- Institutional Development Fund (IDF) Grant
- Amount – $ 350,000
- Implementation period – 2 years
Background
The World Bank has extended an IDF Grant in an amount of $350,000 to Tbilisi City to strengthen its capacity in participatory capital investment planning and budgeting.
Tbilisi City Hall, with the significant support from the World Bank and City Alliance, had already launched a City Development Strategy (CDS) in order to collectively define the city’s vision, mid-to-long term goals, and identify the city’s highest priorities and investment needs.
By strengthening capital investment planning and budgeting capacity in the City Hall, this grant will ensure building the linkages between CDS and annual budgets. It will also contribute to making budget cycle more transparent through seeking inputs from citizens during the budget planning process, keeping public informed on investment needs, and enabling it to monitor public spending.
Grant Financed Activities
Technical assistance will be provided to the Economic Policy Agency and Budget Department of Tbilisi City focusing on the preparation of a comprehensive multi-year participatory capital investment plan that is discussed publicly and defines accountability. More specifically, the Grant will assist in (i) building capacity to define the methodology and indicators for capital investment planning (CIP) aligned with best international practice; (ii) providing necessary training to the staff of Tbilisi City Hall and relevant subordinated agencies on application of the above methodology; (iii) launching and monitoring the implementation of the capital investment planning; and (iv) fostering greater public awareness and involvement in the CIP process.
Expected Outcome
The overall outcome of the project will be achieving the strategic objectives of the CDS in a cost-effective way, based on a transparent process that enhances community participation.
The IDF grant builds upon a very productive cooperation between the World Bank and the Tbilisi City Hall over the past several years, which has included the restoration of the parts of the Old Town and preservation of its cultural heritage. It also provides synergy with ongoing activities supported through the Regional & Municipal Infrastructure Development Project, which provides Technical Assistance to the city for improved accounting and reporting system.
