Armenian civil society can influence ADB strategy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Civil society and Armenian NGOs are powerful enough to determine priority credit projects launched by the Asian Development Bank, said Avilash Roul, Network Capacity Development Coordinator of The NGO Forum on ADB, during the meeting which took place in the REC Caucasus Armenian Branch Office on 22 June.



NGO Forum on ADB is a network of non-governmental organizations which implements monitoring of the bank projects and policies. The forum combats non-constructive and socially unjust projects and policies. With the financial support of the Forum, Environmental Survival NGO implements monitoring of 'Improvement of Water Supply and Sanitation Systems of the RA Communities' and 'Reconstruction of Rural Roads' credit projects in Gegharkunik region of the RA.



The Regional Environmental Center for the Caucasus - REC Caucasus is a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal person registered in spring of 2000, following the decision made at the Sofia Ministerial Conference in 1995, to work for environment and sustainable development in the Caucasus region.



REC Caucasus assists the Caucasus states in solving environmental problems and supports  in  building the civil society through promotion of  public participation in the decision-making process, development of free exchange of information and encouragement of cooperation at national and regional level among NGOs, governments, businesses, local communities and all other stakeholders.



The founding document of REC Caucasus - its Charter - was signed in September, 1999 by the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the European Union.



Mr. Roul said ADB has doubled expenses for poverty reduction regional programs while the results are still unsatisfactory. "The G8 summit decided to bring financing to $20 billion. However, the process is not homogenous and the situation may get even worse," he said.



For her part, Maya Eralieva, Central Asia and Caucasus Coordinator, said that the Forum works towards social and environmental justice, and good governance. It was originally established as the NGO Working Group (NWG) on the ADB in 1991 by 20 NGOs from 16 countries. During that time, it has a Regional Secretariat that facilitated the dissemination of relevant information gathered from the ADB to its member NGOs and partner local groups.



"Donor countries are financing the Bank's projects. Their activities should be accountable and public awareness should be secured," she said.