On 30 June, a public presentation of the results of the “Study of Efficiency in Communities
that were enlarged by the Third Phase of the Administrative-Territorial Reforms” project and the founding meeting of the Coalition for the Development of Local Self-Government System and Local Democracy Strengthening were held in Artik.
The project is implemented by sub-grant funds provided within the framework of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project.
The coalition was founded by 13 organizations, the “Territorial Centre for Human Capital Development” NGO, “Agroecology” NGO, “Astghatsolq” NGO, “Argina” Cultural NGO, Artik Development Fund, “Progress of Gyumri” Civil Society Development Centre” NGO, “Open Borders” Youth NGO, Youth Ideas NGO, Youth and Adult Education and Learning Lifelong NGO, “Guides from the South “NGO, Democracy, Intercultural Dialogue and Sustainable Development Association NGO, “Selen” Journalists’ Club” NGO, “Sacred Land” Charitable NGO.
International Community of Human Rights NGO, Intercommunity Cooperation for Rural Communities Development NGO, Good Governance and Community Development NGO have also expressed their desire to join the coalition.
The main objective of the coalition is to unite efforts to contribute to the continuous development of the local self-governance system in the Republic of Armenia, to increase the effectiveness of governance in the communities and to strengthen the local democracy.
It should also be mentioned that Ara Sukiasyan, the head of Nor Kyank community of Shirak region welcomed the participants of the founding meeting. NGO representatives, sector experts and mass media representatives attended the event. The leaders of the NGO who were willing to participate in the establishment of the coalition participated in the event by Skype.
