Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
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emailGeorgia has significant economic advantages, with a strategic regional geographic location, proximity to international markets, and significant natural resources. Unfortunately, Georgia’s growth has been hindered by years of instability and the legacies of a state controlled economy.
USAID’s programs in Georgia aim to enable inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country through improved economic governance, increased competitiveness and employment, responsible management of Georgia’s natural endowments, and increased access to quality education. Current projects focus on improving infrastructure, and helping Georgia develop the human capital to fuel the economic growth and meet the demands of a modern market-based economy.
Click here to view programs under inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Economic Prosperity Initiative (EPI)
Sept 2010 – Sept 2014
Deloitte Consulting LLP
www.epigeorgia.com
This comprehensive program will improve Georgia’s overall economic competitiveness through assistance designed to: 1) expand and deepen the country’s economic governance capacity; 2) improve agriculture sector productivity; and 3) strengthen targeted non-agricultural value chains that have the highest growth potential.
Municipal and Internally Displaced People Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project
Feb 2011 – Feb 2014
Government of Georgia – Municipal Development Fund
Http://mdf.ge/eng/index.php
This project aims to: 1) develop and rehabilitate municipal infrastructure in certain municipalities affected by the 2008 conflict, including significant irrigation infrastructure; 2) upgrade the homes constructed by the Government of Georgia for persons displaced during the August 2008 conflict and redevelop buildings for use as durable housing for IDPs from previous conflicts; and 3) help ensure overall sustainability of interventions.
New Economic Opportunities (NEO)
Apr 2011 – Apr 2015
Chemonics International
www.chemonics.com
The NEO project is designed to improve rural incomes; reduce poverty levels; improve food security; address critical, small-scale infrastructure priorities in targeted communities; enable targeted IDP communities (old and new) to sustainably maintain their households; and assist communities distressed by natural or other disasters. The project will target 10 municipalities and will benefit at least 70,000 households that are considered vulnerable.
Oversight Contract
May 2011 – Nov 2013
TetraTech EM INC
www.tetratech.com/
The project is providing engineering oversight for the Municipal Infrastructure and IDP Housing Rehabilitation Project. It monitors current processes and practices, identifies and mitigates areas of risk, and carries out oversight and quality control efforts to ensure that selected infrastructure and housing rehabilitation are implemented effectively and in accordance with U.S. and Georgian standards and regulations.
Loan Portfolio Guarantee for Bank Republic
Sept 2005 – Sept 2015
Bank Republic
www.republic.ge
USAID extended a Development Credit Authority (DCA) loan portfolio guarantee for lending up to $6,000,000 to Bank Republic to extend commercial credit to the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, or any activity that contributes to improved technology or increased employment in Georgia. About 50% of loans are extended to the agricultural sector.
Portable DCA Guarantee for Crystal
Sept 2009 – Sept 2014
Crystal
http://crystal.ge
USAID extended a $1 million Development Credit Authority (DCA) portable guarantee to Crystal, a local microfinance institution, to help raise $1 million from a local and/or international lending institution. Funds are used for on-lending to micro and small enterprises.
Portable Guarantee for Alliance Group Leasing
July 2011 – July 2016
Alliance Group Leasing
USAID extended a revolving Development Credit Authority (DCA) portable guarantee to Alliance Group Leasing to assist in sourcing of up to $2,067,660 in commercial debt to finance the expansion of its business, providing leases to micro and small businesses in Georgia.
New Applied Technology Efficiency and Lighting Initiative
Oct 2011 – June 2013
Winrock International
www.winrock.ge
The project supports the creation of an effective framework for private solutions in the provision of clean and affordable energy to off-grid villages; energy analysis and dialogue related to the energy security; masters level energy education and professional certification programs, and Georgia’s integration into European and Black Sea/Caspian Energy Markets.
Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Post-Conflict
Sept 2009 – Mar 2013
Environmental Rehabilitation in Georgia
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
http://www.cenn.org
The overall objective of the project is to develop flexible and resilient societies in the rural areas of Georgia that are capable of coping with the impacts of current climate variability and future climate change. Specifically, the project works to reduce the susceptibility of local communities in select rural areas of Georgia to the negative climate impacts through post-conflict environmental rehabilitation, natural disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation.
Support for National Parks Reform
Sept 1999 – June 2014
US Department of the Interior
www.doi.gov
Through an Interagency Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, USAID assists Georgia to enhance the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia to manage and commercialize national parks and promote tourism opportunities. Technical assistance and training is provided to Ministry officials, employees of protected areas throughout Georgia, and local stakeholders in the National Protected Area System.
Georgian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (GNEWRC) Partnership Program
Sept 2010 – June 2013
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC)
www.naruc.org
This project fosters the exchange of experience and information between U.S. and Georgian energy regulatory bodies. It improves regulatory practices and develops institutional capacity in market-based regulation. Activities include fostering long-term sustainable relationships between regulatory bodies in both countries through conferences and creating a framework through which a U.S. commission works with the Georgian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.
Black Sea Transmission Planning
Sept 2010 – Sept 2014
US Energy Association (USEA)
www.usea.org
This project analyzes the existing high voltage networks from a regional perspective to identify investments that will improve the network’s capacity to support electricity trade and exchange, while optimizing overall system security and reliability.
