Irakli Izoria
Director, Partnership for Road Safety

Irakli is the Director of the Partnership for Road Safety, which works to make Georgia’s roads safe for all road users and to reduce Georgia’s high number of road casualties and injuries.  It promotes joint projects between the public, private and NGO sectors to reduce traffic deaths, raise awareness of road safety issues, promote a road safety culture and support road safety education. 

The Georgian Partnership for Road Safety is a proud winner of a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

Key Roles

Project Manager “International Tourism and Road Safety in Georgia – Country Report” (EASST, FIA Foundation, 2019-2020)
The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the importance of road safety for tourists and tourism development in Georgia more generally, influence road safety public policy, and promote active cooperation of all relevant stakeholders. The survey was conducted and international tourists’ and business travelers’ perceptions about road safety and mobility in Georgia were presented and policy recommendations were developed based on the results.

Project Manager “Monitoring of the reform on Periodic Technical Inspection of Motor Vehicle” (OSGF, 2019-2020)

The reform on Periodic Technical Inspection of Motor Vehicle is monitored to evaluate national legislation in relation to obligations under the Association Agreement regarding the EU Directives and international conventions. A special online platform has been created, the first part of which is a visual map showing all the periodic technical inspection centers in Georgia. Citizens can find the center on the map and provide information about various violations and gaps to the web-platform administrator. The information received will be checked by the platform administrator and reported to the non-governmental sector.

Local Coordinator/Road Safety Expert “Georgia: Safe Fleets and Waste Management” (EBRD, EASST, 2019)

The objectives of this project were to raise awareness among fleet managers, policy makers and key EBRD clients of the importance and benefits of fleet road safety management, improve occupational road safety management practice and knowledge in Georgia and provide specific training road safety to Municipality Waste Management companies and Bus companies. This was augmented by site visits by occupational road safety trainers. The scope of the assignment was to: translate the EASST Academy Occupational Road Safety Management course and its materials into Georgian – A module will be added specific to Waste Management road safety; identify fleet managers to participate in specific training; carry out Occupational Road Safety Training in a face-to-face course; organise site visits to Waste Management facilities – to give added thrust to the specialized fleet road safety management training and to scope their training needs; organise a Policy Seminar and Awards Ceremony – A half-day seminar aimed at policy makers; work with Key Fleet Mangers to Develop an Occupational Road Safety Working Group.

Project Manager “Promoting prevention of asbestos risks considering the experience of EU member states” (OSGF, 2019-2020)

Asbestos-free brake pads on the market was identified and asbestos dust emission from vehicles in the capital was inspected. The project evaluated national legislation in relation to obligations under the Association Agreement regarding the EU Directives and international conventions (2009/148 / EC, 2004/37 / EC, 2008/98 / EC). The project included awareness and advocacy campaigns.

Project Manager “Velocity for All” (EASST, Tbilisi City Hall, 2018-2019)
Pproject objectives: Pproject objectives:To improve cycling safety for active and potential cyclists (Biking Clubs). 2. To engage youth in the cycling activities and promote cycling as a transport among young people; 3. To engage policymakers directly in project activities and through advocacy efforts, providing the with direct experience, policy recommendations for improving the cycling environment in the city. The project will cover the whole country, the main activities will be implemented in big cities of different regions of Georgia, such as: Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Batumi, Telavi.

Project Local Dırector “Consultancy and Awareness Development on Road and Construction Safety in SCPX Project Neighbouring Communities” (BP Georgia/ Azerbaijan, 2018)

Under the direction and financial support of BP the foundation “Partnership for Road Safety” implemented road safety awareness raising project for children. Within the project, 30 trainings were conducted in 20 schools; 15 schools were Georgian,6 – Azerbaijani, 4 –Armenian. The trainings covered two sessions for elementary and high schoolchildren. Approximately 900-1000 children attended the trainings. The sessions included the theoretical and practical lessons.

Project Local Coordinator “Strengthening Knowledge Management in Central and West Asia: Road Safety Awareness Improvement Program in Georgia” (ADB, 2017-2018)

The project was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, other central and local stakeholders, academia, NGOs to increase knowledge and awareness on road safety in Georgia, an emerging concern in the country. Transport and road safety management course was for students, training modules for government officials were developed and conducted within the project. Two video clips were prepared related to air quality and periodic technical inspection.

Project Director “Safe School Zones and Road Safety Knowledge for Georgian Children” (EASST, Tbilisi City Hall, 2018)

The project included the creation of safe school zones through the infrastructure improvement, increase of the children’s awareness and knowledge through the road safety lessons, and advocacy campaign for building the safe school zones in Tbilisi and regions. Training were carried out to increase understanding of road safety risks specific to the school zones including incident statistics, common traffic incident causes, key road risks faced locally and nationally, pedestrian visibility and road safety regulations which apply to children. With the support of Tbilisi City Hall Safe School Zones were arranged.

