Funding sources

The project was financed by the Solidarity Fund, Mieroszewski Centre, Association of Finance Officers in Local Self-Government Units and the Leaders of Change Foundation from the funds of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation within the framework of the Study Tours to Poland.

Partners of the projects are: KSAP, Solidarity Fund, Mieroszewski Centre, Association of Finance Officers in Local Self-Government Units Civil Service Bureau in Georgia and the Leaders of Change Foundation.

Project purpose

The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of managers in Georgian local government administration by learning the principles of team effectiveness building, the role of the leader in shaping a conducive working atmosphere and training effective managerial behaviour in Local Self-Government units (LSG). The training of leadership skills within the programme aims to support local self-government administration in Georgia in efficient public sector management of regions as well as in building closer ties with local communities.

Beneficiaries

The pilot programme of the project involves 20 local government executives from four regions in Georgia. These are medium-sized agricultural municipalities such as Bolnisi and Dusheti or smaller municipalities with high mountain status such as Oni and Ambrolauri. Each municipality is represented by a mayor or vice-mayor and the heads of the most important organisational units within the authority. Another edition of the project is planned for more municipalities.

Description

Project Change includes pilot training sessions for a group of 20 Georgian local government officials (on topics in line with the needs reported by the SF). The implementation of the training sessions started in September 2023 and is scheduled to end in February 2024. The thematic scope of the modules included:

• Leader in change (team building and management, change management),
• Improving managerial skills (project management, process management, developing solutions by design thinking),
• Selected areas of management in local government units (municipal development management, management control and risk management, public procurement),
• Good practices (study visits to Polish local government units).

Results

The pilot edition of the project was implemented in the form of workshop sessions adressed to the 20 representatives of the 4 municipalities in Georgia (Ambrolauri, Bolnisi, Dusheti, Oni). Each of the content module conducted in Georgia, was preceded by an online preparation module in the respective subject area.

The training modules took place from September to December 2023 stationary in Georgia. In February 2024 a one-week study visit took place in Warsaw, which was complemented by introductory online sessions.

A second edition of the project is planned for 2024.