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The Bank's first Learning and Innovation Loan for a cultural heritage project
has just been approved for Georgia, a small country in the former Soviet Union.
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View of Signaghi town, Caucasus mountains. Site of Cultural Heritage
project.
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The new cultural heritage project, backed by a $4.49 million credit from the
International Development Association (IDA) approved on February 18, will finance
a range of activities aimed at improving management and promotion of Georgia's
cultural legacy.
A restored historic museum to display paintings by the famous Georgian painter
Pirosmani; a small folk hotel to support eco-tourism in the remote alpine village
of Shatili in the Caucasus mountains; a modern interpretation center, walking
itinerary, and trained local guides for visitors to the ancient rock cave city
of Uplistsikhe; and a landscaped park next to two historic churches in the old
city of Tbilisi are just some of the attractions that the new lending project
will support.
In an effort to help draw society together during a difficult period of transition,
and to reaffirm the historical and economic value of its rich cultural heritage,
the Georgian government has embarked on a pilot program to restore a sense of
what it means to be Georgian.
"This project responds to the best impulses in the mission of the World Bank,"
says Betsy McGean, project team member. "Development at this point in history
has to mean much more than how the Bank has traditionally defined it. It must
encompass the essence of people's history, pride, and cohesion in community."
The Georgia project will support investments in historic and tourism infrastructure,
landscapes, and programs at four selected priority sites: the Old Town of Tbilisi;
the historic town of Signaghi, in the eastern wine-growing region of Georgia;
the ancient Shatili village in the northern Caucasus mountains; and the rock
cave city of Uplistsikhe in the central Gori region. Local communities—many
of whom are poor—will not only benefit from employment opportunities,
but through locally organized cultural heritage committees, will play an important
role as participants in the planning, implementation and supervision of the
various site investments.
Through a competitive Fund for Emergency Rehabilitation, the project will also
invest in urgent repairs of cultural sites and artifacts at serious risk of
deterioration. Due to the piloting nature of the LIL, the project will develop
a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation program to track lessons learned and
to feed timely information to communities and project staff to improve management
and periodically adapt the project. Technical assistance support will help build
local, regional and national capacity through training and study tours, a public
information program, a management information system, and the development of
an integrated conservation Master Plan for the Old Town of Tbilisi.
The cultural heritage project is part of a much broader cooperative effort
between the Georgian government, the World Bank, and other international organizations
and governments helping to support and re-build Georgia during its challenging
economic transition. For more information, call Marjorie Robertson,
1-202-458-8408, fax 52 |
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