III. SOCIETAL REFORMS AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
VVA major undercurrent in a number of interviews27 was that the move towards e-Government and revitalized public sector management has been one of the most significant successes of providing Georgian citizens with more agency and ability to educate themselves on their rights. Rostiashvili contends that “strengthening civil society is identified with ensuring fair and robust political competition, decentralization, transparency, and accountability, as well as freedom of information and the wide use of information and communication technologies”28. The Georgian government joined the Open Government Partnership in April 201229, access-to-information laws have improved drastically, and public administration is revitalizing30,31.
VVThe Saakashvili government mandated public officials to undergo serious testing – those who failed the test, were fired. In addition, the salaries of those who passed the test (and retained their jobs) were increased, in order to offset the attraction of bribery32.
VVThe Public Service Halls initiative is one of these projects undertaken by the Georgian government to ease the access of public services for its citizens. It is one of five institutions created by the Ministry of Justice in 201133. According to the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, it removes bureaucratic obstacles: it follows an “everything in one space” model, whereby all civic documents can be requested and processed during the individual’s visit. In fact, it goes further to provide these documents in a ‘drive-thru’ format reminiscent of American fast-food restaurants (JustDrive), or in a café format in the main reception area (JustCafé). The patent for this initiative has reportedly been pursued by the Ukrainian[2] and Turkish[3] governments.
88827. In particular, those with the Public Service Hall, with the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, Transparency International, and the Open Society Georgia Foundation
88828. Rostiashvili 2011, p.28
88829. http://www.opengovpartnership.org/countries
88830. Rostiashvili 2011
88831. Interview with the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum; Tbilisi, February 2014
88832. Interview with Public Service Hall; Tbilisi, February 2014
88833. The five institutions are the notary bureau, the civil registry, the public registry, the archives, and the enforcement services
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