The Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) was founded in 1992 in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization involved in research, publishing, organizing conferences, and other kinds of activities. Its main objectives are to promote democratic and free-market values, foster better understanding between the peoples of the Caucasus, and encourage non-partisan theoretical analysis of problems related to the post-communist transition in the Caucasus region. Currently, CIPDD publishes the South Caucasian Human Rights Monitor and a monthly bulletin in English called Army and Society in Georgia.

CIPDD’s first substantial attempt to support regional journalists commenced in a partnership with the London-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Activities under the project include training journalists, publishing Media Caucasica--a regional journal on media and human rights problems, encouraging investigative reporting in the Caucasus countries by commissioning journalists for newspapers and publishing their articles in independent local newspapers. CIPDD next developed media support with a project entitled "Promoting Peace and Democracy in the Caucasus Through Support of Independent Media." CIPDD continues to maintain previously established projects that encourage investigative reporting and monitor human rights situations.

CIPDD also has established the Internet Resource Center for the Caucasian Media (IRC). IRC is devoted to undertaking innovative approaches to the long-standing challenges facing the region. Very few regional media entities are profitable due to their lack of circulation and sales revenues due to limited public interest. The publication of articles by journalists from neighboring countries has not yet become systematized. The personal incomes of journalists mainly rely on fees for the articles commissioned by a particular interest group connected with a local elite fighting against other interests groups. Most publishers cannot afford to pay journalists the fees for high quality and unbiased articles.

A number of public interest NGOs, domestic as well as foreign, is helping to redress these wrongs in this underdeveloped regional media market. To contribute to the development of a robust regional market for journalists’ articles and to its integration into the global media market, CIPDD’s forthcoming Internet Resource Center (English-Russian) will publish articles written by regional journalists or features regional affairs. It will also provide the backgrounds of publishers and journalists as well as list unpublished articles and proposals for articles. Those accessing the IRC after registering online will be able to post proposals to the IRC’s web-site. CIPDD will be responsible for editing the proposals and for mediating with IRC participants.

Paata Gurgenidze, Project coordinator, Promoting Peace and Democracy in the Caucasus Through Supporting Independent Media, CIPDD