Georgia’s e-governance achievements were in the focus of the Expert Meeting on Georgia’s Government Digital Transformation Process in the e-Governance Unit of the United Nations University (UNU-EGOV) on October 8-10, in the Portuguese city of Guimarães.

Representatives of the Data Exchange Agency (DEA) of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and UNU-EGOV Unit met to discuss the Georgian e-Governance reforms and to develop the strategies for further achievements in the field.

During the visit, the Georgian delegation presented the e-Governance development in the country, among them, e-government frameworks, open data and open government, e-Participation and public service delivery. The parties brainstormed how Georgia can better advertise its achievements globally, possible target markets for export of Georgian reforms, and interested counties.

According to Nikoloz Gagnidze, Chair of the Data Exchange Agency (DEA), the working visit gave the agency an opportunity to provide comprehensive information to the UNU-EGOV researchers about the country's achievements and reforms and learn the best UNU-EGOV practices in e-Governance.

"Our agency is creating the e-Governance and Cyber Security Competence Center, which will bring together the achievements of the country and knowledge on Georgia’s reforms. We are developing a platform to share our experience with interested countries and help them implement reforms that have already proved successful in Georgia.’ – said Nikoloz Gagnidze.

The UNU-EGOV researchers delivered a training developed for the DEA representatives and focused on smart initiatives, the conceptualisation and challenges of open government and open data, local government and e-service delivery.

The working visit was part of the framework collaboration between DEA and UNU-EGOV, which was formalised by signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties. The Memorandum sets the areas of common interest in the field of e-Governance and digital economy.

In the past year work has been carried out to understand how Georgia could still improve its e-Government (EGOV) strategies, as part of UNU-EGOV’s research and Government Fellowship Programme.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UK aid of the UK Government support the Government of Georgia in enhancing the quality of the public services with greater accountability and responsiveness to citizens’ needs under their wider initiative to the ongoing Public Administration Reform in Georgia.

Additional information:

UNU-EGOV, part of the United Nations University (UNU) and based in the city of Guimarães, Portugal, is a think tank dedicated to Electronic Governance; a core centre of research, advisory services and training; a bridge between research and public policies; an innovation enhancer; a solid partner within the UN system and its Member States with a particular focus on sustainable development, social inclusion and active citizenship. UNU-EGOV strives to cement its role as an international reference of excellence in this area, bringing together multidisciplinary and multicultural teams around complex problems and emerging challenges.

It was established in 1972 by decision of the UN General Assembly to contribute, through collaborative research and education, dissemination, and advisory services, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.