End of Commitment Report – Mainstreaming the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in urban development policies and projects
Overview
Name of Evaluator
Nodar Kherkheulidze
Member
Khoni, Georgia
Action planAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen...
Action plan – Khoni, Georgia, 2021 – 2021
CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...
To ensure mainstreaming the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in urban development policies/projects/decisions through the institutionalized practice of engagement of the Municipal Council on Persons with Disabilities.
Action
The commitment is twofold: Firstly, it envisages institutionalization of the practice for engagement of Persons with Disabilities through strengthening the role of the Municipal Council on PwDs to ensure mainstreaming the needs of PWDs in major urban development policies/projects/decisions and adaptation of major future infrastructural works to the PWDs needs. To do this, Municipality will prepare and adopt a legislative act mandating the engagement of the Municipal Council on PWDs in all future urban space development projects and related infrastructural works that are adapted to the PWDs’ needs. Along with the aforementioned, in support of the long-term goals of this initiative, Khoni will kick-start the urban space adaptation process by analyzing infrastructural needs for Khoni Central Park and developing ToR for its infrastructure rehabilitation. In the short run, the commitment will result in improved accessibility to the administrative center, while in the long run, this will greatly contribute to creating opportunities for PWDs’ inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More in the social, economic, and political life locally.
Problem
In Khoni Municipality, the engagement of marginalized populations in the policy planning and implementation process is very limited, especially for people with disabilitiesA government is not open unless it is accessible to all, and governments are working to ensure people with disabilities are afforded equitable services and opportunities to participate. Technical spec... (PWDs). Although Municipality has taken particular steps towards increasing the participation and engagement of PWDs, such as establishing a Municipal Council on PWDs in 2020, the Council’s role in urban development initiatives still needs to be strengthened and institutionalized. The Council’s involvement in local urban planning is especially important considering the fact that urban infrastructure in Khoni municipality is not adapted to the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This means that public spaces and services are not inclusive and accessible for PWDs. This drastically limits opportunities for PWDs to take even a simple commute when external help is available, however, the issue becomes more acute, when it comes to independently commuting, receiving municipal services, getting engaged in local affairs, or just being a part of ongoing social, economic, and political life locally.
Section 1.
Commitment completion
1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?
Complete
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
Khoni municipality implemented the commitment with the support of the development partner – UNDP DGG, that, in collaboration with the City Hall and field experts conducted infrastructural needs analysis for Khoni Central Park rehabilitation project and developed a relevant report with specific recommendations to meet the standards of adaptation for PWDs needs. Based on the analysis report, the ToR for infrastructural rehabilitation was developed within the reporting period and eventually resulted in the start of infrastructural works, that are ongoing currently.
As a next step, Khoni Mayor issued a decree that mandates respective City departments to engage and consult the Municipal Council on PWDs as well as the Council of GenderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... More in the process of decision-making while planning on major urban development projects. According to the decree, this would contribute to an inclusive environment and adaptation and access to public spaces, transportation, and public services.
Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:
1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).
Even though the Khoni action plan implementation phase coincided with the local self-governance electionsImproving transparency in elections and maintaining the independence of electoral commissions is vital for promoting trust in the electoral system, preventing electoral fraud, and upholding the democr... More of 2021 throughout Georgia (OCT 2, 2021), this did not interact or hinder the implementation process according to the interviewed stakeholders.
1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?
All of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned.
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
All three milestones of the commitment were implemented as intended originally and described in the commitment text. In case of the Milestone 3, a minor addition was made to also include the Municipal Council on Gender Equality Council along with the Municipal Council of PWDs as planned originally, in the process of infrastructural project planning and decision-making process.
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 2.
Did it open government?
2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?
Not Applicable
Degree of result:
– Select –
2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?
Yes
Degree of result:
Marginal
Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.
The commitment supported the inclusion process by creating room for the participation of the Municipal Council on Persons with Disabilities and Gender Equality Council to consult during the design of Major infrastructure projects in the municipality. However, the Mayor’s Decree does not specify the type or procedures of involvement for either of the councils, this leaves their roles in the decision-making process unclear.
Provide evidence for your answer:
2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?
Not Applicable
Degree of result:
– Select –
2.1.4 Other Results
Not Applicable
Degree of result:
– Select –
2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?
Yes
Provide a brief explanation of your answer:
According to the Action Plan, the commitment sought to strengthen the engagement of the marginalized population in the policy planning and implementation process, which has overall been assessed as very limited. Thus, the commitment was aimed at institutionalizing the engagement mechanisms, and although the Mayor’s Decree may trigger or greatly contribute to the process, it is not clear how the process will be institutionalized, as no particular participation mechanisms, rules of procedures, or tools are presented.
Provide evidence for your answer:
Section 3.
Lessons from
implementation
3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.
While the commitment addresses the important aspect of civil participation, it is recommended to take further steps and design specific actions that would improve the engagement process in real-world praxis, avoiding sole dependence on the decree that does not lay out any procedural norms or mechanisms for engagement in local decision-making.
Thus, if taken forward, it is recommended to extend the scope of the commitment to other marginalized groups such as youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More, ethnic minorities, displaced persons, etc. to ensure all-inclusive participation, and/or introduce specific actions, mechanisms, or tools for institutionalizing the participation process. This may include the development of guiding principles, steps, and procedures for engagement.
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