Transparency International Anticorruption Center (TIAC) in a consortium with Investigative Journalists NGO (IJ), Journalists Club “Asparez” (JCA), Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (CDPF), Basel Institute of Governance (BIG, Switzerland) and the European Center for Non-for-profit Law (ECNL, Hungary), implements a Project titled “Promoting Transparency and Accountability through Advanced Civil Society Participation” with the Armenian equivalent of «Թափանցիկ և հաշվետու կառավարման խթանում` քաղաքացիական հասարակության մասնակցության միջոցով» (hereinafter, the Project).

The specific goal of the Project is to increase civic engagement in and oversight of reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability of government actions and policies.

This will be achieved through the accomplishment of the following four objectives:

1) To improve and sustain civil society’s ability to engage citizens and articulate their interests;

2) To strengthen civil society’s capacity to monitor government institutions, officials and policy process;

3) To increase citizens’ access to independent and reliable information; and

4) To improve the civil society enabling environment.

CDPF with the financial support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives is implementing “Volunteerism Concept Dissemination” project in the central regions of Armenia (Ararat, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Armavir, Gegharkunik).

The overall goal of this project is to increase awareness on and participation in civic responsibility and volunteerism on the local level. Throughout the project, CDPF propose to achieve this goal by inspiring a greater sense of sitizens’ ownership of their communities and control over community development processes.

During the project, volunteerism and civic responsibility concepts will be spread in communities of Armenia. Several problems /issues facing a community can be solved easily by the community members themselves if they work together.

Starting 2009 CDPF is coordinating the compaign against the changes proposed by the Ministry of Justice to the NGO Law. During that period more than 300 CSOs actively participated in the compaign, as a result of which the Draft approval process was frozen at NA. Meanwhile negotiations started with RA Government on legislative  improvements in civil society sphere.

In 2011 the compaign transposed to a formal network named Civil Society Development Network (CSDN). The mission of CSDN is to ensure an enabling environment for civil society in Armenia by legislation improvements and increasing impact in the society. In the framework of the project a Legal Working Group was formed including 5 legal experts who developed the Civil Society Institutional and Legislation Improvement Concept. The next steps will be to discuss the Concept with larger group of CSOs, finalize it and send the concept to circulation in RA Government.

In the framework of the project CDPF is providing free accounting and legal consultations to CSOs. You can find details HERE.

Please, visit www.armenianngo.am for getting more information on Network’s activites.

Recent Activities

Since February, 2012 Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (CDPF) together with  ”NGO Center” Civil Society Development NGO, ”GURT Resource Center”, with the financial support of European Union has launched a new project named: ”Equal Opportunities for National Minorities & Disadvantaged Groups in Realizing Cultural Rights: Richness through Diversity”.

 The aim of the Project is to develop cultural diversity and support the culture of minorities by strengthening the capacities of local authorities, CSOs, managers of cultural institutions in local communities of Ukraine and Armenia.

Specific objectives of the Project are:

• To strengthen capacities of local authorities, CSOs, and managers of cultural institutions in preserving national cultures of minorities in Ukraine and Armenia.
• To develop local plans on cultural development that takes into account cultural needs of minorities and disadvantaged groups.
• To introduce innovative services in cultural sector for national minorities and disadvantaged groups on the base of the network of local community institutions rebuilt with the support of Social Investment Fund in Ukraine and Armenia.
• To enhance links and dialogue between Ukraine, Armenia, and Poland in the area of preserving cultural diversity and creating access to culture for disadvantaged groups.

The overall duration of the project is 3 years and the budget is: 105.000 Euro from which 43.000 Euro is CDPF contribution.

