A new outdoor sports facility, innovative bus stops, an adventure park, a new boulevard and a touristic centre: these are the five winning ideas proposed by young people to improve public space and promote local economic growth in their hometowns, as part of a competition organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure with support from the Danish Government. Fifteen youth teams from five municipalities participated in the competition, and the five winning ideas were announced at today’s awards ceremony.

“Too often young people living in Georgia’s regions don’t see a place for themselves in the future of their communities, with migration to Tbilisi or abroad as the result,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “Ensuring that young people have a voice in local decisions and municipal investments is one way to try to reverse this trend.”

“Without the direct engagement of young people, it is hard for local governments to understand their needs,” said Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure. “The contest gave young people a chance to work with local self-governments and other citizens to shape their own project ideas. We hope this approach will serve as a model for other municipalities to use to promote youth participation.”

The youth contest took place in September and October 2019 in five Georgian municipalities: Gardabani, Surami, Tsageri, Tkibuli and Tchiatura. Sixty young people divided into 15 teams took part in the competition, which included training sessions in developing, introducing and advocating for local urban development initiatives. The five winning projects were selected by public voting in each municipality, with some 2,300 citizens in all taking part in the process. The contest was administered by the Czech organization AGORA Central Europe.

Next year the winning teams will participate in a study tour to the Czech Republic where they will meet young Czech activists and learn about successful examples of youth engagement in local policy-making.

The initiative is part of a larger UNDP programme aimed at promoting decentralisation and improving self-government at the local level, with a focus on three target regions: Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Imereti. The programme is funded by the Danish and Georgian Governments with a total value of USD 4 million.

Media contacts

• Irina Tsintsadze, AGORA CE, +995 577 285055, kiraidatsintsadze@gmail.com
• Nino Gegeshidze, MRDI, +995 599 184747, n.gegeshidze@mrdi.gov.ge
• Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
• Magda Nowakowska, UNDP, +995 598 822544, magdalena.nowakowska@undp.org