In order to strengthen the institutional capacity of the local government, a qualitative study was conducted in 11 municipalities of Georgia (Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Batumi, Kutaisi, Oni, Sagarejo, Keda, Akhaltsikhe, Bolnisi, Gori, Zugdidi). Effective tools and recommendations have been developed to facilitate the increase of citizens involvement in the processes, to improve the dissemination of information for the successful implementation of participatory budgeting. The study aimed at a comprehensive study of participatory budgeting practices using a multifaceted approach. As a result of the research, in the target 5 municipalities, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Batumi, Kutaisi and Oni, the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the participatory budgeting process were evaluated, effective implementation models were selected.

Tengiz Shergelashvili and the invited expert of the project, Konstantine Kandelaki, presented the results to the public present at the working meeting. Emphasis was placed on the existing practices that Chokhatauri municipality had in previous years. Speakers also drew attention to the challenges that exist in the implementation of participatory budgeting. After presenting the main findings and recommendations of the research, the working meeting was held in question-and-answer mode.

To study the practice of Chokhatauri Municipality, one focus group was conducted with the participation of persons directly involved in the process, and 9 respondents were also interviewed, among them were: members of the City Council, authors of ideas, representatives of non-governmental organizations, persons directly involved in the process.

In total, in 11 municipalities of Georgia, more than 100 in-depth interviews were conducted with citizens involved in the participatory budgeting process, and 11 focus groups were held with representatives of municipal mayor’s offices and city councils.

The working meeting was attended by the head of USAID’s local self-government program, Tengiz Sultanishvili, the mayor of Chokhatauri municipality, David Sharashidze, the chairman of the Sakrebulo, Irakli Kuchava, representatives of the local government and the civil sector. As the mayor of Chokhatauri municipality noted, the mammography machine financed by the civil budget last year has already been purchased, and the implementation of the second project, the construction of a stadium on April 9 Street, will begin at the end of spring.

The “Georgian Development Platform” (GeoDP) project – “Support partner municipalities to effectively conduct participatory budgeting by FY2024” started in December 2023. The project is implemented within the framework of “USAID Local Governance Program”.