• • Recent Activities

    • November, 2013- Signing Contracts with Grantee Organizations
    • 13-14 November, 2013- Project Management Training
    • 15-17 October, 2013- Partner Meeting in Ukraine
    • 21-27 August, 2013- Preparation and Dissemination of the Grant Scheme Announcement
    • 19, 20, 21 August, 2013- Open Space Conference
    • 17-18 May, 2013- Project Design Training
    • 26 April, 2013- Round-table Discussion
    • 24-27 April, 2013- Partner Meeting in Armenia
    • 7-8 December, 2012- “Community Development” training
    • 15-16 November, 2012- “Multi-cultural Management” training
    • 19-20 October, 2012- “Leadership & Partnership Building” training
    • 1-4 August, 2012- Project Managerial Meeting in Armenia
    • 30-31 July, 2012- “Needs Assessment for Communities” training
    • 21 May, 2012- World Day for Cultural Diversity
    • 12 May, 2012 – Europe Day 2012 Events
    • 13 April , 2012 – Project official launch  Yerevan, Armenia
    • 15 March, 2012- Project target communities’ selection
    • 9 February, 2012- Project treaty signing in Kiev, Ukraine

Starting October 2010 CDPF is supporting implementation of USAID funded Civil Society and Local Government Support Program (CSLGSP) that is implemented by the Counterpart International Armenia.

This 4-years program is aimed to increase informed and organized civic activism at the local and national levels, accompanied by more participatory, decentralized, efficient and accountable local governance. The project is covering 15 communities all over Armenia.

CDPF is partnering Counterpart in five central regions of Armenia providing administrative and logistic support to the activities taking part in regions and ensuring proper financial administration and management for the grants implemented by local non-formal groups and local governments.

1. Administrative and Logistic Support

CDPF is responsible for provision of administrative and logistic support to the regional activities, ensuring their proper implementation. The activities include networking assistance, technical interventions and resource support to the communities during trainings, community and town-hall meetings, situation analysis, strategic planning sessions and many more thus fostering proper implementation of activities and their quality and effectiveness.

2. Grants Financial Administration and Management

 Within the framework of this component CDPF is responsible for grants financial administration and management awarded to community active groups and local governments. In 2011 CDPF provided financial management to 16 grants awarded to 16 YCACs in the framework of Community mobilization and Volunteerism Incentive Grants and 12 Grassroots and community development grants.

The total amount of the grants administered is 8’750’000 AMD (22’900 USD).

Recent Activities

• 21 June, 2012 – Computer training center establishment in Nor Geghi Community
• 10 May, 2012 – Lukashin Kindergarten Yard Recondition and Playground Construction
• 28 April, 2012- Youth Strengthening Initiative in Nor Geghi

CDPF invites all interested CSOs and other stakeholders to participate in CSO Development Effectiveness Initiative

The Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness has been established in 2008 as a unique space for CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) worldwide to engage in a global and fully participatory process towards defining and introducing a framework of mutually shared development effectiveness principles.

The Open Forum aims to provide a learning space, based on mutual trust, where CSOs can discuss issues and challenges relevant to their work and relationships as development actors. Through the Open Forum CSOs are striving to build a consensus on commonly accepted principles to improve their development effectiveness and on minimum standards in the creation of an enabling environment where CSOs can fully apply and strengthen their specific roles in development. These principles and minimum standards have been discussed throughout 2009-2010 during National Consultations around the globe and at the First Global Assembly of the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness, and are summarized in a draft International Framework for CSO Development Effectiveness.

As further steps, it is planned to develop mechanisms, guidelines and indicators for the implementation of CSO development effectiveness principles as well as minimum standards for enabling in order to include in the Framework. The proposed framework has remained under the discussion until a proposed second Global Assembly of the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness in mid-2011, where CSOs have finalized the draft framework and mobilised for the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, which took place in South Korea at the end of 2011.

The Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness urge CSOs around the world to join the discussions and promote implementation of CSO Development Effectiveness principles and application of minimum enabling environment standards by governments and donors in their countries.

CDPF invites all interested organizations to involve in the process and send us your questions, comments, suggestions on the International Framework, further steps to be taken by Armenian CSOs and generally on the CSO development effectiveness initiative by email: cdpf@cdpf.am.

