Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia

summary

The European Union and UNDP provide complex support to the Parliament of Georgia in its efforts to implement institutional reforms, promote legislative openness, effectively represent the needs and views of the citizens, streamline law-making processes and enhance governmental control. The programme also supports cooperation with the European counterparts and public dialogue about European integration. 

what we do

  • Development and implementation of the institutional reform of the Parliament of Georgia.
  • Increased transparency of the Parliament’s operation.
  • Improved communication with the public.
  • Increased citizen engagement in the legislative process.
  • Advanced cooperation with international counterparts.
  • High-level international advice for the Parliament’s leadership.
  • Strengthened policy-making and oversight capacities of the parliamentary committees.
  • Increased role of the Parliament in the process of the European integration, including in raising public awareness on related reforms.

results so far

  • Parliament’s Institutional Reform Plan (IRP) for 2016-2018 is developed and approved by the Parliamentary Bureau. 16 out of 20 strategic actions of the IRP plan were implemented. Draft of the IRP for 2019-2020 developed, pending approval by the Parliament.
  • Parliament’s Rules of Procedure reform implemented with outstanding success levels.
  • Open Parliament Action Plans for 2017 and 2018-2019 developed and adopted by the Parliament Bureau.
  • International Relations Department structure was revised and a new Inter-Parliamentary Unit created. Its capacities strengthened.
  • Needs assessment and recommendations were produced for reforming the Parliament’s Research Services.
  • MP Induction Program designed and implemented.
  • Multi-year strategic action plans of six parliamentary committees (Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee; European Integration Committee; Foreign Relations Committee; Sports and Youth Affairs Committee; Healthcare and Social Issues Committee) developed including with the active civil society engagement.
  • M&E plans designed for 10 parliamentary committees. A uniform format of committee reporting elaborated pending approval from the Parliament.
  • The Health and Social Issues Committee produced two concept papers: Vision for Developing the Healthcare System in Georgia and Vision for Developing the Labor and Social Protection Sectors in Georgia.
  • Committee Staff Manual developed.
  • Guide on Explanatory Notes to Draft Legislation is under development.
  • Staff of Parliamentary committees have been trained in effective financial oversight.
  • Parliament’s 2019-2020 Action Plan for implementation and oversight of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement developed and adopted by the Parliament Bureau.
  • Capacities of MPs and staff increased through EU legal approximation trainings, on-the-job-consultancies, study visit and international parliamentary conference dedicated to EU integration issues.
  • Awareness raising campaigns were organized annually mostly targeting the youth - over 1,000 school and university students - through a variety of activities including city games, parliamentary debates, meetings at state universities dedicated to the theme of the European Union and Georgia’s EU integration path.

Contact information

Project address

15a Paliashvili Street
Tbilisi 0179 Georgia
+995 32 2990280

Contact persons

Sophie Guruli
Project Manager
sophie.guruli@undp.org

Gigi Bregadze
UNDP Democratic Governance Team Leader
gigi.bregadze@undp.org