary resources to sustain and expand its humanitarian efforts.
During the reporting period the media coverage of the GRCS activities has been significantly increased. The number of the activities were covered by televisions, radios, newspapers, online newspapers. All informative-educational material such as invitations, letters, newsletters, and annual reports have been shared with stakeholders.