You may find the necessary CSO development effectiveness related documents here and visit www.cso-effectiveness.org  for more information in the initiative, as well as join the page Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness in Facebook.

Each year USAID has been producing the NGO Sustainability Index that covers 29 countries in the Europe and Eurasia Region, including Armenia. The index reports on the strength and overall viability of civil society organizations in each country of the region, highlighting both advances and setbacks in sectoral development, and allowing for comparisons across countries and regions over time.

The Index is an important and unique tool for local CSOs, governments, donors, academics, and others to understand and measure the sustainability of the NGO sector.

To produce the Index, an Expert Panel is formed in each country to assess the situation regarding CSO sector in the country. The objective of the Panel is to develop a consensus based rating for each of the seven dimensions of NGO Sustainability covered by the Index and to articulate a justification for each rating consistent with the provided methodology.

These dimensions include:

1. Legal Environment
2. Organizational Capacity
3. Financial Viability
4. Advocacy
5. Service Provision
6. Infrastructure
7. Public Image

The rating covers scale of 1 to 7, with a score of 1 indicating a very advanced civil society sector with a high level of sustainability, and a score of 7 indicating a fragile, unsustainable sector with a low level of development.

Starting 2010, the development of Index report for Armenia is entrusted to Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (CDPF).

See:

          “NGO Sustainability Index 2010 for Central and Eastern Europe and Asia” report HERE.  

           “NGO Sustainability Index 2011 for Central and Eastern Europe and Asia” report HERE. 

           “NGO Sustainability Index 2012 for Central and Eastern Europe and Asia” report HERE. 

           “NGO Sustainability Index 2013 for Central and Eastern Europe and Asia” report HERE. 

“U-CAN” Program was aimed to create a cadre of Armenian, Turkish and American young professionals who lead local non-profits to promote the development of civil society and economic opportunities.

The Program brought together emerging grass root 54 leaders aged 21-35 from Armenia, Turkey and USA who workedtogether to create community-based projects to build NGOs capacities, deepen ties between three countries and strengthen civil society. The selected participants took part in study tours to USA and Turkey and later USA and Turkey participants were hosted in Armenia. The study tours  included thematic discussions, trainings, professional site visits, and job shadowing activities and were followed by on-line communication and conferences.

The Program has provided the participants with opportunity to share their experience and best practices, and create new links between organizations in three countries. The participants also connected with each other and program alumni in an ongoing conversation on broadening participation in community-based projects that reach a diverse citizenry, and engage governments and other NGO leaders.

The Program was implemented jointly with Academy for Educational Development (USA) and Civil Society Development Center (Turkey) with the support of the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

The total budget of the program was 90’000 USD.

In February 2010 Civic Development and Partnership foundation (CDPF) has lunched  “My City” Information-Advice Center the aim of which was to inform Yerevan citizens on their rights and obligations and facilitate the establishment of citizen-community and citizen-state dialogue.

For that purpose the Center provided free consultations to Yerevan habitants on their community and condominium, as well as public utility related issues.

Being secured with highly professional lawyers and necessary technologies, the Center follows openness, justice, transparency and unbiased approach principles and was open for any person that needed advice or support in solution of his/her city-related issues. The experienced advisers through phone and face to face consultation supported applicants to find the appropriate addressee for their issues, assisted in development and submission of letters and appeals, and followed up clients processes to ensure legacy of the processes and provided solutions.

During Center’s implementation process (March 2010-December 2010, later extended till August 2011) the  Center has addressed more than 700 applications, 73% of which got a successful solution. The best evidence of the Center’s activity was the growing number of applicants, which increases with 15-20 more applicants per month. During the 15 months of its operation the Center has gained constant clients that were satisfied with their experience with Center and permanently applying to it regarding new issues.

