World Bank Yerevan Office Announces Civil Society Fund 2010 Winners

PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 15, the World Bank Yerevan Office announced the results of the Civil Society Fund 2010. Five Armenian non-profit, non-governmental organizations have been selected as finalists to receive grant awards to implement projects focusing on civic engagement. The WB Yerevan Office had received 101 project proposals from NGOs across Armenia. A committee represented by WB Country Office respective staff and external partners reviewed the proposals and selected the finalists.

Under the CSF-2010, the following NGOs have been selected to implement their proposed projects:

1. Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA): To improve public transparency and accountability by fostering implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. In the scope of the project, the NGO will: (a) produce two training video materials for government officials on efficient fulfillment of their obligations under the legislation, and for citizens - on the proper use of the FOI legislation; (b) develop and publish a commentary book on the FOI legislation including legislative reforms, and (c) organize the FOI Annual Award Ceremony-2010. The video materials and commentary book will be used for training 5000 participants (government officials and members of civil society groups).

2. Shirak Center for Development of Political Culture and Accord (Shirak Center): To support the people living in voluntary dwelling houses in Gyumri, interested in legalizing their houses built after the 1988 earthquake. The National Assembly has recently adopted a Law on legalizing the voluntary private dwelling houses, of which these citizens are not well-informed. The NGO will be visiting more than 300 beneficiary households to inform and advice them on the process and procedures of legalization. After carrying out an awareness campaign, the Center will conduct a poll to measure how many citizens, informed in the scope of the project, have actually applied to legalize their houses, and what obstacles they faced in the process.

3. Helsinki Committee of Armenia (HCA): To eliminate violence against children in secondary schools of Vayots Dzor region, and to create a safer environment for schoolchildren. In the scope of the project, HCA will raise awareness and build capacity of over twenty teachers and principals of secondary schools. Trainings are designed to increase their knowledge of human rights standards, foster equal opportunities, diversity, tolerance and non-discrimination, as well as develop their communication and cooperation skills with students. The trainees will be assigned to share and disseminate their knowledge and skills obtained during the trainings with colleagues and other stakeholders through presentations and leading discussions, round tables and debates within their respective schools.

4. Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS): To raise awareness about the increased social diversity brought to Armenia by foreign and ethnic Armenian migrants, and to reduce the local population’s prejudice towards them. In the scope of the project, thirty-three people, including twenty refugees from four regions of Armenia, will be trained. A series of Human Library events will bring together local Armenians (as readers) and migrants (as human books) to speak about stereotypes and prejudices against migrants. This mechanism has proven very efficient in sensitizing the populations of ethnically homogeneous countries. The project will reach out to a substantial number of citizens, either directly involved in the events and workshops or informed through brochures that will be disseminated through the ARCS network.

5. French-Armenian Development Foundation (FADF): To promote the Right to Education of children with special educational needs based on their capacities and abilities. FADF will develop (a) minimum standards for organizing special education and (b) update the model statute of special schools. A group of specialists will be formed of the country’s best experts in special education. The team will assess the quality of services provided in special schools and identify the current shortcomings. Focus group discussions will be conducted involving students, parents, pedagogical staff, and NGO representatives. Round-table discussion will be organized to assess the results, and elaborated documents will be submitted to the Government, National Assembly and other stakeholders.

The WB Yerevan Office will closely interact with the Grant recipients on regular basis during the implementation period of projects to ensure that the objectives and goals agreed upon within each project are met.

The World Bank looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with NGOs in Armenia on development issues.

This is the twelfth year the World Bank Civil Society Fund is implemented in Armenia. During this period sixty-six local NGOs have received grants in the total amount of USD 398.000 disbursed by the WB Yerevan Office.