Press Release

Since October 1st 2012 til September 30th 2013 Araza BNGO with the support of the U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Small Grant Program is realizing a project aimed at increasing CSO participation and influence on democratic decision-making processes in order to ensure equitable social and economic development in Armenia.

Project goals and objectives

Strategic Goal:

Increased CSOs involvement and influence in public democratic decision making processes in order to guarantee fair social and economic development in Armenia

Project Goals:

1.      To improve the quality of civil participation in public decision making through strengthening the capacity of CSOs to participate in democratic processes related to the legislative work such as:

a.       Effective participation in public discussions,

b.      Effective work in governmental commissions,

c.       Effective drafting of legislative initiatives

2.      To increase activity of CSOs in public decision making:

a.       CSOs capacity concerning legislative initiatives is increased.

b.      CSOs partnership with related governmental structures is established.

c.       CSOs partnership with National Assembly’s expert groups is established.

d.      CSOs’ active participation in public discussions is provided.

3. To strengthen capacity of CSO representatives to search for public support and to address relevant governmental institutions through proper procedures.

Project Description

The project goals are to be reached through three interventions. The beneficiaries of the interventions are young representatives of 20-30 Armenian advocacy oriented NGOs working in the Social, Economic and Education fields. During these interventions the beneficiaries will learn on the job, and develop the technical capacity to realize above mentioned tasks. Gender balance among beneficiaries will be provided.

Intervention 1: Train analysis of political documents. The intervention is aimed to strengthen capacity of project beneficiaries in analysis of political documents and legal drafting through a special workshop, which will consist of theoretical and practical courses to provide participants with following information and skills.

o              Theoretical aspects of political documents analysis, especially law drafts

§  Background information

§  Documents subject to study and  revision

§  How and where to find data to cross-checking of different facts

o              Practical exercises in analysis of law drafts

§  To work out detailed suggestions for amendments to law drafts according to the NGOs field of interest (Regional Development, Economy, Social, Human Rights, etc.)

§  To work out consensus position papers, which NGOs can present as a group of interested parties.

The workshop is planned for two weeks with 3 sessions per week each for 3 hours duration (altogether 18 hours)

Two Facilitators will be requested from the American University in Armenia (AUA)

Intervention 2: To provide project beneficiaries with opportunity to practice constructive dialog with representatives of governmental structures and National Assembly expert groups, a series of 3 specific round table discussions will be organized. The intervention uses the format of a lessons learned exercise, and gives CSOs an opportunity to review jointly with state representatives recently accomplished legislative reform programs: The issue of discussions will be the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) "National Indicative Program 2007-2010 Impact Assessment in Priority Area 3: Support For Poverty Reduction Efforts”.

Each of discussion will have 2 hours duration. 

1.   Aspects of the ENPI, procedures, information flow, implementation and results achieved in "Harmony between job demand and educational training provided”.  Related reforms and legislative changes which affect population and CSOs (Suggested facilitators form Ministry of Economy of RA, Ministry of Science and Education of RA, Member of related National Assembly’s expert group, EU representative)

2.   Implementation and results achieved in "Regional development and social services”. Reforms and legislative changes in the field of access to quality services (Suggested facilitator form Ministry of Regional Development, Member of related National Assembly’s expert group, EU representative)

3.   Reforms and legislative changes in the field of economic development at local level. (Suggested facilitator from Ministry of Regional Development, Member of related National Assembly’s expert group, EU representative)

Based on results of round table discussions  recommendations of group of related NGOs will be developed by NGO working groups for presentation to interested governmental and parliamentary structures: Possible recommendations will be related to further institutionalizing CSO participation in ENPI procedures, legislative procedures, follow-up measures, suggestions for legislative amendments, or similar

Intervention 3: To present project results to the public, to establish constructive relations with state authorities, to increase the level of trust towards non-profit organizations and to strengthen impact of civil society on public attitudes two Informative Meetings will be organized.

Ø  Informative meeting with members of Government and National Assembly for suggesting and promoting legislative amendments as identified through Intervention 1 and 2

Ø  Press conference: Informing public press agencies about ideas of representatives of Civil Society concerning legislative amendments identified through Intervention 1 and 2.