Strong local and institutional engagement for the Oni Spatial and Urban Development Plans
Last week was an intense and very rewarding one in Georgia.
Two research workshops — held in Oni and Tbilisi — successfully concluded the Research phase of the Oni Spatial and Urban Development Plans, prepared for SUDA with funding from the Asian Development Bank.
The workshop in Oni, set against a snowy mountain landscape, showed an exceptionally high level of engagement from the local community. Despite very difficult road conditions, participants from Ghebi were able to join the discussions, albeit with some delay — a strong signal of commitment and interest. The workshop opened with remarks by David Lobzhanidze, Mayor of Oni Municipality, and Kakhaber Niauri, Head of Spatial and Urban Development and International Programs at SUDA.
Our team — led by Raffaele Gorjux, with Irakli Murghulia (Deputy Team Leader), Simon Woodward (Local Economic Development), and Kakha Bakhtadze (Environment) — then presented the main findings of the research reports. After the coffee break, participants worked in four thematic groups to discuss the SWOT analysis. Each group appointed a rapporteur, and the workshop concluded with the presentation of consolidated conclusions.
The Tbilisi workshop followed a more formal format, with strong participation from central-level stakeholders. The Mayor of Oni also attended this session. The same structure was applied, with the second part dedicated to questions, comments, and discussion, allowing for valuable institutional feedback.
Overall, the outcome is very positive: the research findings and conclusions have been fully confirmed and further enriched by additional information and perspectives shared during the workshops. A big thank you to Nani Macharashvili for her excellent organisation and facilitation of both events.
We now look ahead to the Visioning and Strategy phase, building on a solid and widely shared analytical foundation.
To find out more about the project, visit www.keios.it
