The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a marked increase in the drive towards online and distance learning solutions. Throughout Europe, the use of digital technologies in the public sector and the push towards e-governance and digitalisation of public administration has become increasingly widespread, irrespective of the current health crisis.
A Centre of Expertise for Good Governance. project, “Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia”, has adapted the Council of Europe e-learning course on the 12 Principles for Good Democratic Governance to the Armenian context and will launch a pilot-testing of the course for central and local officials and civil society actors on 23 September 2020. The course has been developed in a way that reflects local realities and includes an additional module on equal rights and the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making processes.
A group of 15 governance actors from across public administration and civil society in Armenia have volunteered to follow the course under tutored supervision between 23 September and 2 October 2020. In light of feedback from the pilot testers, the course will be finalised and embedded on the e-learning platform of the Ministry of Territorial Development and Infrastructure and available to all stakeholders by the end of October 2020. Public officials, civil society actors, and students will then be able to develop their skills and improve the quality of governance from the comfort of their home or office.
The 12 Principles for Good Democratic Governance assist public authorities at all levels of government in improving governance and enhancing service delivery. The 12 principles can then serve as an inspiration and orientation for member States, representing the fundamental values of European democracy and requirements for good democratic governance. The e-learning course, developed by the Centre of Expertise based on the European Good Governance Benchmark, is designed to enhance understanding and application of good governance principles and support capacity development of individuals and public institutions.
This e-learning course has been developed in the framework of the “Democratic Development, Decentralisation and Good Governance in Armenia” project, financed by the Austrian Development Agency and implemented in the context of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022.
