The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Legal Entity of Public Law – Youth Agency, held the 8th National Conference of the Best Practice Programme (BPP). Within the framework of the conference, successful municipal projects were identified and awarded.

In the 2025 competition, 14 projects were named as successful practices.

This time, special awards were presented to the first persons of the municipalities of Rustavi, Khashuri, Senaki, Tkibuli, Poti, Baghdati, Dmanisi, Zestaponi, Kazbegi, and Kutaisi. At the event, employees of the self-governing units’ city halls who directly participated in the preparation of the competition applications were also awarded.

The conference was opened by NALAG’s Executive Director, Nino Rukhadze, who focused on the eight-year results of the programme and noted that the culture of sharing best practices has become one of the main foundations for improving services in municipalities. She also introduced the association’s ongoing activities and future plans to the audience, which serve to further strengthen local self-governments and bring them closer to international standards. Before the solemn award ceremony, the audience was addressed by NALAG’s First Vice-President, Mayor of Tbilisi, Zurab Abashidze, the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia’s Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee, Irakli Kadagishvili, and the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Zurab Iashvili.

The speakers jointly emphasized the importance of the association as the main defender of local self-governments’ interests and a unifying platform. In their speeches, it was noted that financial and institutional support for municipalities in the process of strengthening local democracy and decentralization remains an unchanging priority of the state, which ultimately serves to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Within the framework of the conference, with the advocacy of NALAG, the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life was signed. In addition to the 32 self-governing units that had already signed it, four more municipalities — Kharagauli, Tkibuli, Akhaltsikhe, and Khelvachauri — joined the Charter.

The final part of the conference was dedicated to panel discussions, where Georgian and foreign experts, together with representatives of municipalities, discussed inter-municipal cooperation and child protection programmes. The event was attended by representatives of central and executive authorities, as well as non-governmental organizations and international organizations, the first persons of Georgian municipalities, and public officials.