Annual Forum Highlights First-Year Achievements of the “Locally-led Action for Development of Goris Community” Project

The first year of the “Locally-led Action for Development of Goris Community” project was summarized at the annual forum held on May 22. This event, attended by representatives from various sectors of the consolidated Goris community, highlighted the initiatives and results achieved thus far.

In her welcoming remarks, Mary Karapetyan, representative of USAID in Armenia, outlined the project’s goals and expectations. She emphasized the project’s aim to strengthen the capacities and commitment of the Goris community to lead their own development and to enhance citizen involvement and control in community decision-making processes.

Susanna Shahnazaryan, President of the “Goris Press Club” NGO, reflected on the past year’s successes in consolidating various community actors.

Irina Yolyan, Deputy Head of Goris community, highlighted the project’s role in fostering a cooperative environment.

Gayane Mkrtchyan from Eurasia Partnership Foundation, a partner organization of the project, stressed the importance of knowledge in community development.

Project Manager Anahit Baghdasaryan presented the first year’s results, detailing the development of the community’s vision through participatory methods, the evaluation of local government capabilities, and training programs aimed at enhancing the skills of specialists in various fields. She also discussed workshops, support provided to vulnerable groups during crises, the furnishing of community-based institutions, and the distribution of sub-grants.

Tatevik Papazyan, Program Assistant at EPF, elaborated on the sub-grants, noting that last year, ten non-governmental organizations and foundations, along with three initiative groups, received funding totaling approximately $180,000.

One key activity of the “Locally-led Action for Development of Goris Community” project, implemented with financial support from USAID, involved the mapping of community resources. Over 40 young people contributed to this effort by visiting various settlements and cataloging human, cultural, historical, and other resources that could aid in community development. Anna Sahakyan, Program Coordinator, presented the results of this initiative.

In the forum’s final session, five working groups discussed strategies to support the balanced development of the enlarged Goris community. Their recommendations will be incorporated into the program’s action plan for the upcoming year.

Lusine Hakobyan, USAID’s Local Works Program Manager, also participated in the forum.

Overall, it was noted that within one year, the project successfully consolidated the potential of various community actors to benefit the development of the Goris community.

“This Project is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of “Goris Press Club” NGO and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.”