A meeting was held at the Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi within the framework of the ongoing project "Determining the level of awareness on the issues of regulation in the electricity, natural gas and water supply sectors and carrying out a needs assessment" in the Elizbar Eristavi Energy Training Center operating under the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) with the support and partnership of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The participants of the workshop were informed about the purpose of the project and the importance of needs assessment in the energy and water supply sectors. The representatives of the project made a presentation on the issues of the level of awareness in terms of regulation, highlighting the specific needs of different target audiences and raising awareness in this direction, identifying effective mechanisms for deepening professional qualifications.

Within the framework of the project, qualitative and quantitative studies will be carried out. The target audience of the research are employees of energy and water supply enterprises, new-comersof the regulatory commission, experts working on energy issues and representatives of the academic circles, young scientists, media representatives, investors, interested public organizations and various groups of users, members of executive and representative bodies of self-government, environmental protection organizations, international and donor organizations interested in energy, water supply and regulation issues.

Within the framework of the project - "Determining the level of awareness on the issues of regulation in the electricity, natural gas and water supply sector and carrying out a needs assessment", the research will be carried out in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and in Mtskheta municipalities. The project started on July 1, 2022 and its duration is 4 months.

The goal of the Elizbar Eristavi Energy Training Center operating under the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission is to raise public awareness of current issues in the electricity, natural gas and water supply sectors,  to implement special training courses/programs for the professional development and qualification improvement of persons employed in these sectors and other interested parties, determination of priority directions of activities, exchange of experience and knowledge between interested parties, conducting research, preparation of scientific and educational projects, creation of information base and organization of thematic conferences. At the moment, various training courses are being held at the center.

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) is a non-profit, German political organization based on the values of social democracy.
The foundation was established in 1925 and bears the name of the first democratically elected president of Germany, Friedrich Ebert. The head offices of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation are located in  Berlin and in Bonn. Branches of the fund are represented in more than 90 countries and carry out activities in more than 100 countries. The representative office of Georgia and the South Caucasus in Tbilisi coordinates the activities of the Foundation in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The goal of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation is to promote democracy, peace and social justice through political dialogue, education and research.