Which Main Directions Should Regions Pursue for Effective Economic Development?

Nov, 2015

What is the key to successful regional development? Furthermore, what are the main areas regions need to address to develop social and economic welfare? These are the major questions that PMCG, together with 22 municipalities from 6 regions of Georgia (Qvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Guria, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti) are cooperating to answer. The project is entitled “Develop Municipal Priority Document Methodology, Support to Design Municipal Priority Document for 22 Municipalities and Update Comprehensive Action Plans for 6 Regions of Georgia. First, PMCG will develop a methodology - general instrument for creating a municipal mid-term vision. Considering the differences between regions, each requires its own unique approach. The methodology will support municipalities to analyze their current situation and outline the real opportunities available to them in different fields. PMCG will coach municipalities to develop skills in designing a priority document, which will be of great help when putting plans into practice. “Nobody else understands the needs and opportunities, better than the municipalities themselves. They just need to enhance skills of understanding these opportunities and on the other hand, tools for effective strategy development”, explains Vano Tavadze, Team Leader of the project. The priority documents are a pilot initiative that will cover the period 2016-2019. Furthermore, PMCG will facilitate the update of Regional Action Plans for the involved regions, through a participatory approach incorporating objectively justified and prioritized projects, monitoring and evaluation indicators, responsible agencies and timeframes.For detailed information about the project please follow the link:Support for Preparation of General Methodology for Municipal Priority Document, Design Municipal Priority Documents for 22 Municipalities and Update Comprehensive Regional Action Plans for 6 Regions of Georgia

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Discussing Structural Economic Reforms with Moldovan Government and Private Sector

Nov, 2015

At the end of October, PMCG held meetings with the Minister of Finance of Moldova and with the European Business Association (EBA) to share experiences of dealing with structural economic reforms. Aleksi Aleksishvili, Chairman and CEO of PMCG, reviewed the recent history of Georgia in this regard and described the challenges the country faced before the economic reforms were introduced. He stressed the importance of a complex approach covering tax, customs and trade policy, licenses and permits, business regulatory reforms and their role in bringing about a corruption-free environment and significant growth in the ratio of tax revenues to GDP from 12% (2003) to 24.8% (2014) and in tax revenue (92% of total state budget revenue in 2014), and drastic reduction of the informal economy from 65% to 10% of GDP. Focusing on tax reform, Aleksishvili emphasized several major factors that made the business environment more attractive such as a simple and easy tax system, low rates, easy electronic procedures and removal of corruption.

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Facilitating Dialogue on Benefits and Challenges for Moldovan and Georgian Private Sectors in EU Integration Process

Oct, 2015

PMCG hosted high ranking representatives of the Moldovan and Georgian governments, the EU delegation, Hungarian, Polish, Czech and Slovakian diplomatic missions and representatives of EBRD, EIB, USAID, WB, and IFC to discuss the most efficient ways for governments and private sectors to navigate through the EU Integration Process. The conference entitled “Making the Most of DCFTA” was designed within the framework of the Visegrad Fund project “Sharing Experience of Public-Private Dialogue in EU” took place in Chisinau, Moldova on October 22-23. The knowledge sharing event aimed to assist Moldovan and Georgian businesses and government bodies to strengthen dialogue and awareness about the opportunities and challenges presented by the signing of the Association Agreement. The focus of the event was on sharing the experience of Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) in developing constructive public-private dialogue in a transition period, while harmonizing legislation and standards with those of the EU. Key topics discussed were titled as follows: 1 year of DCFTA; external assistance for SMEs to meet requirements of DCFTA and accessing EU markets; building public-private partnerships; and providing support services.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project: Sharing Experience of Public-Private Dialogue in EU Integration Process for Moldova and Georgia

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Enhancing Communication between Citizens and the Parliament of Georgia

Oct, 2015

The Parliament of Georgia seeks to become more transparent and accountable to its electorate, making it easier for citizens to obtain information about its recent activities and decisions. Due to the nature of the Parliament’s work, it is sometimes difficult for the institution to communicate news in simple language that can be easily understood by the general public.To support the institution to overcome this challenge, PMCG has provided assistance to the Parliament’s PR department, the main mediator between the institution and the public.PMCG’s team conducted special trainings for the PR department to enhance its skills of conveying legalistic language in a simplified way, so that even members of the public with no knowledge of the relevant area or issue can easily digest the information.Participants were introduced to contemporary formats of news, logical structure, values and objectives, specification of publications for online and printed media. Recommendations for parliament’s newsletter and web-site development were also issued while the training session was full of practical examples and assignments. A follow-up session for discussion of home assignments will be conducted as well.The project is implemented under the USAID Good Governance Initiative program in collaboration with Tetra Tech ARD. Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Training for the Parliament’s Public Relations Department

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Ministry of Labor, Social and Health Affairs of Georgia Undertakes More Transparent Spending

Sep, 2015

Citizens of Georgia will soon have a Ministry of Labor, Social and Health Affairs of Georgia (MoLSHA) that will be more transparent and accountable, focusing on needs-oriented budget spending. Accordingly, citizens will have easier access to the yearly plan of the Ministry, covering how public resources will be spent and outlining priority areas.PMCG collaborates with Tetra Tech ARD, under the USAID Good Governance Initiative Program, to assist MoLSHA to improve administrative and financial management and to increase civic engagement by building mechanisms for easier access to information.PMCG will support the Ministry to clearly identify priorities and to develop 2016 programs accordingly. The team of consultants will also design performance indicators and assist the Ministry in PR related issues and effectively communicating the program budget to the citizens.As a result of the collaboration, citizens will have a Ministry that effectively and efficiently manages public resources, based on the needs of the stakeholders and providing open access to information.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project: Program Budgeting STTA to the Ministry of Labor, Social and Health Affairs of Georgia  

