Armenia (Previous Projects)
Armenia ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government (CETS No122) on 25 January 2002 and the Additional Protocol to the Charter on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No. 207) on 13 May 2013.The amendments were adopted in the legislation with the aim of strengthening citizen participation in decision-making at local government level.
In the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia, and based on Recommendation 351 (2014) on Local Democracy in Armenia, the Congress is currently implementing three projects. Activities are aimed at developing the competencies of local elected representatives, fostering dialogue among local authorities and between these and the central authorities, enhancing citizen participation in the decision-making at local level and strengthening capacities of the Communities Association of Armenia.
These projects are carried out in cooperation with the Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform of the Council of Europe, which provides legislative assistance to the local government reform and proposes activities to strengthen the administrative capacities of Armenian local authorities and to disseminate best practices.
Period: 01.10.2013 – 31.12.2016
Partners: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Government of Armenia, local authorities and their associations.
Period: 01.11.2014 – 30.06.2019
Funded by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
The thematic regional seminars are organised to allow the elected local representatives from all over the country to come together and discuss the questions concerning the local democracy and the decentralisation process.
The programme aims at strengthening leadership capacities of a selected group of 20 mayors so as to improve local political governance in their communities.
Gatherings of local, elected representatives and their constituents will take place in several pilot city locations with the assistance of experts and local NGOs. The citizens’ fora will provide a learning platform for civil society groups, mayors and councilors.
Shaping a vision for future decentralised governance in Armenia