Participatory Community Development Seminar Follow-Up

From July 01-03 a follow-up workshop on Participatory Community Development was held for 25 ART partners, including members of the civic action groups of the targeted communities, representatives of the local self-government, and clergy.
The goal of the workshop was to review the elaborated Community Integrated Development Plans of 12 communities and to analyze the participatory process of the Plans’ elaboration. The workshop was conducted by the President of the “Communities Finance Officers Association”, Mr. Vahan Movsisiyan and expert Ms. Knarik Arabyan.
The workshop was very effective in terms of exchange of experience on conducting the participatory process of plans elaboration, peer education, as the participants were helping each other to finalize the plans.
The trainers of the workshop also presented the current and future changes of the legislation of the Republic of Armenia related to the establishment of the inter-community unions, consolidation of communities, local-self government system, Law on Financial Equalization, etc.
The workshop concluded with 4 finalized development plans, while the rest will be finally reviewed during one month period. The finalized Community Integrated Development Plans will be presented and discussed in general community meeting, and submitted to the council of elders for approval. The approved plans will be presented to the Marz Administration for approval and further follow-up.
The participatory elaboration of such community development plans is extremely important in terms of promoting grassroots participation in identification and formulation of the community needs and potential for development, as well as the follow up of the implementation of the development plan.