Project Cordinator/Transport and Road Safety Expert “The Development of National Strategy and Policy framework on Sustainable Low-Carbon Urban Transport in Georgia” (UNDP, 2017)

The Project was part of the wider initiative “Green Cities: Integrated Sustainable Urban Transport for the city of Batumi and the Achara Region” ISTBAR. The project was funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and implemented by UNDP. The purpose of this assignment was to facilitate and support the formulation of the National Strategy and Policy Framework on Sustainable Low-Carbon Urban Transport to encourage the development of low-carbon urban transport systems and improvement of the quality and sustainability of urban transport (including all modes of urban transport) and road traffic safety in Georgian cities.

Project Coordinator/Road Safety Specialist “The Safety of Street Children on Georgian Roads” (EASST, 2017)

The project aimed to develop an evidence-based strategy for protecting street children from road risk. The project included data analysis and a survey of street children in high-risk locations; development of targeted materials and methods to protect street children; implementation of safety activities with a sample of street children in high-risk areas; development of recommendations; and an advocacy/media campaign that aimed to improve the safety of street children.

Legal and Road Safety Consultant “Project STOP – Safer Transit Options for Passengers” (EWMI, USAID, 2016-2017)

With the support of EWMI ACCESS, the Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia and the Partnership for Road Safety launched a new project STOP – Safer Transit Options for Passengers – aimed at increasing the safety of intercity transport in Georgia and reducing road accidents through applying internationally practiced approaches. The CRRC-Georgia and the Partnership for Road Safety reviewed Georgia’s obligations under the Association Agreement in the sphere of transport and analyse policy options in the context of European experience in intercity transport safety. It will also conduct interviews and focus groups with passengers of minibuses, representatives of minibus companies, and drivers to study their attitudes toward this issue. As a social experiment, the implementing organizations will negotiate with the minibus companies and drivers to place Safe Driver stickers on the select number of minibuses and have the drivers sign the safe driving pledge, thereby committing themselves to observe traffic safety rules.

Project Manager “Make Our Road Safe” (AGL – LLC Adjaristsqali Georgia, Road department of Georgia, 2016)
The road safety trainings were held for the schoolchildren at ten schools of the mountainous Adjara Region. The special presentations were prepared for children that aimed at presenting the road safety rules, importance of keeping them, current traffic safety problems in the mountainous Adjara and peculiarities of problematic areas. The children got acquired with the information about road safety rules during night and day time. During the trainings, children learnt the road safety issues, learning peculiarities and problem solving methods in the manual books. Children learned the daily road safety problems with the presentation that they can be arisen during their mobility.

Project Manager “Road Safety Awareness and Knowledge Increase in the Mountainous Part of Adjara Region” (2016)
This project was implemented in partnership with “Adjariskali Georgia”. The project aimed to increase the road safety knowledge of the children and local people of the mountainous part of Adjara.

Project Manager “Promoting Cycling as a Transport” (2016)
Partnering with the “Tbilisi Cycling Club” this project implemented the “Cycling is Healthy, Cycling is Good!” project with the support of Tbilisi City Hall, which promoted cycling as a mean of transport.

Project Manager, “Awareness and education road safety campaigns on E-60 Tbilisi-Poti Corridor and in Settlements along this highway Corridor” (2016)
This project was implemented in partnership with the Roads Department and financed by the World Bank. The project aimed at decreasing the number of death and injures on E60 Tbilisi-Poti corridor.

Project Coordinator/Road Safety Specialist “Road Safety Awareness Campaign in the towns of Shuakhevi and Khulo, in Adjara” (EBRD, EASST, 2015)
The aim of the campaign and training was to reduce road risks faced by local populations living near the hydropower development work being carried out in the region. Working with EASST partner organization the Georgian Partnership for Road Safety, the project identified key road safety stakeholders in the exposed villages, collected data on local road risk, and prepared an awareness-raising programme to address the situation. A training workshop targeting key leaders and stakeholders from both communities was conducted in Shuakhevi Resource Centre. Training was carried out to increase understanding of road safety risks specific to the local areas including incident statistics, common traffic incident causes, key road risks faced locally and nationally, fitness to drive, pedestrian visibility and road safety regulations which apply to the local roads.

Project Manager “Awareness and education campaigns on road safety in Kakheti Region” (2015)
Kakheti Regional Roads Improvement Project was implemented with the support of Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and World Bank. Educational road safety lessons for children and teachers were delivered at schools in Kakheti. Public awareness campaigns encouraged drivers, passengers and pedestrians to obey the traffic rules. The goal of the project was to improve the road behaviour of all road users and to increase the safety level of local people in the Region of Kakheti.

Project Manager “Clean Air for Georgia” (2014 – onwards)
The number one cause of Georgia’s high level of air pollution is road traffic, which accounts for 80% of all air pollution. To make Georgia’s air cleaner and healthier, Ecovision, Partnership for Road Safety and Elva Community Engagement launched an innovative citizen engagement project with support of the East West Management Institute and USAID. The project tracks air quality levels throughout Georgia with the use of 40 “Air Quality Eggs”, an innovative air quality monitoring mechanism. The results are automatically analysed by Elva’s online portal. This allows citizens to track air quality levels in their area, and compare them with other regions. Additionally, a comprehensive advocacy campaign to increase awareness of air quality levels was organised.

