Project Title: For Open and Accountable Local Government - National Assessment of Transparency and Public Participation of Georgian Municipalities

Project Funded: Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)

Project Budget: Total budget USD 99,645 (IDFI budget –USD 38,330)

Project Duration: July 27, 2016 – January 31, 2018

Responsible Organizations: Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and Management Systems Development Center (MSDC)

Project Description

1. Problem Statement (Situation Analysis)

A relatively low level of public participation and public awareness is one of the major challenges for local governance in Georgia. According to a 2015 survey conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center, only 4% of the population is informed about the activities and services of municipalities. These numbers are not different from the results of earlier studies, suggesting that there are no positive tendencies in this regard. This low level of participation is caused not only by citizen passivity or lack of experience/culture, but also by insufficient efforts and willingness of local government bodies.

In addition, the practice of proactive disclosure of public information by local government bodies does not meet minimal standards. According to the Georgian legislation, all administrative bodies are obligated to publish public information online; however, there are no common standards or policy regulating proactive disclosure of public information by public institutions. This problem is especially relevant for municipalities.

2. Goals

The ultimate goal of the project is to enhance public participation and ease risks of corruption in municipalities by improving practices of transparency and accountability in local government bodies.

To this end, the project aims to consolidate the standards for evaluating the transparency, and mechanisms and practice of public participation in municipalities, based on which a national evaluation platform will be established.

3. Objectives

1. To improve existing evaluation standards of transparency, participation mechanisms and practice of municipalities.

2. To establish an electronic platform enabling assessment of the work of municipalities.

3. To empower and involve local public society representatives in the evaluation of local government bodies based on the new standards of evaluation.

4. To prepare and present a national report on transparency, participation mechanisms and practice of municipalities based on the assessment results.

4. Activities

1. Improvement of existing evaluation standards of transparency, participation mechanisms and practice of municipalities.

2. Establishment of an electronic platform based on the new standards.

3. Selection of local civil society representatives and holding trainings for them.

4. Assessment of all target local government bodies.

5. Preparation and presentation of a national ranking.

6. Elaboration and presentation of a national report.

5. Project Management

The project will be implemented by three organizations: Centre for Training and Consultancy (CTC), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) and Management Systems Development Center (MSDC). Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) will be actively involved in the implementation of the project and will monitor the process.