In the framework of PLATFORMA activities in the EU Neighbourhood East, with the support of PLATFORMA and NALAS, the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) hosted a Coordination Seminar: “Reinforcing dialogue on gender equality and informed local government reform in Georgia: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities”. The event aimed to:
- promote gender equality
- monitor and follow-up decentralisation and administrative reforms
- develop an open and inclusive political dialogue with the national government, and with European Union institutions and bodies on local government reform
- identify decentralised cooperation and funding opportunities, as well as
- develop national advocacy priorities and plans for national associations of local and regional governments.
The seminar was also an opportunity to discuss and prepare messages and recommendations to the attention of European Union institutions and bodies: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, as well as to permanent representations of EU Member States.
NALAS implemented the Regional Decentralization Observatory (RDO) Index in Georgia and presented them in the session: “Policy dialogue on next steps for informed Decentralisation and Local Government Reform in Georgia”. Mr. Davit Melua, Executive Director of NALAG appreciated and supported the findings of the RDO Index implementation. He mentioned that the results of the index will be very useful for NALAG as they are were fully in line with the strategic recommendations of NALAG and the key pillars of the decentralization reform underway in Georgia, such as: a) enhanced sectoral decentralization; b) improved fiscal and financial autonomy of local governments; and c) strengthened citizen participation.
NALAS will continue to work with PLATFORMA and support NALAG. On March 5th, 2020, NALAS will organize a Peer to Peer Exchange between NALAG and Local Government Associations from South-East Europe in Brussels.
