Nino Rukhadze, the executive director of the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia, participated in the presentation of the new partners of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Local Governance Program and provided a comprehensive summary of the remarkable progress achieved together with the municipalities.
The head of the association addressed the audience and spoke about USAID’s significant role in advancing democracy and institutional strengthening in partner countries, including Georgia. Nino Rukhadze highlighted the longstanding, close partnership between NALAG and USAID, drawing attention to the joint projects implemented within the cooperation framework. These projects aim to promote the implementation of the decentralization strategy, address climate change, and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The project, which facilitates decentralized cooperation between the municipalities of Georgia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, holds particular significance for me. Fostering collaboration with EU member states is a crucial endeavour, especially given the current stage of our country’s development. As Georgia has been granted candidate status for EU membership and entered a new phase of relations with the EU, enhancing ties with member states is imperative. Georgian municipalities can contribute significantly to the overarching national goal of EU accession. Decentralized cooperation can serve as a vital instrument in integrating our country into the EU sphere,” remarked Nino Rukhadze as she extended her best wishes to the partner organization for future endeavours.
“The project, which facilitates decentralized cooperation between the municipalities of Georgia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, holds particular significance for me. Fostering collaboration with EU member states is a crucial endeavour, especially given the current stage of our country’s development. As Georgia has been granted candidate status for EU membership and entered a new phase of relations with the EU, enhancing ties with member states is imperative. Georgian municipalities can contribute significantly to the overarching national goal of EU accession. Decentralized cooperation can serve as a vital instrument in integrating our country into the EU sphere,” remarked Nino Rukhadze as she extended her best wishes to the partner organization for future endeavours.
The second part of the meeting was devoted to a panel discussion, during which the leading figures of the municipalities of Rustavi, Kutaisi, Chokhatauri, and Dmanisi delved into the measures implemented within the USAID local self-governance initiative, providing valuable insights and perspectives.
βIt should be noted that memorandums of mutual cooperation were signed with the program’s new partner municipalities at the same meeting.