OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Keti and Lika,

Many thanks indeed for forwarding the signed MoU on Tuesday afternoon. An error message came up when we opened the file (saying “signature validity is unknown”) which causes it not to show up in the document. I believe you and Ms Gabunia should have received a message from my colleague Alexienne Fuhrmann with the version counter-signed by EBRD’s Vice President including the necessary details for using DocuSign that you can forward to the Minister’s office (see document attached here also). Could you please co-ordinate to secure the Minister’s signature through DocuSign or another way that avoids the error message? I believe we can finalise and file this MoU as soon as we resolve this minor technical issue.

In the meantime Katie and I are developing a draft press release on this to share with you by tomorrow afternoon that we can hopefully issue jointly later this week.

Following this step, Katie and I will begin drafting a terms of reference (ToR) for an external consultancy to provide expertise on fulfilling the first strategic objective under the MoU (objective A). Hopefully we can get that work underway within the coming months and address objectives B and C based on those findings. We can coordinate closely throughout on the ToR design, procurement and validation of findings to keep the work moving forward.

Looking forward to progressing on all these fronts with you – best regards,

 

Marko

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Keti and Lika,

Many thanks indeed and thank you for the quick video discussion just now.

I’ve accepted all changes (only kept the original date on the cover page) and attach the final version here in word and .pdf formats.

Do please send us the signed version later today and we will revert back tomorrow with the complete version from our side.

Best regards and a very happy holiday tomorrow,

 

Marko

 

 

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Dear Marko,

 

I am sending final draft.

 

With best regards, Keti

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Keti,

Many thanks indeed for your positive response and very glad to hear the Minister will be able to sign.

I’ve amended the minor signatory details and remaining yellow-highlights in the MoU version attached, which can be treated as the final version.

I am available for a brief discussion today between 11:00 and 13:00 UK time (14:00-16:00 Tbilisi time) in case it suits you? Is a video call preferable or voice-only? Do please let me know and I will revert out with a calendar item and dial-in details.

Very much looking forward to tomorrow’s planned signing.

Best regards,

 

Marko

 

 

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Dear Marko,

 

Thank you for your support. We have not comments and Minister is ready to sign the MoU.

 

We have possibility to discuss today s any remaining points ahead of the signing.

 

With best regards,

 

Keti

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Keti and Lika,

Many thanks indeed for your very comprehensive and valuable comments on the draft MoU.

I’ve accepted all of these and added my and Katie’s responses to your comments in the ‘tracked’ version attached. I’ve also created a ‘clean’ version integrating all of the changes and removing the comments. Do please let me know if you have any further comments or edits. Otherwise only the yellow-highlighted parts remain to be confirmed before we can finalise.

In terms of timing, is the original plan to achieve the electronic signing on Tuesday 12 May still possible from your side?

In any case, it would be great to discuss any remaining points ahead of the signing – perhaps briefly this afternoon or on Monday in case you are available?

Very much looking forward to working with you on this exciting programme in the coming months.

Best regards,

 

Marko

 

 

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Dear Marko,

 

I hope you are doing well. See our comments on the MoU

 

With Bets regards, Keti

 

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Keti,

Many thanks indeed for your kind response.

Looking forward to hearing from you and hope we will find a moment to catch up this week over a call.

Best regards,

 

Marko

 

 

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Dear Marko,

 

Thank you for your support. We will send our comments tomorrow.

 

With best regards, Keti

 

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Ms Goginashvili and Ms Gamgebeli,

I’m very pleased to be working with you in setting up our joint initiative around improving nursing and midwifery skills in Georgia.

My colleague Katie and I have prepared the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) attached to help establish a firmer basis for our collaboration during the coming months. Could I kindly ask you to share with me your comments, tracked-changes and thoughts? As you will see, it draws closely on the concept note already shared earlier and is just an initial draft to expand, reduce or change in any way you wish. The MoU will ultimately be a non-binding agreement, in any case, simply acting to define our common objectives in this work and record a mutual understanding of how our conduct should go. If the timeframe is not too tight, I would be keen to target the electronic signing of the final document to coincide with the International Nurses Day on 12 May this year.

In parallel, it would be useful if we could organise an introductory video conference call next week to discuss this work further and informally set out our mutual intentions and expectations. Could you please let Katie and myself know your availability in the early part of next week for such a call?

Very much looking forward to developing and delivering this exciting initiative with you.

Best regards,

 

Marko

 

Marko Stermšek | Associate, Inclusion Specialist

Department of Economics, Policy and Governance

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Tel: +44 2073386294

 

 

OFFICIAL USE

 

Dear Ms Gabunia,

 

Many thanks indeed for your positive and encouraging reply amidst all of the crisis-related pressures you must be under.

 

In terms of immediate next steps, my colleagues Ketevan Tikanashvili and Marko Stermsek will liaise directly with Ms Goginashvili and Ms Gamgabeli to agree the finer details of our engagement through a formal Memorandum of Understanding. This will establish a more concrete basis for the initiative and facilitate a consensus around how best to progress in the months ahead. We will be in close touch at the beginning of May with a concrete draft for agreement.

 

Very much looking forward to progressing in this work together with your team.

 

Best regards,

 

Catarina

 

 

Catarina Bjorlin Hansen

Regional Director, Caucasus
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Merani Business Centre, 31a Griboedov Street, Tbilisi
Tel: +995322447400
Mobile: +995599441001

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Ms Bjorlin 

 

Many thanks for reaching me out with this proposal aimed at strengthening professional standards for nurses in Georgia. I apologize for delayed response, it is quite hard to follow on other activities beside COVID related tasks. The importance of strengthening nursing care standards is well understood by the ministry and of course, it would be a great opportunity for us to receiving EBRD support on all activities outlined in the proposal (listed below for easy reference)

A.      EBRD can support the Government to establish core governance principles and institutional standards for the planned professional licencing scheme for nurses (and midwives), delivering research to establish learning from other countries’ successful models and international best practices in rolling out and sustainably implementing such schemes.

B.      EBRD can support the Government to develop detailed knowledge criteria, exam standards and a test-bank aligned to the new professional licencing curriculum alongside core principles for its governance and maintenance in line with international best practices.This work would draw closely on our local partners’ extensive experience and successful role in developing nursing and midwifery skills standards through the benchmarking process with EQE.

C.      EBRD can work with the Government to create and pilot a short-term continuous learning programme designed to refresh incumbent nurses’ knowledge and skills in preparation for the new licencing requirements.The principles established under this pilot could form the starting-point for the planned formal system of continuous professional development.

​

I am cc-ing designated staff members Ketevan Goginashvili and Lika Gamgabeli (seconded to the ministry from EC project for TA) for providing technical input and addressing additional questions you may have during the project design. 

With kind regards

Tamar Gabunia