Assisting Kutaisi City Municipality with Spatial Urban Development Plan

Jan, 2017

Despite being one of Georgia’s most important cities both politically and economically, at present the self-governing city of Kutaisi does not have a proper planning framework to guide and manage its sustainable urban development. Accordingly, the city must now prepare comprehensive and up-to-date strategic documents, including spatial development plans.With this in mind, PMCG is assisting Kutaisi in developing the Spatial Urban Development and Land Use Plan to improve governance and service delivery to citizens at the local level.Housing, accessibility and safety are key concerns for Kutaisi’s citizens and these topics are strongly correlated to the urban character of the city. The appropriate policies on density, land use, public space and the layout of infrastructure and services can help to achieve substantial progress in providing a better quality of life for Kutaisi’s residents. Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Assisting Kutaisi City Municipality with Spatial Urban Development Plan

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Enhancing Revenue Mobilization Systems in Liberia

Jan, 2017

PMCG, as part of a consortium led by DAI International, has launched a project under the USAID Revenue Generation for Governance and Growth (RG3) program, aimed to increase the capacity of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to achieve better revenue mobilization. The project team will support the MFDP to formulate sound, predictable, and fair revenue policies. At the same time, it will assist the LRA to implement policies for revenue collection in an effective, efficient, and transparent way. Together with the Government, the team will actively collaborate with the private sector and civil society to strengthen dialogue, raise engagement and awareness regarding the benefits of building tax morale, and foster greater trust between taxpayers and the Government. Finally, the project is oriented toward creating an environment that is predictable, transparent, and fair that will contribute to improved revenue mobilization.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Revenue Generation for Governance and Growth (RG3)

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Supporting Mayors from Eastern Partnership Countries in Economic Growth

Jan, 2017

PMCG, as part of a consortium led by Ecorys Nederland B.V, has launched a project funded by the European Commission entitled Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG).The project will last four years and aims to support the local authorities in Eastern Partnership countries to become active facilitators for economic growth and job creation. M4EG will also encourage the relevant authorities to design and implement Local Economic Development Plans, strengthen the technical skills and capacities, and implement economic strategies in line with the principles of good governance and sound financial management. The project secretariat and central office will be established in Tbilisi and will cover all of the beneficiary countries from the Eastern Partnership region – Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In order to reach maximum sustainability, the project will engage with various stakeholders such as local authority associations, business associations, small and medium-sized enterprises and educational institutions. As a result, the beneficiary countries will establish cross-country partnership and working relationships which will also contribute to making the local authorities sustainable with stronger economies.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Mayors for Economic Growth

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Building Capacity of Public Audit Institute

Jan, 2017

PMCG is collaborating with the State Audit Office (SAO) to strengthen the institution’s capacity, under the USAID Good Governance Initiative (GGI) program led by Tetra Tech ARD.Currently, PMCG is supporting SAO in conducting a needs assessment of its Public Audit Institute (PAI). PAI was established in 2012 and is an official audit training center of SAO designed to support the development of public audit and improve public finance management system in Georgia.PMCG is assessing PAI’s internal organizational mission, institutional arrangements and practices, and recent achievements, and is also analyzing other similar agencies/service providers in the field (both public and private) in order to provide recommendations for improvement.The results of this assessment and subsequent recommendations will serve as the basis for strategic planning for the institute.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Needs Assessment of the Public Audit Institute (PAI) of State Audit Office (SAO)

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Making Budgeting More Transparent and Accountable in Akhaltsikhe

Jan, 2017

PMCG is collaborating with Akhaltsikhe City Municipality to enhance the transparency and accountability of its budgeting process, as part of a consortium led by Tetra Tech ARD under the USAID Good Governance Initiative Program.In order to reach its goals, the project team will assist the Municipality to define mid-term priorities, directions and programs for 2017 and formulate and implement a needs-oriented 2017 program budget.Furthermore, the team will develop an evaluation and monitoring framework for budgetary processes to institutionalize monitoring and evaluation processes with regards to the implementation of programs and sub-programs.In addition, PMCG will assist the Municipality to develop a Citizens’ Guide to enable the city of Akhaltsikhe’s citizens to better understand the local budget for 2017.Ultimately, the transparency and openness of the administration of Akhaltsikhe will be enhanced and its citizens will have better access to independent, reliable and balanced information.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Developing 2017 Program Budget of Akhaltsikhe City Municipality and Citizens’ Guide  

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Introducing Quality Management Systems in Municipalities of Georgia

Dec, 2016

PMCG is continuing to actively work with the cities of Kutaisi, Batumi and Akhaltsikhe.More specifically, PMCG is supporting Batumi and Akhaltsikhe municipalities to establish and implement Quality Management Systems (QMS) based on ISO 9001:2015 standard requirements, while also helping Kutaisi to improve its current systems and standards.In April 2016, GGI’s partner, Kutaisi City Municipality, was awarded with a certificate for implementing a Quality Management System based on the ISO 9001:2015 standard requirements, thus setting an excellent precedent for other local municipalities in Georgia to follow in meeting international standards. As a result, effective implementation of quality management systems has become one of the priorities for the local governments of Georgia. To this end, by the order of each city’s mayor, a special working group was created to develop an Action Plan to establish a Quality Management System (QMS) and implement QMS to meet ISO 9001:2015 standard requirements. With this in mind, PMCG has supported Kutaisi municipality to improve its QMS based on ISO 9001:2015 standard requirements. Currently, PMCG is working on separate Action Plans for Batumi and Akhaltsikhe municipalities to establish and implement QMS based on ISO 9001:2015 Standard Requirements, that will include timelines, detailed outputs, budget and indicators to measure the quality management of each municipality.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Supporting Batumi, Akhaltsikhe and Kutaisi Municipalities to Establish and Implement Quality Management Systems (QMS) Based on ISO 9001:2015 Standard Requirements

