BRATISLAVA, January 6, (WEBNOVINY) — In the future, local self-governments across Georgia should be able to effectively and efficiently manage their public finances and develop a public financing strategy. This is the objective of one development project of the Slovak Republic, which the organization called NISPAcee — Association of Schools and Institutes of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe is carrying out in this country. Project Manager Elena Zakova told SITA that although public administration reform started in Georgia in 2006, „most of the local finance officers are still from the old Soviet administration school and have very limited knowledge of public finance management at the local level.“
Zakova said a shortage of experts among the local Georgian officials may undermine the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy and inhibit the process of Georgia’s integration into the European Union. It may also have a negative impact on the general support for the newly elected local self-governments, which may result in political instability and further increase poverty in regions across Georgia.
Within the project, which will run until May 2012, the Slovak organization will train officials from four local authorities so that they command the principles of public finance management in the European Union and their application in Georgia. It will also prepare Georgian instructors, who will be able to conduct further training on public finances based on the principles applied in the European Union. The project also includes development of manuals and training materials on management of finances at the local level in Georgia. Slovak Aid will finance the project with an allocation of 190 000 euros.
SITA
