On 11 April, 24 civil society representatives in Vanadzor were informed about the opportunity to submit grant applications for the development and monitoring of public policies for CSO coalitions (networks) within the framework of the EU funded “Commitment Constructive Dialogue” project.
Mr. Marat Atovmyan, Coordinator of the Mentor’s Group of the Project, Mentor in the Justice Sector, presented the “Commitment Constructive Dialogue” project. He mentioned that at this stage of the project, the first phase of grants for the CSO coalitions (networks) is announced. During this phase CSOs can form coalitions, which will conduct activities in one of the 9 targeted areas of the project: Justice, Human Rights, Public finance management, business, education, social sphere: social inclusion of children with disabilities, agriculture, economy, and energy; or to support existing CSO coalitions and to increase their impact on public participation in the development of public policies in these areas.
International expert Mr. Carl Ulbrikht, i emphasised the fact that CSOs should submit applications by April 30.
The “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium of civil society organisations, which are the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (lead organisation), Agora Central Europe (NGO based in the Czech Republic), the Armenian Centre for Democratic Education-CIVITAS, the International Centre for Human Development, the SME Cooperation Association and the Union of Communities of Armenia. The project aims to enhance the influence of civil society organisations (CSOs) and CSO coalitions/networks on public policies in Armenia. This will allow organisations that are already working in sectoral coalitions to access additional resources, new groups of civil society experts to come together and encourage place their causes on the local and national policy agenda, to identify common concerns and priorities and approach government bodies with constructive and strategic policy engagement initiatives.