The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, together with several partners in the region, has been supporting good municipal governance since 1998. Since then, the organization actively participates in various initiatives and projects related to local self-government reform, both at the national and international levels.

The aim of the direction is to improve the level of transparency and accountability of local self-governments and to increase the rate of citizens' involvement in the decision-making process.

Main activities of the direction

• Monitoring and analysis of the general decision-making process (e.g., budget process), formal procedures and existing practices in municipalities, as well as channels of communication with the public by self-governing bodies
• Identifying the main gaps, shortcomings, developing recommendations to overcome them and providing assistance to local self-government bodies to take these recommendations into account
• Monitoring and advocacy for implementation of developed recommendations

As a result of the active work of the direction, it became possible to develop a network of community organizations and improve civil culture, as well as dialogue with the authorities and active participation in the decision-making process, in various municipalities, cities and villages of Georgia.

As a result of the activities carried out by the direction team, the local budget process, the transparency of local self-government, accountability and public involvement in different municipalities of Georgia were substantially improved.

Unique Area of Expertise

• Long-term, daily work and monitoring experience with targeted municipalities
• Many years of successful experience of involvement of local population in the work of municipalities
• Consulting/teaching experience with municipalities in budgeting, public procurement, reporting and accountability, public relations, public works monitoring, etc.