Power and Gas Infrastructure Program (PGIP)
May 2010 – Nov 2013
Government of Georgia
PGIP assists the Government of Georgia to undertake strategic interventions in gas and power infrastructure aimed at enhancing the energy security of the country. It supports the ongoing efforts of Georgia’s power transmission company and Georgia’s gas transit operator to construct and rebuild necessary power and gas transmission infrastructure. PGI consists of the following five sub-components:
(1) Infrastructure Oversight and Capacity Building
May 2010 – Sept 2014
Tetra Tech
The project provides professional engineering technical services to support power and gas transmission improvements being undertaken by USAID on behalf of the Government of Georgia.
(2) Construction of the Poti Senaki gas pipeline
Sept 2010 – July 2011
Segment of the Pipeline
Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC)
This project provides access to energy for the people of Poti, Senaki, Khobi and adjacent rural areas in Samegrelo Region. It will also provide gas to industries in the first free industrial zone (FIZ) in the Caucasus region being developed adjacent to the Poti Black Sea Port.
(3) Construction of the Kutaisi - Senaki gas pipeline
June 2012 – Sept 2013
Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC)
The project will fund the construction of a 76-km and 700-mm diameter pipeline from Kutaisi to Senaki to replace undersized and leaking existing pipeline sections on the East-West Gas Pipeline.
(4) Construction of additional pipeline segments
June 2013 – Sept 2014
in Eastern and Western Georgia
Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC)
The project will potentially fund the construction of an additional 60-km and 700-mm diameter pipeline sections on the East-West Gas Pipeline.
(5) Electricity Transmission Upgrade, Reconstruction and Operation
To be completed by Sept 2013
Implementer: TBD
This component includes reconstruction of the 220kV Senaki twin chain power lines dismantled in 1992 during Georgia’s civil war. It includes full and partial construction of new power substations to support the Senaki line, and operational controls designed to improve efficiencies and reduce risks in transmission management. This component may also fund the reconstruction of the Dariali/Dusheti power line system to feed hydropower from the Dariali and Larsi hydropower plants into the national power grid.
Hydropower Investment Promotion Program
March 2010 – March 2013
Deloitte
www.deloitte.com
This program will assist the Government of Georgia in undertaking specific key tasks necessary to attract investments into Georgian hydropower development. HIPP is expected to help attract up to $70 million in local and foreign investment to Georgia’s energy sector in an effort to add 400 megawatts of clean, green renewable power to the Georgian grid. This new energy will help move Georgia closer to energy independence and serve as a profitable export to rapidly increasing yet underserved energy markets in Turkey and Eastern Europe with a view toward regional economic growth.
Integrated Natural Resource Management in Watersheds (INRMW)
Sept 2010 – Sept 2014
Florida International University and partners
This program will introduce innovative approaches to the sustainable management of natural resources to Georgia, and aims to ensure needed environmental resources and services are sustained for Georgia’s long-term ecological health and rural development. It will reinforce Ministry of Environment Protection (MEP) efforts to reform development practices to ensure more sustainable resource use for future generations. The program will introduce and promote the use of internationally accepted integrated natural resource and watershed management approaches and address local and regional government structures. It will especially emphasize the balance between economic uses and benefits of water and other natural resources in watersheds with principles of ecosystem protection and sustainable use.
Institutionalization of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Georgian Regions
Apr 2012 – Sept 2015
National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG)
“Institutionalization of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Georgian Regions” will attempt to integrate environmental and climate change considerations into policy priorities of local authorities through the establishment of special units on climate change, environment and sustainable agriculture. It will enable the implementation of a broad range of statutory functions of local authorities on natural resources management, spatial planning and sustainable development stipulated in the Organic Law of Georgia on Local Self-Governance and sectoral legislation. The goal is to foster institutionalization of climate change adaptation and mitigation at the local level by building capacities of local authorities. The project is being implemented by National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG).
Enhancing Capacity–Low Emission Development Strategy
TBD - Sept 2017
(EC-LEDS), Municipal Energy Efficiency Project
Implementer TBD
This activity aims to incorporate holistic approaches to economic development on a less than “business-as-usual” emission pathway. Sectors for reducing the rate of emission growth will be targeted, as outlined in a country low emission development strategy. USG assistance will support the implementation of incentives, financing, and technical assistance to implement alternative economic development practices. Regional programs will also support this growth through expertise in modeling energy efficiency, green production marketing and other widely accepted practices. Mayors who are signatories to the EU Covenant of Mayors commitments will receive preference for assistance to implement lower emission development.
Georgia Waste Management Project
TBD - Sept 2017
Implementer TBD
As one of the priorities identified by Georgian public and local officials, proper waste management is a critical factor for health, small business and tourism development, and reducing the amount of land use required for waste disposal. Local companies interested in using recyclable materials have a shortage of supply and are limited to investing in the sector due to this shortage. Waste management as a local government service is not recognized as successful or effective. This program aims to address the economic and operational challenges to establishing efficient waste management and recycling systems in targeted municipalities and regions. Components include physical remediation/closing of dangerous landfills, strategic planning for new landfills, economic analysis of revenue and employment generating opportunities in the sector, and identification of public-private partnership opportunities. Of course, this also includes broad public outreach campaigns to educate the public on the benefits of sound waste management systems as a public service.
Georgia Primary Education Project (G-Pried)
Oct 2011 – Oct 2015
Chemonics
www.chemonics.com
The goal of the G-Pried project is to provide comprehensive assistance to the primary education system to improve reading and math competencies of Georgian and ethnic minority students. This will be achieved through supporting instructional improvements, testing and improving standards, use of technology, and development of subject experts in reading and math in schools as well as in the education departments of Georgia’s universities.
