EU will propose EUR 2,9 mln to discover the potential of local communities

ArmInfo.A grant project with total  budget at EUR 2,9 mln launched in Armenia. EU Ambassador to Armenia  Piotr Switalski  on April 11 in Gyumri announced ? 2.9 million Grant  Scheme designated to promote an inclusive and empowered society in  Armenia, by facilitating participation of the civil society and local  authorities in poverty reduction and sustainable development process  at local level. It will contribute to raising the economic  competitiveness, creating jobs and reducing tendencies of outward  migration in regions.

EU Ambassador noted: "The EU is committed to reinforce and support  Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities in Development in  Armenia. We believe that we can do so by facilitating the  participation of the civil society and local authorities in poverty  reduction and sustainable development process at local level.  Innovative ways to develop local community through sport, culture,  education and tourism can contribute significantly to this  objective".

The project  has an objective to enhance people to people contacts  and local community development within the country and within the  region through sport, culture, education and tourism. Projects  proposal can support among other things the development of (1)  outdoor activities such as summer and winter sports that can have an  impact on tourism development; (2) educative programmes complementing  existing compulsory education and higher education institutions  offering innovative learning platforms and spaces; (3) cultural  associations promoting the development of performing arts, music,  theatres, literature, painting, animation, filming, etc.

To note, the European Union Delegation to Armenia has launched two  grant schemes for project proposals of a total budget of ? 4.4  million in order to reinforce Civil Society in Armenia and to support  Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities in Development.  These two calls complement the very significant ongoing capacity  building and re-granting programmes for civil society in Armenia and  the recently announced ? 1 million Grant Scheme for Regional  Development designed to promote culture and creative sectors. The  grant scheme "Reinforcing Civil Society in Armenia" with an overall  budget of ? 1.5 million was announced in Yerevan on 10 April.

According to Hoa-Bin Hachemyan,  the head  of EU Armenian Delegation  cooperation department head, during recent 10 years the European  Union  within the framework of budget support allocated for Armenia  about  EUR 250 mln. Every year EU disposes  about  EUR 40-50 mln  for   different projects in Armenia, and  half of the sum mentioned is   being exposed exactly for budget support, and EU  entities dispose  about EUR 1 mln weekly, Hachemyan said.