The memorandums of understanding are also the foundation for cooperation between USAID and the municipalities that strengthen local administrative capacity. The cooperation will address systems and services identified in each municipality that will yield improvements in areas such as municipal social services, solid waste management, municipal transport, preschool education, coupled with digital services and other areas prioritized by local communities.
The USAID Local Governance Program is a five-year initiative that brings together central government and local government representatives to work with civil society and the private sector to achieve the goals of the Government of Georgia’s decentralization strategy. It strengthens accountability across the local governance ecosystem and supports central-level institutions to manage the implementation of decentralization and public administration reform. Through the program, USAID will provide support to at least 22 municipalities and local civic actors and include others in learning, exchange, and outreach activities.
The three municipalities are the first of 11 selected for partnerships in the first year of the USAID Local Governance Program. They went through a multi-stage selection process and demonstrated a high interest and commitment to work on enhancing municipal efficiency and accountability, to improve public service delivery, and to encourage citizen participation in local decision-making processes. USAID conducted co-creation workshops with representatives of the 11 partner municipalities to identify challenges and priority needs of each municipality.
Individual action plans were developed that serve as the basis for each memorandum of understanding.
Kenan Omarov, Mayor of Marneuli, Amiran Giorgadze, Marneuli’s Sakrebulo Chair, Davit Sherazadishvili, Mayor of Bolnisi, Tamaz Jorjoliani, Bolnisi’s Sakrebulo Chair, Koba Muradashvili, Mayor of Dmanisi, and Paata Kuliashvili, Dmanisi’s Sakrebulo Chair participated in the signing ceremony.
About USAID in Georgia: USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. Over 30 years of partnership with Georgia, USAID has supported the country’s transformation into a developing democracy that is increasingly integrated into Western political, security, and economic institutions. USAID programs strengthen Georgia's resilience to malign influence, consolidate democratic gains through enhanced citizen responsive governance, and enable high-value employment through increased economic growth. For more information, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/georgia.
