Country Profile

2012

Overview

Georgia is a key U.S. ally in the war on terrorism and a gateway for energy resources from the region to Europe and beyond. Since the 2003 Rose Revolution, the Government of Georgia (GOG) has carried out numerous economic and governance reforms, enabling a rise in the living standards of its citizens.
USAID began operating in Georgia in 1992. Over the last twenty years, the American people have provided over $1.5 billion in assistance to Georgia through USAID. Programs include initiatives to stimulate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, enhance energy security, and improve health and education.
 

 
Programs

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
After the August 2008 conflict with Russia, the GOG renewed its commitment to expanded democratic initiatives, which include strengthening the checks and balances of Georgia’s democratic institutions; provision of protections to foster greater political pluralism; strengthening the rule of law by introducing enhanced due process trials by jury and lifetime judicial appointments; and expanding the inclusion of ethnic minorities. USAID is giving the GOG and nongovernmental actors opportunities to live up to these commitments through a broad range of democracy-related activities. USAID works to improve the electoral environment for highly important elections in 2012 and 2013, enhance dialogue between the government and civil society, and improve the quality of civic education. USAID programs work to improve court administration and case management in the Georgian judiciary by supporting and strengthening the judiciary as an independent yet equal branch of government, improving Georgia’s commercial law system, and advancing legal education. USAID also works with the Parliament of Georgia to strengthen the ability of the members and Caucasus of Parliament to engage in constructive policy debate. Programs also support the development of a more politically balanced, editorially independent, and professional media able to deliver news, information, and analysis to audiences throughout the country.

IMPROVING ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND WELFARE
Since 2005, Georgia has moved up to 12th place from 112th among 181 countries surveyed on the World Bank’s annual Doing Business ranking. This is without doubt a remarkable success story, and one that has been supported by numerous USAID economic growth programs. Nonetheless, many challenges remain. To help Georgia’s economy recover in the short term and improve overall competitiveness in the long term, the USAID programs help to strengthen capacities to develop and implement economic reforms and provide assistance to the private sector to increase its competitiveness, particularly in agriculture. In addition, USAID programs seek to ensure that a broader array of Georgian citizens understands, participates in, and benefits from these reforms. This will help ensure that perceptions of government accountability, transparency, and performance improve. A better understanding of Georgia’s economic achievements will also lead towards greater economic and social stability. Economic growth initiatives are also rehabilitating large-scale municipal infrastructure including irrigation systems, improving rural incomes and reducing poverty levels, improving food security, addressing small-scale household and agricultural water constraints, and assisting internally displaced persons.

ENHANCING ENERGY SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
The GOG has implemented reforms in the energy sector resulting in increased power supplies nationwide. But energy services still fall short of the country’s energy security needs. USAID projects help facilitate investment to build new hydropower production facilities through assistance with policies, technical assistance and investment promotion. Projects also focus on improving natural gas transmission infrastructure to increase the availability of gas for households and key economic development zones. Finally, USAID works to improve electrical power transmission through constructing new power lines and improving management and transmission technology, while promoting increased energy efficiency. USAID projects aim to improve the sustainable use of natural resources, including improving water quality and forestry practices; and promoting activities to help Georgia mitigate and adapt to climate change.

IMPROVING DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES
USAID delivers programming to improve health, education, and child welfare in Georgia, with a focus on strengthening the government’s management capacity to provide quality services. USAID is investing in Georgia’s future through assistance to support education sector reform efforts, improve early grade reading and math skills, and increase the capacity of teachers to provide high quality education in classrooms. Other activities aim to improve the health of Georgian people by improving the quality of health services, improving reproductive and maternal and child health, and preventing and treating communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. A child welfare program aims to ensure the provision of key social services to the country’s most vulnerable populations by increasing the number and capacity of social workers and providing safe, permanent family situations to children currently living in orphanages. Programs are also assisting the GOG to strengthen health management information services, transition to a private healthcare system, and to provide greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the health care sector, leading to better quality health services for Georgians. Other assistance addresses the issues of persons with disabilities and engagement among youth of different ethnicities across Georgia’s regions.