Being secured with highly professional lawyers and necessary equipment, the Center follows openness, justice, transparency and unbiased approach principles.

The total budget of the program was 10’240 EUR. 

From March 2010-December 2010 The Center was acting within the “I-Citizen” project, run jointly by CDPF and Counterpart International Armenian representation with the financial support of the Norwegian Government.Later, in 2011 the project was extended for 6 months by the financial support of Counterpart International Armenia.

Since April 2010 Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (CDPF), with partnership of Professionals for Civil Society NGO (PFCS), “Partnership and Teaching” NGO, “NGO Center”, Armavir Development Center and Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO, are implementing Volunteerism Initiative Program (V2 Program) supported by Peace Corps Armenia.

The overall goal of the project is to increase awareness and participation at the local level throughout Armenia on civic responsibility and volunteerism.

The project was implemented in 30 communities of Armenia and consisted of 3 main components:

• Three regional workshops on Volunteer Management
• Community Service week and Public Awareness Campaigns
• Youth Volunteerism Camps and Forums

During this 6-month project 106 selected members from 30 communities participated in the Volunteer Management Workshop, 29 Community Service Campaigns were conducted in 27 communities, 38 Local Self Government Bodies and 7 business organizations provided support for Community Service Initiatives. 5 TV shows and 2 radio programs were also broadcasted during this period.

The overall project period lasted from April 2010 to October 2010, the total budget was 9’800 USD. The project was financed by Peace Corps Armenia.

Since May 2009, in partnership with “NGO Centre” Civil Society Development NGO and “Partnership and Teaching” (GUM) NGO, CDPF has initiated a project named Advocacy Resource Centres for Civic Advancement (ARCCA).The project is supported by European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), an international organization based in Brussels, Belgium.

The goal of the project is capacity-building of advocacy oriented Armenian NGOs to increase dialogue among civil society and governmental bodies.

The main strategy of the project is advanced capacity-building of selected organizations through establishment of the advocacy resource centres, institutionalising of advocacy capacities, experience exchange events and web forums, periodical meeting with government bodies, and establishing links with European civil society organizations.

CDPF created the Advocacy Resource Centre to build capacity of advocacy-oriented Armenian NGOs by increasing the dialogue among civil society and governmental bodies. CDPF continues to run it, by providing experience exchange events, consultations, and trying to find alternative resources to update and administer the www.arc.am  website.

The total budget of the porject was 15’087 EUR.

Starting January 2009 CDPF with its partners “NGO Center”  and “Partnership and Teaching” NGOs has implemented “Development of the Community Foundation (CF) Model for Armenia” project supported by the WINGS Global Fund for Community Foundation.

The funded project  aimed to develop the knowledge and expert base on Community Foundation (CF) concept in Armenia, support development of a community foundation model package and strategy for incubation of the CF in Armenia as well as identify at least 3 potential CF initiatives/civil society organizations, with whom the works will be continued beyond the project.

A working group consisting of 10 people  has been created to develop CF model in Armenia.   Experience and performance of community foundations in other European countries (Lithuania and the Czech Republic), as well as the Armenian non-profit environment and practices, were studied and considered by the working group during the model development phase. At the end of the project, the structure for a community foundation model was formed for future implementation in Armenia.

Total budget of the project was 33’200 USD.

The “E-Parliament” project has been implemented with the finanacial support of UNDP and Counterpart International Armenia. The goal of “E-Parliament” project was to increase the awareness and participation of citizens and civil society organizations in the activities of the National Assembly through electronic communication. CDPF provided trainings on “The Use of Information Technologies for Public Participation” in Yerevan and all regions of Armenia. Participants became familiar with the websites of the National Assembly, the President, Government departments and other state institutions, and learned ways of searching and using the information available at those sites. E-Parliament Days were also organized for citizens of Armenian regions, giving them the opportunity to present their issues to NA Members through the Internet.

The total budget of the project was 5’100 USD.

