Regional Development Programme of Georgia 2018-2021

The Regional Development Programme (RDP) is a national cross-sectoral programme of Georgia for the period 2018-2021. Its main objective is to create a favourable environment for the socio-economic development of the regions and improve living standards and conditions of the population.
The RDP aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable. To this end, it is planning to enhance sustainable use of natural ecosystems, biodiversity, geological structures and sustainable exploitation of protected areas for utilization of economic and social potential of regions, including by preserving biological diversity; formation and management of the system of Georgia’s protected areas, and development of the supplementary zones of Algeti, Kazbegi, Kintrishi and Pshav-Khevsureti’s protected areas (improvement of social- economic conditions of the population residing at surrounding territories) and arrangements related to aware raising and eco-education on these areas, development of Georgia’s protected areas, and related to natural heritage.
Further, for reducing rural poverty, the document targets to improve key infrastructure supporting competitiveness and sustainable development of the country and its regions through improvement of international and national importance road infrastructure; development of strategic transport infrastructure except roads; development of broadband infrastructure; improvement of energy infrastructure and expanding renewable energy potential; development of water and sewage and waste infrastructure; preserving and promoting cultural heritage; and development of integrated municipal transport. In addition, the Programme aims for an improvement of human capital relying on supporting quality improvement of general education, improvement of vocational education system, increasing the quality and accessibility of high education system; better accessibility to labour market; and integration of vulnerable groups and social inclusion. Further, the document provides for promoting local development and support to specific areas based on their endogenous development by development of high mountainous areas, supporting the development of the area around Anaklia Deep Sea Port; and supporting functional integration of Georgian urban territories
To enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the RDP seeks to support SMEs, growth-oriented sectors of economy and export including innovation, tourism, agriculture, export, and investment.
In order to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the RDP aims to provide protection of regions and inhabitants against the effects of natural disaster by activities such as river banks and sea shores’ fortification works; construction/arrangement of infrastructure against natural disasters; monitoring, forecast and prevention in the field of environment; and providing durable housing for eco-migrants.
The preparation of the RDP is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia (MRDI) responsible for regional development policy in Georgia. The MRDI ensures proper consultation with relevant stakeholders in line with the principles of partnership and multi-level governance. Execution of the RDP is realised through the implementation of individual measures and realised under them activities/projects. The MRDI in cooperation with the Technical Coordination Committee will prepare, at regular intervals – at least twice a year – a consolidated report to the Government Commission on Regional Development of Georgia, to be also submitted afterwards to the Monitoring Committee and the Government – on the progress of the RDP. For this, the MRDI requests information from the relevant intermediate bodies and relevant project beneficiaries. At the beginning of the implementation of the RDP, the MRDI shall establish an overall evaluation plan, targeting the RDP as a whole, or any of its specific aspects.