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)