Nino Kalandadze, Founder and Executive Director of the Chavchavadze Center, took part in the first transnational learning event of the BULWARK Project, “Bolstering Societal Preparedness and Civil Defenses in Response to Hybrid Threats,” held in Warsaw, Poland, on October 1-2. The event was organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) in partnership with the Res Publica Foundation and Visegrad Insight.
The two-day program centered on an interactive simulation of how societies can respond to complex hybrid threats, including subversion, sabotage and disinformation by hostile state actors. Participants from civil society organizations and local authorities across Central and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans shared experiences from their countries and discussed how to strengthen preparedness and cooperation. They also met Emmanuelle Lamoureux, Canada’s Ambassador-designate to Poland.
The event is part of BULWARK, GMF’s flagship initiative to strengthen civil society’s capacity to build societal and democratic resilience against Russian hybrid threats in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The initiative is supported by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. Two more learning events will follow, on social cohesion and countering polarization, and on democratic and institutional resilience.
