On November 19, the Pro Bono Forum 2024, titled “Business Expertise in the Service of Social Goals,” took place at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel. The event brought together over 60 representatives from the private and civil sectors, highlighting the vital role of private companies in empowering the civil sector to address public challenges.

During the forum, the organization presented an overview of the network’s achievements over the past year. In just one year, 54 professionals from 29 business companies contributed to 23 socially significant projects, dedicating a total of 848 pro bono hours. As a result of these collaborative efforts, more than 82 civil organizations were strengthened.

The forum also celebrated the winners of the Georgian Pro Bono Network’s annual awards. Tegeta Holding was recognized as the “Pro Bono Leader” of the year, while Mariam Gelashvili from Company Hotsale.ge was honored as the “Pro Bono Champion.”

Pro bono services are gaining momentum in Georgia, with modern Georgian businesses increasingly prioritizing social responsibility. This positive trend is playing a crucial role in advancing the country’s sustainable development.

Several activities took place as part of the forum:

- Panel Discussion: Corporate volunteers shared their personal experiences and stories from their pro bono journeys.
- Presentations by Beneficiary Organizations: Representatives showcased projects their social enterprises had successfully implemented over the years through pro bono initiatives.
- Public Lecture: Volunesia – The Freedom to Do Important Things by Teona Baghaturia.
- Interactive Series: Pro Bono for Sustainable Development Goals provided an engaging platform for participants to explore the intersection of pro bono work and the SDGs.

The Pro Bono Forum was organized by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG) as part of the project “Civil Society Initiative: Promoting Sustainable, Open, and Accountable Civil Society Organizations for Georgia’s Development,” funded by the European Union (EU) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS).