Georgia : Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development

Sovereign Project | 49367-001

The TA will provide assistance to Georgia to mainstream an integrated urban planning and development process through a participatory manner to masterplan and prioritize urban investments that promote the development of inclusive, environmentally responsible, and economically competitive urban centers and economic corridors, aligned with ADB's Urban Operational Plan 2012-2020. The TA will build on concepts and findings from previous and ongoing ADB loan and TA projects including contextualized application of existing models of city development plans. The TA is targeted towards integrated urban development and policy formulation, including preparation of integrated urban plans, institutional capacity assessments, financial sustainability assessments, and link to follow-on multisector investments.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Naik Singru, Ramola
    Central and West Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Georgia
  • Sector
    • Water and other urban infrastructure and services
Project Name Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development
Project Number 49367-001
Country / Economy Georgia
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9220-GEO: Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 1.00 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Transport / Urban public transport

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Other urban services - Urban flood protection - Urban policy, institutional and capacity development - Urban sanitation - Urban sewerage - Urban solid waste management - Urban water supply
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The TA will provide assistance to Georgia to mainstream an integrated urban planning and development process through a participatory manner to masterplan and prioritize urban investments that promote the development of inclusive, environmentally responsible, and economically competitive urban centers and economic corridors, aligned with ADB's Urban Operational Plan 2012-2020. The TA will build on concepts and findings from previous and ongoing ADB loan and TA projects including contextualized application of existing models of city development plans. The TA is targeted towards integrated urban development and policy formulation, including preparation of integrated urban plans, institutional capacity assessments, financial sustainability assessments, and link to follow-on multisector investments. The TA will finance the development and/or updating of integrated urban plans in selected cities, a cluster of towns, or an economic corridor in a region for thematic priorities such as tourism development, agribusiness and local economic development, as the basis for identifying short term wins and long term sustainable outcomes through priority urban sector investment plans that will lead into the proposed SCDIP and other standalone investment loans as maybe identified in the Country Operations Business Plan.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy ADB Georgia National Urban Assessment 2016 identified the key challenges and opportunities for realizing the urban potential in Georgia. These were identified through stakeholder consultations, visioning and SWOT analysis. The key challenges include: (i) Unplanned Urbanization, (ii) Urban infrastructure and Services, and (iii) Urban Governance and Financial Sustainability. Developing livable cities with improved quality of life will realize the urban potential for sustainable development in Georgia to develop economically competitive, inclusive and resilient urban clusters as identified in the ADB Georgia National Urban Assessment 2016. This requires integrated urban planning and policy formulation support to the Government to prepare development plans, policy recommendations and a 10-15 year investment program to address sector issues such as sustainability of urban projects including institutional, operations and maintenance and financial, to implement long-term sustainable development goals for the urban areas. ADB will build on existing multitranche financing facility (MFF) operations in urban transport and water supply and sanitation to promote livable cities that are competitive, socially inclusive, and environmentally sound. ADB will foster inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability by helping to improve internal and regional market connectivity and develop sustainable municipal plans to make essential drinking water, sewerage and sanitation services more accessible, reliable and energy-efficient, and will encourage sustainable urban transport including low-carbon mobility and mass transport systems, particularly in cities, secondary towns, and urban clusters, which are the potential hubs for agribusiness and tourism.
Impact

Inclusive economic growth and improved livability in the selected urban areas in Georgia

Cities and human settlements made inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome Enhanced capacity for integrated urban planning and management for livable urban areas in Georgia
Progress Toward Outcome Capacity needs assessment undertaken and plan under preparation. Workshops held to enhance understanding of integrated urban planning and management for livable urban areas
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Integrated Urban Plans (IUPs) for selected cities, secondary towns, or urban areas prepared

Urban management partnerships to improve core planning and management competency identified

Institutional and financial sustainability mechanisms for the sustained provision of urban infrastructure improved
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Draft IUPs under preparation.

Urban Management Partnerships are being identified.

Institutional and financial sustainability mechanisms are under review.
Geographical Location Nation-wide, Georgia
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design Consultations were held during missions for ongoing projects between December 2015 and March 2016 in coordination with Georgia Resident Mission, MRDI, MDF, and UWSCG to discuss programming and pipeline (urban services, including urban transport) with initial discussions for the PATA for Livable Cities (previously Preparing City/Regional Development Plans for Selected Cities in Georgia) in the COBP. The TA has been discussed and agreed upon with the government. Stakeholder consultations, visioning and SWOT analysis were conducted as part of the ADB Georgia National Urban Assessment 2016 leading to the design of this TA. The consultations included government officials and agencies, nongovernment organizations, civil society organizations, and donor partners.
During Project Implementation The main focus of consultations was for stakeholder assimilation to the process, SWOT, and visioning; however, as the consultations progressed, more of a focus on future needs was introduced, including preliminary project identification by stakeholders. Workshops and Focus Group discussions were held with 172 stakeholders in the 3 identified clusters - i) Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti region with Zugdidi as focus, ii) Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti region with Latali Mestia Ushguli area, iii) Tbilisi and Kakheti region, with Telavi as cluster center, to identify issues and opportunities for further investigation as part of a rapid urban needs assessment. The consultation also included visioning exercises and early identification of potential projects, initiatives and opportunities for development in the next phase. The majority of the Phase 2 consulting resources (time) was focused on this stakeholder consultation and needs assessment, including development of a stakeholder engagement strategy. The team also initiated data collection to allow further downstream analysis as well as urban/cluster profiling and baselining. Phase 3 included consultations with Tbilisi city hall on selection of area for integrated urban action plan. The proposed Stakeholder Communication Strategy (SCS) was prepared on the basis of SWOT/Visioning analysis workshops and a series of stakeholder/focus group meetings carried out by the Consultant team in October-November 2017 during Phase 2 of the present assignment, i.e. at the early stage of identification of areas for investments. The SCS should be seen in the context of the overall project objective which is to develop and implement an appropriate strategic urban development plan with associated short term investment projects for development of livable urban areas in specific clusters. The related communications objective is to create an informed and supportive stakeholder community for this planning model in Georgia. Further consultations conducted during workshops in May-June 2018. Project prioritisation ongoing in September-October 2018.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The firm's consulting inputs include international (25 person-months) and national specialists (40 person-months) to carry out the TA activities. As this is a performance TOR, the proposing entities determined the number and nature of the experts including total person-months that they require to achieve the contract objectives in accordance with their proposed approach and methodology. ADB needs at least four key international experts, one of whom will act as team leader; these include (i) an urban and regional planner, (ii) an urban economist, (iii) an environmental engineer and climate change specialist, and (iv) a social development and gender specialist. Additionally, a senior urban policy specialist (international independent, 5 person-months) on urban finance and governance will recommend infrastructure financing mechanisms. An urban development researcher (international independent, 8 person-months) was recruited to coordinate the TA outputs and coordinate with key divisions within ADB and other agencies to achieve cross-sector synergies. International experts (5 person-months) will be engaged through the Centers of Excellence to conduct activities for peer-to-peer learning under the UMP. These individual consultants will be recruited using individual consultants selection. A suitable nongovernment organization, noncommercial entity, or consulting firm will be engaged using consultants' qualifications selection, based on highly specialized expertise and previous project experience, to develop the inclusive urban area guidelines in collaboration with the consulting team. The CSRN for the consulting firm assignment was published on 15 March 2017 and closed on 3 April 2017. The consultants were mobilized on 21 August 2017.
Procurement ADB engaged an international consulting firm using performance-based, quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS), with 90:10 weightage for technical and financial expertise. The performance-based terms of reference and quality- and cost-based selection method were appropriate for this complex and highly specialized assignment, as this enables consultants to submit innovative proposals for preparing the IUPs considering the latest tools and methodologies. This selection method was proposed due to the importance of specific technical skills required to deliver the task, including the complex integration of urban planning, environmental management, climate resilience, financial sustainability, and institutional capacity development. A suitable nongovernment organization, non-commercial entity or consulting firm will be engaged to develop the Inclusive Cities Guidelines in collaboration with the consulting team. The procurement for this task based on highly specialized expertise and previous experience in undertaking universal design and inclusive city projects is ongoing. Consultants will be selected in accordance with ADB s Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). Proceeds of the TA will be disbursed in accordance with the Technical Assistance Disbursement Handbook (2010, as amended from time to time).
Responsible ADB Officer Naik Singru, Ramola
Responsible ADB Department Central and West Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Urban Development and Water Division, CWRD
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia
12 Khazbegi Str. 0160 Tbilisi
Georgia
Timetable
Concept Clearance 12 Sep 2016
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 04 Nov 2016
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 27 Sep 2018

TA 9220-GEO

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
04 Nov 2016 08 Dec 2016 08 Dec 2016 31 Dec 2018 30 Jun 2020 24 Aug 2020
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
1,000,000.00 0.00 10,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,010,000.00 17 Jun 2022 955,425.92

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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.

Related Publications

Title Document Type Document Date
Inclusive Cities—Urban Area Guidelines Guides Mar 2022

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

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Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development (Twinning Expert) Individual - Consulting Closed
Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development - Senior Institutional and Finance Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Livable Urban Areas: Integrated Urban Plans for Balanced Regional Development - Inclusive Urban Area Guidelines Firm - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Policy and Advisory Technical Assistance 9220 14 Aug 2017 Otak, Inc.(UNITED STATES) in association with COWI A/S() | 808 SW Third Avenue, Suite 300 Portland, Oregon (OR) 97204 United States Min. of Regional Dev't.& Infrastructure of Georgia 649,966.00 —

Procurement Plan

None currently available.