Good Governance for Local Development, South Caucasus

Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Armenia Partner organisations: Armenia (AM): Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure (MTAD); Azerbaijan (AZ): Ministry of Justice; Georgia (GE): Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure (MRDI); Ministry of Finance (MoF) Current commissioning period: April 2020 – March 2023 Budget: EUR 20.685.000 Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia Accountability, trust and development – for and with the citizens of the South Caucasus

Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia In Armenia, the programme supports its In 2020, 100 local female politicians from the "For the first time in the history of Georgian political partner the Ministry of Territorial Aran economic region were trained for the first local self-governance there is a direct link Administration and Infrastructure in imple- time in an online format. Focusing on soft skills between receiving additional funds as a reward menting the Territorial and Administrative such as leadership skills, the training aimed at for improved public financial management in the Reform (TARA), which was initiated in 2015. empowering local female politicians in their municipalities." Strengthening good governance for local role and mandate. Particularly newly elected development and better service delivery in young councilors benefited from the training. In municipalities is the key objective. The - says Mr. Levan Kavtiashvili, Head of Finance consolidated municipality of Akhtala in north- Azerbaijan, women already make up 39 percent and Budget Division of Rustavi Municipality. In eastern Armenia is an example of the of local council members – nevertheless, they a nutshell, the performance of the municipali- successful results already achieved. After remain highly under-represented in the ties is assessed via internationally acknowl- consolidation Akhtala's six settlements, country’s political institutions: edged Public Expenditure and Financial including Akhtala, Shamlugh, Mets Ayrum, Accountability (PEFA) standards. The munici- Pokr Ayrum, and Chochkan, were finally able “The great work women do at the local palities can therefore remedy the deficiencies to solve problems they had struggled with for level is often not recognised and their identified by the assessment. The central years. Thanks to the joint municipal budget influence on decision-making is not government in return recognises improvements since the consolidation, residents of especial- proportional to their important contributions in public finance management by making more ly smaller settlements began to see changes to local communities.” and experience better service provision in funds available to the community. The their community. For example, Shamlugh programme supports the Georgian Government settlement, which has not had a kindergarten Mainstreaming gender into key governance to implement this mechanism, which contrib- for over a decade, now has a newly estab- structures and processes will help institutions utes to a transparent, incentive-based and lished preschool housed in the former admin- to systematically address the needs of both therefore, much more sustainable structure to istration building. The first teacher at Shamlu- men and women equally. The programme there- safeguard public assets and strengthen local gh preschool Marine Alaverdyan is happy fore supports its Azerbaijani partners in setting self-governance structures. about the progess in her community: up commissions on gender equality, including “Though there have always been many young gender aspects in national curricula for public “Besides to increase transparency and children in Shamlugh, we had no preschool employees, and introducing gender budgeting ownership of budgetary processes, our because of lack of space. The first good thing and gender statistics. municipality allocated 1,000,000 GEL in the 2021 we witnessed after the consolidation was the budget for the realisation of ideas and needs kindergarten.” expressed by the citizens.”

Co-funded by: Challenges: Activities: In recent years, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have made significant strides Good Governance towards modern, citizen-oriented public service delivery. Building on these achievements, the programme supports its political partners in the three Municipalities / districts are supported in public countries to address the major Greater citizen Partner institutions are financial management and the modernisation of participation in local challenges that remain, particularly in supported in better decision-making distributing and defining administrative processes the municipalities: regional disparities through the creation of processes is promoted tasks and resources at and the introduction of in the quality and access to national, regional and Citizen Offices and introduction of innovative complaint mechanisms administrative services, public infra- local level to enhance for citizens supported public service delivery e-governance tools structure and basic public services through decentralisation / remain significant. In particular in rural improved multi-level governance and remote regions, there is a lack of social and economic infrastructure. Municipalities / districts are supported Active citizen participation and the to facilitate effective Cross-border promotion of gender equality need to be stakeholder involvement, exchange on identify investment needs relevant reform further strengthened and institu- and priorities and hence issues is promoted tionalised. Finally, the legal, financial get enhanced access to for mutual learning public funds and private in the region and administrative framework for the investments provision of services to citizens in line with the 2030 Agenda is not yet adequate in all three countries. For Local Development

Anticipated Results and Impacts

Improved legal and institutional The modernisation of public Thanks to the better use of framework conditions form the administration enables municipalities resources and local potentials, necessary basis for improved / districts to work more efficiently municipalities / districts offer quality and access to public and effectively and to achieve better stimulus for development and services, especially in rural and results for their communities. employment in their communities. remote regions.

Needs of women and men are more equally Accountability, transparency and trust is reflected and addressed in public decision-making, strengthened through greater citizen thanks to empowered female leaders in politics participation in local decision-making and and administration, the introduction of effective complaint mechanisms. gender-responsive budgeting, gender statistics as well as gender focal points.

This project particularly contributes to: The Georgian GGLD component additionally contributes to:

Published by: 42 Rustaveli Ave. / 31a Griboedov Street Editorial: Deutsche Gesellschaft für 0108 Tbilisi, Georgia Responsible: Carl F. Taestensen Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH T +995 32 2201800 Editing: Tea Melanashvili, Rahel Freist-Held E [email protected] Registered Offices: Photos: ©Artyom Aghasaryan/municipality of Akhtala, www.giz.de Bonn and Eschborn, Germany GIZ, Davit Phirosmanishvili/Rustavi City Hall GIZ Office South Caucasus Design & Layout: Fountain Georgia Ltd Printed by: Fountain Georgia February 2021