USAID/Georgia Human and Institutional Capacity Development 2020 Activity Quarterly Report #12

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Georgian institutions to improve their performance and become more effective in delivering public services. During the third quarter of the fourth year of implementation, HICD 2020 successfully implemented technical activities in all four project components. The project continued to implement Performance Solutions Packages (PSP) for the State Fund for Protection and Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking (ATIPfund) and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA). Through these PSP activities, HICD 2020 aims to strengthen ATIPfund's capacities to expand its short-term and long-term services to human trafficking victims, children, and the elderly, as well as improve GYLA's organizational performance in working with its over 800 members across Georgia. The project also conducted a performance assessment of the Georgian Gas Transportation Company (GGTC), which is preparing to assume new functions and responsibilities under the new Natural Gas Transmission Grid Code. Following USAID's concurrence, HICD 2020 will address some of GGTC's institutional constraints through recommendations under the PSP. Additionally, the project continued the performance assessment of a new HICD partner, Enterprise Georgia (EG), which helps small and medium enterprises expand and enhance operations and become more competitive in Georgia's markets. In addition to the HICD initiatives, the project completed a Targets of Opportunity (TO) program with the State Procurement Agency (SPA). Under this TO activity, HICD 2020 developed an examination system, including tests and cases for the certification of public procurement officers. The certification will become mandatory for all procurement officers after the adoption of a new Public Procurement Law. During the reporting period, the project also continued TO programs with the following six HICD partner institutions to improve their operational capabilities: the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC); the Levan Mikeladze Diplomatic Training and Research Institute (DTRI); Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC); Article 42 of the Constitution; the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC); and the Service Agency (SA) of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. As of this quarter, the project met or exceeded 80% of the indicators in the HICD 2020 performance-monitoring plan. For example, the project assisted 45 organizations against the fourth-year target of 30 for the number of recipient institutions receiving performance improvement assistance. The project also trained 324 individuals against a fourth-year target of 90 for the number of persons trained under the Contract. The project's main accomplishments for this quarter include continued implementation of the HICD program with ATIPfund, GGTC, EG, and GYLA; completion of the TO intervention with SPA; continued assistance to the following institutions: DTRI, GNERC, GNCC, Article 42 of the Constitution, EMC, and SA; processing of 15 exchange visitors with a 100% satisfaction rate; and meeting or exceeding most of the indicators in the HICD 2020 performance-monitoring plan. The project's performance assessment of GGTC revealed institutional constraints that will be addressed through recommendations under the PSP. The assessment of EG aimed to identify areas of improvement for the organization to optimize its performance, streamline its operations, and create institutional heritage. The project's TO programs with SPA and other institutions aimed to improve their operational capabilities and enhance their performance. The project's results report table (Annex A) indicates that the project met or exceeded 80% of the indicators in the HICD 2020 performance-monitoring plan. The project assisted 45 organizations, trained 324 individuals, and processed 15 exchange visitors with a 100% satisfaction rate. The project also met or exceeded most of the indicators in the HICD 2020 performance-monitoring plan, including the percentage of local service providers completing the HICD capacity building program, which was 75% against a life-of-project target of 60%.