Georgia: The seventh conference and the award ceremony of the Best Practice Program (BPP) was hosted by the National Association of Local Self-Governments of Georgia (ATEA) on March 20, 2025, Thursday.
The mayor of the capital, the president of the ATEA Kakha Kaladze addressed the participants of the conference with a welcome speech. He stated, “I am delighted that on behalf of the National Association of Local Self-Governments of Georgia, I am hosting the seventh national conference and the award ceremony of the Best Practice Program.” “Glad that we are meeting today’s conference with tangible and visible results from implementing the best practice program, ” Mayor Kaladze added.
The mayor claims that since 2018, the National Association of Local Self-Governments of Georgia has been promoting donor organizations and putting the best practice program into action. After seven years of operation, the program continues to gain popularity.
At the local government level, it promotes showcasing and disseminating effective service delivery models from other communities. As a result, we currently have several successful and inventive initiatives that are acknowledged as best practices. We shouldn’t stop there, for sure. “In the coming years, we must do everything to strengthen and access municipal services,” Kakha Kaladze stated.
At the National Conference, notable honors and decorations were given to the first representatives of the municipalities of Dusheti, Kutaisi, Poti, Tetritskaro, Senaki, Dmanisi, Kharagauli, Rustavi, Oni, Batumi, Baghdati, Khashuri, and Zugdidi. At the occasion, awards were also awarded to staff members of self-government organizations who actively contributed to the development of the tender application.
The mayor of Tbilisi, capital of Georgia congratulated the participants of the best practice program competition on their victory and wished each of them success. “Atea awards municipalities with special prizes every year. This year the awards will be given to the mayors of the municipalities who won 11 different nominations. It should be added that special prizes will also be awarded to the employees of self-governing units, who directly participated in the preparation of the competition application.
The mayor of Tbilisi mentioned, “We have one more important news at today’s conference – by the agreement of the parties, the Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed between the Georgian Parliament’s Regional Policy and Self-Governance Committee and ATEA.”
He expressed his warm gratitude to the chairman of the committee Irakli Kadagishvili. He noted, “I would like to thank him for his willingness to promote dialogue between legislative and local government.”
In addition, it should be noted that within the framework of the memorandum, joint measures will be planned for the development of the decentralization process, process transparency, and popularization.
During the conference, a memorandum of mutual cooperation was also signed between ATEA and the Committee of Regional Policy and Self-Governance of the Georgian Parliament. The document was signed by Kakha Kaladze and Chairman of the Regional Policy and Self-Governance Committee of the Georgian Parliament Irakli Kadagishvili.
The main aim of the memorandum is to develop cooperation between the parties to confirm decentralization and legislative support for local government.
Participants of the conference:
- mayor of the capital, the president of the ATEA Kakha Kaladze
- representatives of central and executive authorities, Â
- non-governmental sector and international organizations,
- first persons of Georgian municipalities
- public officials.