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Developing Organizational Strategy for Electricity Systems Commercial Operator

Dec, 2016

As the Georgian energy sector undergoes profound changes, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia is working to introduce the redesigned model of the Electricity Trading Mechanism (ETM) to the Georgian electrical system. This will require all key players in Georgia’s electricity sector, including Electricity Systems Commercial Operator (ESCO), to align their organizational performance to the altered external environment, and undertake necessary efforts to prepare for these drastic changes.Therefore, PMCG, under the HICD 2020 Activity, is providing support to set up transformation processes and relevant procedures at ESCO, which will help the organization to effectively and efficiently plan, communicate, implement, monitor and reinforce changes while withstanding resistance.PMCG will carry out the following activities: assist ESCO to develop an aligned and integrated management planning and performance system; facilitate the elaboration of a mid-term/transitional strategic plan for the next two years; assist ESCO to develop effective performance monitoring and evaluation system; facilitate elaboration of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan for ESCO’s institutional strategy; and enhance the capacities of staff to monitor and evaluate organizational performance.As a result of these activities, ESCO’s senior and middle level management will be prepared to effectively adapt to the changes in the external environment.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Developing Organizational Strategy for the Electricity Systems Commercial Operator (ESCO)

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Working with Kosovo to Create a More Business-Friendly Environment

Dec, 2016

PMCG, together with Chemonics International Inc., is actively working with the Government of Kosovo (GoK) to create a more business-enabling environment under the USAID Partnership for Development (PFD) program.The GoK has prioritized the implementation of reforms to improve Kosovo’s position in the World Bank’s Doing Business Ranking One of the most important laws in this area is the Law on Business Organizations (LBO). Doing business indicators, starting a business and protecting minority Investors are connected directly with the LBO which needs to be in compliance with the principles and terms of the EU Acquis and should meet the objectives of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Kosovo and the EU.PMCG is working with the GoK to identify fields in need of improvement to streamline requirements and processes to achieve a regionally competitive business environment that will attract foreign investment to Kosovo.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Supporting Kosovo to Create a More Business-friendly Environment  

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Supporting Criminal Justice Reform in Georgia

Dec, 2016

On December 15, the EU launched three major EU4Justice projects in Georgia: Support to Judiciary, Support to Criminal Justice and Support to Penitentiary and Probation Systems in Georgia.Janos Herman, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, gave an opening speech to launch the event after which talks were also delivered by the Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia Aleksandre Baramidz, Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Georgia Nino Gvenetadze, Chairman of Constitutional Court Zaza Tvadze, Deputy Minister of Corrections Zviad Mikhanashvili, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Khutsishvili and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Giorgi Gogadze.The team Leaders of the three projects presented their teams and the main priorities and directions of their work.PMCG, in a consortium led by ICE Consulting, has been contracted to implement the criminal justice support project which aims to strengthen the rule of law and human rights protection in Georgia in line with its international commitments. Furthermore, PMCG will support the Ministry of Justice of Georgia in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Criminal Justice Strategy, and in advancing reforms to the Prosecutor’s Office and Ministry of Internal Affairs in line with international standards and commitments. This EU-funded project pursues many important objectives, including: the development, coordination and monitoring of the criminal justice reform policy; the professional development of staff from the mentioned ministries, prosecutor’s office, and police; raising awareness on human rights and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); improving the work of public relations and human resources departments; and strengthening the general management capacity in the relevant institutions.By implementing these three EU4Justice projects, Georgia will enhance and develop in terms of its criminal justice, and the prosecution and investigation of crimes, and will gain more independent and transparent judiciary, penitentiary and probation systems.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Support to the Development of the Criminal Policy, Prosecution and Investigation in Georgia

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Discussing Effective PFM Reforms at ICGFM International Conference in Washington DC

Dec, 2016

On December 6, PMCG gave a presentation on Effective PFM Reforms and Results-Oriented Budgeting in Adjara at an international conference organized by the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management (ICGFM) on The Macroeconomic Benefits of Strong PFM Practices.Mikheil Kukava and George Jerenashvili, PMCG’s senior consultants in Public Financial Management (PFM), gave a presentation sharing our experience to help the Adjara government to put results-oriented budgeting in place.While discussing the case study of introducing program budgeting in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, PMCG’s consultants emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer mentoring in successfully replicating the practice.Kukava noted that “peer-to-peer mentoring remains largely unexplored and can be a point of departure, which has the potential to change the traditional donor-led PFM reforms.”The ICGFM conference on December 5-7 gathered representatives of governments, institutions and high-level professionals from around the globe. ICGFM conferences aim to empower leaders and practitioners to provide more accountability, transparency and good governance to their citizens.    

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