Fostering Regional and Local Development in Georgia

Fostering Regional and Local Development in Georgia
Budget:
Total:
ADA:
SDC:
UNDP:
USD 6,200,000
USD 1,650,000
USD 4,450,000
USD 100,000
Duration: 2012 –2017
Background:
The level of decentralization in Georgia is low.
Municipalities have limited competencies and resources to
properly perform their functions. The regional and local
development planning and implementation tools are
underdeveloped.
Key national counterpart:
Ministry of Regional Development and
Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI)
Territorial Coverage:
Nation-wide policy support: Mountains &
4+2 target regions (Kvemo Kartli,
Samegrelo, Racha, Guria + Imereti,
Mtskheta-Mtianeti)
With support from the Austrian Development
Cooperation and Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation, the United Nations Development
Programme works to advance regional and local development
through strengthening capacities of central and local
authorities.
WHAT WE DO:



We strengthen the national systems to promote reform in regional and local governance
We support establishment of regional and local systems to steer inclusive development
We promote continuous and systemic capacity development of regional & local authorities
Progress in 2014
Policy Formulation and Implementation
- The new Local Self-Governance (LSG) Code adopted in 2014
- The new Regulation on Municipality Property Management
adopted in 2014
- Local government's share in consolidated budget (actual
execution for 2013) amounts to 18.9%, and the share equals to
9.3% excluding data for Tbilisi and Autonomous Republics
- Knowledge and capacities of the MRDI staff and
Parliamentary Committees enhanced
Regional and Local Development
- 6 Regional Development Strategies developed at local levels
- 6 Regional Action Plans developed at local levels
- Guidelines for development of RDS Action Plans Designed
Training System
- Training Concept approved by the Government of Georgia and
presented to aid organizations
- 92 training events in 33 priority areas for 1,695 civil servants
(M-1,091; F-604) organized
- All municipalities now legally obliged to allocate at least 1% of
their salary funds for training and capacity building actions
- Training Quality Assurance and Training Procedures Manuals
developed and approved
FUTURE PLANS
Policy Formulation and Implementation
- LSG Code 2014 implemented fully and effectively
- Additional competencies and resources decentralised to local
governments
- Effective coordination mechanisms operated by MRDI and Vano
Khukhunaishvili Center for Effective Governance System and
Territorial Arrangement Reform respectively
- Strong involvement of the legislature and associations of local
authorities in the reform
Regional and Local Development
- Mountain Areas national Law, Strategy and Action Plan adopted
- Municipal Development Plans developed by selected
municipalities
- RLD Small Grants Scheme implemented in selected regions of
Georgia
Training System
- Operational training system in support of local authorities
- Functional reviews and comprehensive training needs
assessments of the municipalities
- Further progress towards training target of 4000 persons/days
of the training for at least 1,500 local officials
- Effective, transparent registration system for training and other
capacity-building activities and results
RLD Contact Person:
Ms. Maia Bibileishvili
(maia.bibileishvili@undp.org)