Participatory Planning Improves Community Quality of Life
For the first time in 15 years, the citizens of Poti, the third largest city in Georgia, can look forward to having a reliable supply of water—the end result of a participatory planning process that began five years ago.
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Poti’s mission developed by the city’s community-based advisory group is to “provide sea/land and tourism services for the world.”
Photo Credit: Tea Shonia, Urban Institute |
In 2003, the citizens of Poti responded eagerly to the local government’s call for participation in preparing the city’s economic development plan with guidance from the Urban Institute as part of a USAID-funded local governance project. Sixty people volunteered to identify community priorities, collect and analyze data, and develop a detailed action plan and budget for developing Poti’s economy. This group included representatives of businesses, NGOs, local government, the local youth group, and other citizens. Over 2,500 people responded to a survey asking for opinions on local development needs.
Two years after official approval of the plan by the city government, the Millennium Challenge Fund–Georgia (MCG) announced a competition for water infrastructure development. Poti was awarded a grant because the community had identified water as a priority in its improvement plan. Thanks to citizens’ active engagement, the 27 million GEL (more than $16 million) project to repair the Poti water system will be completed in 2008.
Poti was the first city in Georgia to prepare a plan with the direct community participation. Other cities are now following Poti’s example and involving their communities to develop a common vision of economic development.
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