Ia Gabunia

Program Manager, Civil Society Institute CSI 

Georgia

 

Her professional experience counts 25 years in management and coordination of programs both with civil society and the private sector. Since 2005, Ms. Gabunia has been leading the Civil Society Enhancement program at the Civil Society Institute (CSI) , one of the leading CSOs in Georgia, known for its high performance and wide scope of activities that are especially focused on the formation and development of civil society and democratic state institutions by promoting democratic values and the rule of law.

Her professional focus revolves around fortifying civil society organizations, championing civic activism, fostering public participation, promoting social accountability, and enhancing the institutional capacity of civil society entities through participatory and outcome-oriented approaches. Ms. Gabunia is also dedicated to cultivating the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Georgia.

In a successful collaboration since 2012, Ms. Gabunia has partnered with the School of American Law Program (SAL), an initiative established by a leading U.S. law school, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Tech. This program has been at the forefront of legal educational activities across 28 countries in the Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, the MENA, and Turkey. Committed to offering a platform for students to engage with highly qualified academics, SAL ensures a comprehensive understanding of the latest developments in various fields of law. 

Ia Gabunia holds distinguished degrees from the Free University of Tbilisi, ESM Business School (MBA), and the State Institute of Foreign Languages and Culture, Department of English Language & Literature, earning a diploma with honors. Her commitment to advancing civil society and social entrepreneurship reflects her dedication to fostering positive change in Georgia.