LOAN-2655 GEO: Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program - Tranche 1

The Government of Georgia has received a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance the 
Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program – Project 1. Part of the loan proceeds will finance the 
City Twinning program and Institutional Strengthening project. 

The Executive Agency for the project is the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF). Coordination 
and approval of Tbilisi City Municipality will be requested for all strategic aspects of the project.  

In Georgia, the development of a sustainable urban transport network is a key component for the 
development of urban areas and to enhance the role of Tbilisi as an important business center in the 
South Caucasus region. Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia with a population of 1.1 million inhabitants. 
Based on local development strategy and existing master plans, the Government has prioritized the 
improvement of transport services in all towns and cities through the country, starting in areas of most 
urgent or strategic needs. The Government has already invested significantly during 2005–2014, and 
further investments are on-going in order to: (i) meet the increasing demand and guarantee good mobility 
conditions for all citizens; (ii) improve inhabitant’s quality of life, protect the environmental 
conditions, and support development of tourism; and (iii) provide world-class infrastructure to allow 
private companies and investors to find a convenient and efficient environment to thrive. 

Development of Tbilisi City urban transport infrastructure and its upgrade to the required international 
standards is one of the main components required for enhancement of the living standards of its 
inhabitants and achievement of competitive advantage in the region.  Due to insufficient traffic 
capacity of its streets, Tbilisi, likewise majority of world capitals cannot provide for unhampered 
traffic flow, which inter alia includes municipal transport. The city landscape on the one hand and 
multitude of vehicles and lack of parking lots (especially in the city center) on the other hand, 
results in the problem of hindered traffic flow and occurrence of traffic jams. 
  
Sustainable development of the city is unfeasible without creation of the efficient transport 
infrastructure and introduction of advanced technologies for transport system management.  Lately, quite 
a lot has been achieved in terms of arrangement and improvements to the transportation sector.  New 
roads, overpasses, tunnels have been built, a multimodal transport model and webpage have been 
developed, bus routes have been set, a center for traffic regulation and management has been 
established, real time passenger information system and integrated ticket lines system in Tbilisi has 
been established, pedestrian areas in Tbilisi have been developed.

In spite of above-mentioned measures, there are still a number of pending problems in the urban 
transport field, solving of which is a joint task of Tbilisi City Hall and City Assembly /”Sakrebulo”. 
Given these current trends, on car ownership, road congestion and safety, climate change, road safety, 
performance and attractiveness of public transport systems, the government of Georgia and Tbilisi City 
Hall and Sakrebulo decided to accelerate the shift to sustainable urban transport by exploring new 
initiatives and learning from peers. The intention is to review and learn from recent international best 
practices, innovations and standards which demonstrated significant impact in terms of improvement of 
mobility conditions, quality of life and economic growth. The range of  possible measures (not limited 
to)  are anticipated to possibly relate to governance and institutional reforms, bus structuring, rapid 
transit system (bus rapid transit, tramway, cable car...), non motorized transport (pedestrian, bicycle, 
...), integrated urban and transport planning, transit oriented development, and land value capture, 
private section participation, traffic management, parking strategy, as appropriated and tailored  to 
Tbilisi context. There are certain challenges that call for prompt response actions. Taking measures for 
improvement of the Tbilisi City transport system aiming of improving quality of life and competitiveness 
of the city.

The purpose of the project is to share experience and knowledge from recent best practice and 
demonstration projects and to receive recommendations on sustainable urban transport development based 
on best international practice.

Project will cover following 4 phases: 

During Phase 1: The Consultant  will be tasked to in consultation with city authorities to: i) identify 
the key challenges (city municipality transport priorities); ii) select the  cities having overcome 
successfully the similar type of issues in the past  and establish contacts with governments of the 
cities; iii) plan the study tour. The consultant will take part in the study assist members of 
delegation in preparation of presentation materials for the visits.  

Phase 2: The Consultant will summarize the findings of study tour and organize a 2 days round table 
workshop in Tbilisi. City representatives as well as international experts will be invited to take part 
in the event. A Tbilisi city tour will be also organized for the guests. Elaborate  an advisable 
proposal for the event. 

Phase 3: Based on the study tour and the workshop findings, the Consultant to provide recommendations 
and elaborate strategic paper how to overcome the challenges, etc.  and prepare the list of seminars and 
trainings for city hall and city assembly staff which would help to improve their capacity.

Phase 4: Define methodology and conduct opinion survey - among Tbilisi inhabitants. in consultation with 
city authorities. 

