German Government supports introduction of participatory budgeting in Keda municipality
On June 29, 2021 a participatory budgeting program presentation was held in Keda municipality.
The municipality within the scope of the program allocated 950 000 GEL for project proposals based on citizen’s ideas, which is equivalent to 10% of the local budget. Representatives of legislative and executive bodies of central as well as regional and local government levels participated in the event.
“The engagement of citizens in local decision-making is one of the key strategic objectives of decentralization strategy of Georgia 2020-2025. On one hand we appreciate the initiative of Keda municipality to involve citizens in local budget planning, on the other hand, we have exemplary zeal and activeness of local population in this process. The number of submitted ideas validates the extent of this cooperation. Scaling up of successful experience of Keda in other municipalities is of utmost importance and we hope for the support of our development partners in this regard as well.” – says Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
Citizens in Keda municipality from all 64 settlements had an opportunity to partake in local budget planning and present initiative project ideas. The NGO “Independent Journalists’ House” and young civic activists with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) conducted a multifaceted information campaign, including door-to-door meetings with the populace. Mobilizers informed and consulted with the citizens in the process of submitting project proposals. Resultantly, around 4000 local inhabitants took part in the local budget planning and a total of 232 ideas were submitted to the municipality. Winning projects will be identified by the local populace through voting.
“Keda could be regarded as a role model which initiated to allocate significant amount of municipal budget for participatory purposes. The process is conducted in line with the concept elaborated by the municipality during 2019-2020 with our support. Consequently, Involvement of local youth in this process is extremely significant. The total number of innovative and feasible ideas submitted is the key success indicator and undoubtedly we would continue our cooperation with Keda as well as with other municipalities in Adjara region.”- says Christoph Beier, Director of GIZ Good Governance for Local Development Programme.
Additionally the originator of the most creative idea, as well as the youngest and oldest citizens who submitted project proposals were given symbolic awards at the event.
The ongoing Project “Introduction of participatory budgeting in Keda municipality in line with the principles of Agenda 2030” is supported by GIZ. Since 1992, GIZ has been actively assisting Georgia in the areas of good governance and democracy, sustainable economic development as well as environment and climate change, among other areas, with the funding of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). On April 1, 2020, the new regional technical assistance programme GGLD implemented by GIZ was launched. Being a strategic partner to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, GIZ continues its assistance to foster citizen oriented local self-governance and regional development reforms in Georgia.
Throughout the year (2021), apart from Keda, GIZ will also support introduction of participatory budgeting in Rustavi, Sagarejo, Oni, Senaki, Kharagauli and Lagodekhi municipalities.
For more information on the German Georgian development cooperation, please follow these links:
BMZ: https://www.bmz.de/en/countries_regions/Central-Eastern-and-South-Eastern-Europe/georgien/index.html
GIZ: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/359.html
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