Project Manager “Road Safety Education for Schools of IDP” (2013 – onwards)
This project provides road safety education for schoolchildren in Abkhazia is currently ongoing. It contributes towards the achievement of Georgian national goals in education. The project aims to prevent the growing number of road accidents by increasing road safety awareness among school children, especially among disadvantaged youth from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The project targets 25 public schools with disadvantaged children from conflict regions in eight towns. The aim is that 3,000 disadvantaged children will receive training, road safety materials and books.

Project Manager “Friendly Roads” (2013 – onwards)
The Partnership for Road Safety has created a joint program with the company Elva. The project aims to engage the public and create a map of road crash ‘black spots’ in Tbilisi and regions of Georgia. As part of the project, community engagenment activities are planned throughout the country to explore solutions and find ways of reducing incidients at some of the black spots.

Project Manager “Choose the Safe Way” (2012-2014)
This project was implemented with the support of BP Georgia. The goal of the project was to decrease deaths and injuries on Georgian roads by working in partnership with Parliament of Georgia and raising public awareness.  The project addressed the issues that could make the greatest impact towards reducing road traffic injuries amongst vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and children.

Project Manager, “Protect the Children’s Lives on the Georgian Roads” (2012-2013)
This project aimed to protect children’s lives by increasing the use of child restraints. The project promoted the message that children aged 0-12 should not occupy the front passenger seats, and raised awarenes of the importance of seat belts and child restraints in the back seats of vehicles.

Legal Consultant “Promoting Wide Adoption of Seat Belts in Georgia”, 2011
Partners included the FIA Foundation, USAID, US Embassy in Georgia, Dutch Embassy, Ministry of Education of Georgia, Georgian Parliament, Ministry of Economic Development and Transport, Ministry of Regional infrastructure, Traffic Police of Georgia, insurance company GPI, Tbilisi local government, Journal Autobild, Georgian Automobile Federation and the TV program Traffic Officer.

This three-year project aimed to increase seat belt use in Georgia. In 2010, by building effective coalitions between public and private sectors, the project contributed to the introduction of legislation that made the use of seat belts mandatory in the front seat of all vehicles. These efforts have contributed to a measurable reduction in road fatalities and a significant increase in the use of seat belts. In 2011, as a result of a new law, 98% of drivers and 97% of front passengers on the highways wore seat belts. In the capital city Tbilisi, the figure was 95% compared to just 1% previously. This has contributed to a significant decline in road traffic fatalities in Georgia since 2011.

Project Coordinator/Legal Consultant of the project “Increasing Road Safety Education” (2008-11)
A youth road safety education project to teach road safety and distribute free teaching resources in primary schools across Georgia. The project reached over 150 schools and more than 20,000 children in Tbilisi and the regions. Independent evaluation showed that after the project, road safety awareness of the participants increased by 70%.  Following the success of this pilot project, the Ministry of Education of Georgia used the programme as a model for introducing road safety into the school curriculum.

Project Manager, “Road Safety Children’s Traffic Grounds Established for Georgian Schoolchildren” (2011-2012)
This project established ‘Road Safety Simulation Areas’ in schools and kindergartens in Tbilisi. The Simulation Areas reflect the real traffic situation in Georgia, with traffic lights, traffic signs and other features. The project was supported by the Estonian Government, Tbilisi City Hall and the Ministry of Education and Science.

Legal Consultant of the project “Global Fuel Economy Initiative” (2010-2013)
Global Fuel Economy Initiative was a joint project with Caucasus Environmental NGO Network. Within the project, Irakli and his team provided legal analysis and sample legislative documents for promoting sustainable transport, fuel economy and a reduction in air pollution.

Legal Consultant, “Be Visible Be Safe” Project. (2008-2010)
This project researched and analysed pedestrian behaviour. The aim was to research and analyse the attitude of the Tbilisi population towards the underground and overground crossings. The research explored the public’s reluctance to use crossings and looked at possible strategies for increasing their use.

Our People

• Emma Maclennan (UK)
• Serghei Diaconu (Moldova)
• Dmitry Sambuk (UK) 
• Poghos Shahinyan (Armenia)
• Vafa Huseyinli (Azerbaijan)
• Vusal Rajabli  (Azerbaijan)
• Irakli Izoria (Georgia)
• Gela Kvashilava (Georgia)
• Lika Merabishvili (Georgia)
• Yana Tumakova
• Evangelos Bellos (Greece)
• Ali Zayerzadeh (Iran)
• Roman Barabanov (Kazakhstan)
• Chinara Kasmambetova (Kyrgyz)
• Virginia Mandalac (Moldova)
• Tatiana Mihailova (Moldova)
• Uurtsaikh Sangi (Mongolia)
• Tolga Imamoglu (Turkey)
• Naimjon Mirzorakhimov (Tajikistan
• Alaster Barlow (UK)
• Emily Carr (UK)
• Claire Hoyland (UK)
• Corrine Vibert (UK)
• Paul Disney (UK)
• Oksana Romanukha (Ukraine)