Allocating resources for the implementation of the roadmap

Committing to the implementation of the Roadmap for Reform is one thing and effectively implementing it is another, and the difference between the two is usually a matter of resources – human, economic, political, etc. Indeed, one of the weakest points of donor- sponsored policy dialogue is that government representatives may be inclined to assume that the resulting implementation measures will be covered by donor funding, a support that doesn’t need to be fully discarded (actually that’s the purpose of the donor alignment component in the third phase of the operating model) but cannot be taken for granted. For the sake of both ownership and sustainability, partner governments need to walk the talk and mobilise their own resources to show their commitment to reform and take the leading role in the eyes of their partners.

In Georgia, the shortage of trained and approved mediators (11) was raised during the dialogue as one of the most pressing issues for the proper implementation of a Labour Mediation mechanism, as the appointment of mediators was frequently delayed, undermining the possibility of effective conclusion of the mediation process in a reasonable time frame. After the INSPIRED Roadmap for Reform was approved, the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs committed to increasing the number of mediators from 11 to 18 (and ultimately increased the number to 17).