Georgia—National Governance Program

The geopolitical landscape in and around Georgia is shifting dramatically. But, there is hope for a broader consensus among the electorate. A comfortable majority of Georgians are simultaneously: 1) in favor of continuing Euro-Atlantic integration—especially economic integration through European Union (EU) accession; and 2) showing solidarity with Ukraine; while 3) giving credit to the Georgian government for refraining from more provocative moves against the Russian Federation. Within that context, the National Governance Program works with the Government of Georgia to deliver citizen-responsive governance based on greater accountability, transparency, and institutional independence.

The project strengthens accountability systems, procedures, and mechanisms within both governing and independent oversight institutions, and enhances their ability to serve and communicate effectively with the public. This agenda includes strengthening the demand for citizen-responsive governance, supporting locally-led priorities, and empowering Georgian civil society and the private sector to demand accountability of governance institutions. The project responds to emerging national priorities such as enhanced public administration reform and public financial management, improved audit functions and transparency of public procurement, and anti-corruption capabilities that will advance Georgia’s aspirations for EU accession. The program also works to bolster cybersecurity given the threat of Russian malign influence and aggression.

Sample Activities

• Assist the Ministry of Finance in improving the quality of performance-based budgets and public investment management, bolster line ministry ownership of internal audit and control functions, and integrate climate change priorities into fiscal policy and risk management.
• Increase public engagement and access to information.
• Build the capacity of line ministries in policy planning methodology.
• Improve institutional capacity to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
• Implement solutions for improving appraisal and evaluation systems and the lifecycle of human resource management.
• Support the Anti-Corruption Secretariat and Council in strengthening anti-corruption policy formulation and planning.

Select Results

• Supported the Administration of Government to increase awareness among 111 public servants (80 percent of whom were women) about the ongoing Public Administration Reform and the value of the OECD Principles for Public Administration.
• Trained 104 members of the Administration of Government on basic cybersecurity to increase awareness of cybersecurity and information security risks and improve digital hygiene practices within the public sector.
• Finalized the co-creation of six innovative grants with leading think tanks, research, and academic institutions, across a broad geographic spread to mentor young people through the development of evidence-based public policy briefs.
• Launched the “Excellence in Public Sector Fellowship” to place a cohort of 25 young professionals with six prioritized executive and legislative partner institutions, introducing new perspectives into the public sector and developing a pipeline of highly skilled and innovative professionals for the civil service.