Community Centres Georgia

Community Centres Georgia (საზოგადოებრივი ცენტრი) is a project of The Public Service Development Agency, a Legal Entity of Public Law operating under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Community Centres provides a variety of public services, these include the services of the Public Service Development Agency, the National Agency of Public Registry, the National Archives of Georgia, the Social Service Agency and Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia. Services are made available at Community Centres throughout the country. Currently, Community Centres provides more than 200 services.

Operating Centres

 * 1) Shashiani - Gurjaani Municipality
 * 2) Sartichala - Gardabani Municipality
 * 3) Gomi - Khashuri Municipality
 * 4) Ruisi - Kareli Municipality
 * 5) Chaladidi - Khobi Municipality
 * 6) Khevi - Kharagauli Municipality
 * 7) Manglisi - Tetritskaro Municipality
 * 8) Koda - Tetritskaro Municipality
 * 9) Poka - Ninotsminda Municipality
 * 10) Nigoiti - Lanchkhuti Municipality
 * 11) Jvari - Tsalenjikha Municipality
 * 12) Shorapani - Zestaponi Municipality
 * 13) Kvareltskali - Akhmeta Municipality
 * 14) Mukhaestate - Kobuleti Municipality
 * 15) Geguti - Tskaltubo Municipality
 * 16) Mejvriskhevi - Gori Municipality
 * 17) Kachreti - Gurjaani Municipality
 * 18) Khidistavi - Chokhatauri Municipality
 * 19) Nukriani - Sighnaghi Municipality
 * 20) Korbouli - Sachkhere Municipality
 * 21) Ghoresha - Kharagauli Municipality
 * 22) Kazreti - Bolnisi Municipality
 * 23) Shilda - Kvareli Municipality
 * 24) Orsantia - Zugdidi Municipality
 * 25) Kvemo Natanebi - Ozurgeti Municipality
 * 26) Kabali - Lagodekhi Municipality
 * 27) Lentekhi - Lentekhi Municipality
 * 28) Chakvi - Kobuleti Municipality
 * 29) Khreiti - Chiatura Municipality
 * 30) Sadakhlo - Marneuli Municipality
 * 31) Rukhi - Zugdidi Municipality
 * 32) Didi Jikhaishi - Samtredia Municipality
 * 33) Martkopi - Gardabani Municipality
 * 34) Iormughanlo - Sagarejo Municipality

Centres Under Construction

 * 1) Arkhiloskalo - Dedoplistskaro Municipality
 * 2) Tkviavi - Gori Municipality
 * 3) Berdzenauli - Kareli Municipality
 * 4) Kumurdo - Akhalkalaki Municipality
 * 5) Baraleti - Akhalkalaki Municipality
 * 6) Kitskhi - Kharagauli Municipality
 * 7) Tsalka - Tsalka Municipality
 * 8) Lajana - Tsageri Municipality
 * 9) Zeda Usakhelo - Chiatura Municipality
 * 10) Vale - Akhaltsikhe Municipality

History
The Public Service Development Agency, a Legal Entity of Public Law operating under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, has been working for the enhancement of the capacity of local governments over the past several years. The Georgian government has implemented a number of significant reforms in the public sector by using information technologies. As a result of these reforms, the population in cities and municipal centers can use quality services, though the access of rural population to services offered by the state is still restricted.

Since 2011, the Agency, with the financial assistance from the European Union, has been implementing the project named “Introduction of E-Governance in Local Governments”. The project aims at building capacity of local governments through improving governance in local government entities, providing quality services to local population and developing local infrastructure. In the first phase of the project, Public Service Development Agency drew up the concept of community centers.

Community centers enable local population to get more than 200 public and private services without leaving their villages. Users of the community centers can enjoy services rendered by the Public Service Development Agency, the National Archive of Georgia, the National Agency of Public Registry, Social Service Agency and Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia. Centers also provide services of private companies - Magticom and Liberty Bank.

A community center is a space equipped with modern infrastructure and technology. Centers are staffed with employees, recruited on a competitive basis among the local population and trained to provide the central government and private sector services by means of e-governance. Moreover, a modern digital library, free Internet service, computers and conference call equipment are available to local population. Centers host Local Government representative office and offer a space for fostering civic engagement activities on the ground. Free Internet, computers, conference call equipment and modern e-library services are also available to individual citizens.

Apart from providing access to services, Community Centers perform a role of mediator between the population and the government. The central and local governments as well as civil society representatives are able to use Community Centers for communicating with the local population; introducing new services, initiatives, legislative changes and organizing public awareness raising events.

With the financial support from the European Union, initially three pilot Community Centers were built in the villages of Shashiani, Sartichala and Gomi. After the piloting of the Centers proved to be successful, it was decided to further expand the initiative countrywide by introducing this concept of public service delivery in other rural areas of Georgia.

Mission

 * To create new opportunities for rural development and self-realization by means of modern technological achievements and intellectual resources.
 * To strengthen the capacity of local self-governments in efficiently implementing their powers by using modern technologies, comfortable infrastructure and qualified personnel.

Aims

 * To enhance the access to quality services for local population without leaving their villages
 * To ensure the access to information technologies
 * To create equal conditions for capacity building of rural population
 * To stimulate civic engagement in rural areas