Community Centres Georgia

Community Centre
საზოგადოებრივი ცენტრი
	Public Service Development Agency Logo
Agency overview
Formed	2012; 12 years ago
Website	centre.gov.ge

Community Centres Georgia (Georgian: 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.

Branches

Operating Centres

Shashiani - Gurjaani Municipality
Sartichala - Gardabani Municipality
Gomi - Khashuri Municipality
Ruisi - Kareli Municipality
Chaladidi - Khobi Municipality
Khevi - Kharagauli Municipality
Manglisi - Tetritskaro Municipality
Koda - Tetritskaro Municipality
Poka - Ninotsminda Municipality
Nigoiti - Lanchkhuti Municipality
Jvari - Tsalenjikha Municipality
Shorapani - Zestaponi Municipality
Kvareltskali - Akhmeta Municipality
Mukhaestate - Kobuleti Municipality
Geguti - Tskaltubo Municipality
Mejvriskhevi - Gori Municipality
Kachreti - Gurjaani Municipality
Khidistavi - Chokhatauri Municipality
Nukriani - Sighnaghi Municipality
Korbouli - Sachkhere Municipality
Ghoresha - Kharagauli Municipality
Kazreti - Bolnisi Municipality
Shilda - Kvareli Municipality
Orsantia - Zugdidi Municipality
Kvemo Natanebi - Ozurgeti Municipality
Kabali - Lagodekhi Municipality
Lentekhi - Lentekhi Municipality
Chakvi - Kobuleti Municipality
Khreiti - Chiatura Municipality
Sadakhlo - Marneuli Municipality
Rukhi - Zugdidi Municipality
Didi Jikhaishi - Samtredia Municipality
Martkopi - Gardabani Municipality
Iormughanlo - Sagarejo Municipality

Centres Under Construction

Arkhiloskalo - Dedoplistskaro Municipality
Tkviavi - Gori Municipality
Berdzenauli - Kareli Municipality
Kumurdo - Akhalkalaki Municipality
Baraleti - Akhalkalaki Municipality
Kitskhi - Kharagauli Municipality
Tsalka - Tsalka Municipality
Lajana - Tsageri Municipality
Zeda Usakhelo - Chiatura Municipality
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

Sources

Official Website