On May 31, the Agreement Signing Ceremony for grants provided to the Coalitions of Civil Society Organisations (CSO Coalitions) was held within the framework of the EU funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project. Further the grant projects were presented.

CSO coalitions, which have been awarded up to 25 million AMD grants, will implement projects in the following targeted areas of the project:  justice; human rights; public finance management; education; social sphere: social inclusion of children with disabilities; agriculture; economy; and energy.

Mr. Gregory Tsouris, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section, European Union Delegation to the Republic of Armenia in his welcoming speech noted that the EU has been supporting CSO programs in Armenia in various ways since 2012, and the perception of their role has changed over these years.

“Initially, or in the past, civil society was mostly seen as a service provider, a social service or public service provider. Now, this initial idea has shifted towards seeing civil society as creator of links between citizens and the government. And this program focuses on these issues,” Gregory Tsouris said and added that expectations from the implementation of grant programs are rather high.

“Armenia has a new government with positive and ambitious plans, and CSOs are obliged to have a strong impact through participation in public policies: initiate dialogue with the government, conduct monitoring, prompting the existing problems and conveying signals from the public,” Mr. Karen Zadoyan, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Manager, President of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO said.

Below the CSO Coalitions that have been awarded the sub-grants are presented:

•  Justice

“Step towards Just Armenia” Project, “Support for Probation” National Network

(“Civil Society Institute” NGO, “Astghatsolk” Non-Governmental Organisation, “Against the Violation of Law” NGO, “Family and Community” NGO).

•  Human rights

“Human Rights, Monitoring and Publicity” Project, “Coalition for Equal Rights”

(Journalists for Human Rights” NGO, “Human Rights Power” NGO, “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities” NGO for Disabled Persons, “Free Journalists’ Association” NGO).

• Public Finance Management

“Budget for Everyone” Project, “Winnet Armenia” Network of Women Resource Centers.

(Goris Women’s Development Resource Center Foundation, “Meghri Women’s Resource Center” NGO, “Kapan Women’s Resource Center” NGO, “Sisian Women’s Resource Center” Foundation, “Yeghegnadzor Women’s Resource Center” Foundation, Ijevan Women’s Resource Center Foundation).

•  Education 

“Social Partnership and Education: Community-Based Prospects for the Youth” Project, Coalition “Partnership for the Promotion of Education”

(“Partnership and Teaching” / P&T NGO, Global Developments Fund (GDF), “Sisian Adult Education Center” Foundation / SAED, “Armenian Lifelong Learning League” Union of Legal Entities.

•  Social sphere: social inclusion of children with disabilities

“For Quality and Accessible Inclusive Education and Social Support” Project, Inter-Regional Coalition dealing with the Problems of Children with Disabilities

(“Armavir Development Center” NGO, “Martuni Women’s Community Council” NGO, “Hope-98” Vayots Dzor Development NGO, “Association of Young Journalists” NGO).

•  Agriculture

“Participatory Policies, Sustainable Agriculture” Project, Agricultural Alliance of Armenia

(“OxYGen” Foundation for Protection of Youth and Women Rights, International Center for Agrarian Research and Education NGO, “VISTAA Expert Center” Consulting NGO, “SHEN” Charitable NGO, “Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development Foundation” (CARD), ProMedia_Gender NGO, For Assistance to Community Development NGO “Irazek”

•  Economy

“Participatory monitoring for the Establishment of Smart Communities in Armenia” Project, Hamazark (Community Development and Participatory Management Association)

(“Compass” Research, Training and Consultancy Center NGO, “NGO Center”, “Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan” NGO, “Information Systems Development and Training Center” NGO).

• Energy

“CSOs for Sustainable and Transparent Energy Development” Project, “CSOs for Sustainable and Transparent Energy Development” Coalition

(“Foundation to Save Energy” NGO, “Women in Energy and Climate” NGO, “Support for Reforms” NGO, “Human Capital Development Center” NGO).