After the conclusion on all phases including survey component, recommend and discuss with city 
authorities to come up with action plan and timeline for its implementation.  

The Consultant will assist MDF, Tbilisi city authorities (Tbilisi City Hall and City Assembly /”
Sakrebulo”/) to expand the capacity and improvement of the Tbilisi City transport system operation. The 
consultants’ tasks include but are not limited to: 

During Phase 1, the Consultant will be tasked to perform the following tasks in consultation with city 
authorities to:
Task 1: Identify the key urban transport challenges with focus on public transport (based on existing 
studies, consultations with main stakeholders and key players involved in the sector, site visits and 
collection of available data) and in synchron with ADB’s sustainable transport initiative key principles;
Task 2: Select the respective cities (international) having overcome successfully the similar type of 
issues in the past  and establish contacts with governments (and/or private companies) of the cities; 
Task 3: Plan and organize the study tour  (including detailed program, budget and monitoring of  
logistics/organizational arrangements: list of delegates, visa requirements, booking air/other tickets, 
hotels, meetings, translator, internal transportations, etc.); 
Task 4: The Consultant will take part in the study as a member of the delegation and act as facilitator;
Task 5: Assist members of delegation in preparation of presentation materials for the visits;
Task 6: Prepare a detailed report on findings from the study tour (technical aspects, modes, 
institutional arrangements, planning, contracting, lessons learned, etc.);
Task 7: Formalize a form of cooperation (MoU - Memorandum of Understanding) with one or 2 selected 
cities, beyond/after the study tour itself and refinement of the strategy. 

Phase 2: The Consultant will summarize the findings of study tour and:
Task 1: Organize and facilitate a 2 days round table workshop in Tbilisi (including the detailed 
program, budget and monitoring of  the logistics/organizational arrangements: list of delegates, visa, 
booking air/other tickets, hotels, meetings, translator, internal transportations, etc.) . The different 
city representatives as well as international experts will be invited to take part in the event. A 
Tbilisi city tour will be also organized for the guests. Prepare an advisable proposal for the event; 
Task 2: As for the Public consultations - awareness campaign Consultant should implement  one or 2 
rounds of public consultation, to receive feedback on the action plan and strategy once defined after 
the decision maker workshop. This would be a venue to raise awareness and receive suggestions, based on 
concrete proposals; 
Task 3: Consultant should prepare Leaflet on Urban Transport issues and proposed initiatives to be 
disseminated;
Task 4: Prepare a detailed  report on findings from the workshop,  and summary of findings, 
recommendations and conclusions. 

Phase 3: Based on the study tour and the workshop findings, the Consultant to provide recommendations on:
Task 1:  Action plan and strategic paper duly documented and tailored to Tbilisi context;
Task 2: Prepare a list of knowledge development seminars and trainings for city hall and city assembly 
staff  pertaining to the key areas of the actions plan and strategic paper.

Phase 4: Consultant will:
Task 1: Prepare methodology, and questionnaires of opinion survey covering key questions relevant to the 
urban transport sector (willingness to pay for good quality service, main issues, time spent in 
transport, etc.) survey among Tbilisi inhabitants and submit to MDF and City for validation. Data should 
be gender disaggregated;
Task 2: Prepare ToR and budget for an update of the household survey  in consultation with city 
authorities; 
Task 3: Recruit surveyors and implement the survey; 
Task 4: Prepare the survey report including result analysis and recommendations (survey results need to 
be gender segregated); 
Task 5: Prepare the final summary report of all activities as per the existing TOR. 

(i) The Consultant shall have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, and have 
experience in Western and Eastern Europe. Experience in Caucasus and Central Asian countries would be an 
asset. The Consultant should have as Team Leader planned and designed at least one rapid transit project 
(bus rapid transit, light rail transport, or mass rapid transit) which has been implemented and 
successfully commissioned. The Consultant should have minimum of 15 year of relevant experience and 
expertise in Urban Transport planning, innovative transport systems (worldwide);
 (ii) Experience of working with ADB or other International Financial Institutions supported projects is 
desired; 
(iii) Knowledge of the Georgian legal framework will be an advantage; 
(iv) Strong communication skills, as well as proficiency in oral and written English language are 
desired (knowledge of Georgian or Russian language would be an asset).
 (v) The curriculum vitae of the specialist should contain information of the assignments they have 
successfully completed in the last 5 years, with complete names and addresses of the clients and the 
name and contact information of the immediate supervisors