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PMC Research Center Awarded for the Highest Level of Transparency

Sep, 2015

We are excited to share the news that PMC Research Center (PMC RC) was recently granted a 5 star transparency award.It is a great honor for us to be awarded by Transparify for setting the gold standard for the field as a whole, by reflecting exemplary transparency in publicly disclosing sources of funding.From 170 major think tanks worldwide, only around 40 were privileged to receive a five-star rating (out of five) in 2015.Since the Research Center’s very foundation, we have tried to be as open as possible. Due to the recent launch of our new, modern official web page, we have had the opportunity to reach an even higher level of transparency.Now every guest to site has easy access to information, and with a single click one can find detailed information about each project we are implementing, as well as sources and amounts funding.“We believe that transparency and accountability is not something unique but should be an inseparable part of every organizations nature. We are more than sure that it is the only way to progress and contribute to development”, explains Lasha Meskhia, Executive director at PMC RC.

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Needs-Oriented Program Budget for Effective Regional and Infrastructural Development

Sep, 2015

Looking after the living conditions of citizens and the economic development of the regions are the most important functions of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI).That is why the initiative to develop a needs-oriented 2016 program budget for MRDI, the major tool for supporting effective and efficient spending of public resources, has crucial importance for the country’s further development and economic growth.PMCG has accumulated extensive knowledge in assisting a number of ministries at the transitional stage in developing effective program budgeting systems. Therefore, PMCG in collaboration with Tetra Tech ARD under the USAID Good Governance Initiative Program to support MRDI to effectively introduce the system.PMCG will assist the Ministry to clearly identify its key priorities and plan the budget accordingly. Such an approach will contribute to better allocation of public resources.At the same time, it will protect citizens’ interests and contribute to overall transparency, as MRDI and PMCG will organize meetings with citizens to present the 2016 program budget, so that all the stakeholders will be informed about the priorities of the Ministry and how the public purse will be spent.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Program Budgeting STTA to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia

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We Have Moved to a New Office

Sep, 2015

We are excited to announce that we have moved to a new office at 61 Aghmashenebeli Avenue in Tbilisi (Georgia). We enjoyed three successful and hard-working years in the old office, located about 300 meters from the new premises, during which time we have implemented various interesting projects and have achieved great results and made special memories. As a result of our growth and development, the need arises to add more functions and value-added services to our customers. It will also be easier for our partners and clients to reach the new location. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our development and success. As usual, we will be glad to welcome you to our new office.Please kindly visit our contact page for google map directions.

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Adjara's Development Strategy for Stronger Economic Growth and Development

Aug, 2015

The Government of Adjara continues actively working for the welfare and for the better living standards of its citizens by facilitating effective Regional Development Strategy formation.  Realizing that effective strategy needs strong foundations, the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara (GoARA) together with GIZ contracted Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) to assist the government to analyze the current situation in-depth. Regional economy and infrastructure; education, culture and sports; environment protection; agriculture; and social welfare and healthcare are the five main areas PMCG will study. According to the analysis of the collected data, PMCG will formulate strategies and priority documents for Adjara line ministries and support the implementation phase by developing performance monitoring instruments. The strategy has crucial importance for the further development and economic growth of the region. It will unite all the ministries’ strategies under one umbrella and contribute to long-term and profound planning, so that financial and human resources will be allocated according to the priorities defined in advance. The project represents the first phase of a larger initiative that should help the region’s government to develop a Regional Development Strategy and set up functional mechanisms for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Strategy. Having extensive experience in developing regional development strategy and action plans, PMCG was selected to conduct context analysis of these five main sectors.During the past few years, PMCG has been successfully involved in the strategic planning processes accomplished in several line ministries or departments of Adjara (Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Tourism and Reports, Adjara Forestry Agency). Furthermore, in 2012 PMCG assisted GoARA to design the monitoring and evaluation format and tools of the ARoA regional development strategy.Follow the link for detailed information:Regional Development Strategy Context Analysis of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara

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Increased Transparency and Competitiveness in the Field of Communications

Aug, 2015

Georgia will soon obtain more transparent and effective Georgian National Communication Commission (GNCC), the only regulatory authority of broadcasting and electronic communications.Unacceptability of the monopolistic practices in the field of electronic communications and broadcasting; establishment of transparent regulatory environment and promotion of competition; promotion of high-quality, diverse and innovative telecommunications services for consumers; introduction of modern technologies and the active cooperation with international organizations for these purposes; and consumer rights protection are the major tasks of the Commission. So, effectiveness and transparency of GNCC has crucial importance for the country as well as for the business sector operating in these fields. On July, 2015 the commission contracted Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) to improve its performance. The collaborations aims to assist GNCC to comply organizational structure with the requirements of stakeholders and the current legislation. PMCGs is assessing GNCC’s organizational structure, to develop job descriptions for the senior management and staff and define the Human Resource Management (HRM) policy. Finally, consultants will develop optimal model of organizational management and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure Commission’s future performance. As a result of the assistance, GNCC will be able to manage the tasks in time-bound, cost-efficient and transparent way. So the interests of the consumers will be protected in better way.Follow the link for detailed information:Consultancy to Improve the Performance of Georgian National Communications Commission

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