Legislators play a pivotal role in the functioning of a representative democracy. A large portion of the work carried out by legislators is manifested in their voting record – whether it is the totality of their record or individual votes on pieces of legislation. Voting records show what specific position an elected official takes on an issue and what role they played in either helping or preventing a bill (draft law) from being passed.

In a democracy citizens are permitted access to records showing how their legislators voted on issues presented before them. Through the publication of these voting records, citizens can analyze how their representatives are operating and be confident that policy is being designed for the public good, and that they are in line with campaign platforms and party positions. In the same vein, voting records also provide overviews of political parties’ and parliamentary factions’ activity record, which in a mixed parliamentary system such as Armenia’s are important in understanding policy trends and directions.

To ensure access for citizens, the Mass Media, local and international organizations, political representatives and other social forces to National Assembly (NA) members’ voting records, as well as to develop the skills and knowledge needed to use these records, since 2006 the Civic Development and Partnership Foundation (CDPF) has been implementing the NA Voting Record initiative.

Within this initiative CDPF has been monitoring and collecting NA voting records, imputing them into a specially developed nav.cdpf.am on-line database, where any interested person and/or organization can find interested information.

The database has a simple search system that allows users to become familiar with the voting records of NA deputies, factions and parties, as well as with statistics on deputies’ attendance during the entire session. The data is presented as a statistical report and can be used by individuals and organizations to monitor the work of elected officials, to analyze legislative changes and their consistency with pre-election promises, as well as to support various activities, researches, advocacy campaigns and lobbing activities.

In 2007, the initiative was supported by the Norwegian Government and in 2008 assistance was provided by the US Embassy in Yerevan (United States Department of State small grants) and the OSCE office in Yerevan.

Starting September 2007 till September 2010, CDPF has provided technical assistance to the USA based Armenian Educational Foundation in distribution and monitoring of the scholarships for students from state institutions and universities.

CDPF activities covered distribution of announcements, organization of question/ answer sessions, collection of applications and data entry, as well as further monitoring of selected students’ study progress. During these three years, CDPF distributed and monitored 86 scholarships.

Total budget of the project was 3’000 USD.

In 2006, a contract has been signed with Counterpart International on Institutional Development project. The Project is aimed at fostering CDPF development as an ISO and providing it with enough capacities to pass special Certification process to become USAID direct contractor.

Within the project CDPF staff has participated in more than 50  professional development workshops and trainings, gained enough knowledge and capacity to develop CDPF documents and policies. Due to this project CDPF staff has develoed all nessecary documents for organizational proper activity and development.

And finally, as a brilliant outcome in 2009 CDPF was certified by Counterpart International and USAID as an intermediatary service organization (ISO), meeting international standards in organizational and financial management, grantmaking and service provision.

The project overall duration was September 2006 – August 2009. Total budget of the project: 19’200 USD.

In November 2006, CDPF launched another activity in grant-making area: administration and technical support for Parliamentary Election grants distributed by Counterpart International Armenia and funded by USAID Armenia. Under this agreement, CDPF administered 11 nation-wide election projects that were covering election-related researches, awareness and monitoring campaigns. Based on the high performance presented by the CDPF, in October 2007 the project was extended until May 2008, covering 10 Presidential Election grants implemented by 15 organizations. In 2008, we administered the Local Self-Governance Election grants run by 4 grantee organizations, and in 2009 we administered awareness-raising and monitoring campaigns for the Yerevan Municipality Elections. The overall budget of the project was 35’000USD.

During 2006-2009 CDPF was the official partner of Counterpart International Armenia for the implementation of Civic Advocacy Support Program, funded by the USAID.

Within this partnership CDPF was responsible for grants administration and management in Ararat, Kotayk, Gegharqunik, Aragatsotn, Armavir regions and in Yerevan city.

During the project period CDPF successfully distributed and managed 42 Local Advocacy Initiative Grants to 33 organizations. The total budget of the provided grants is 294’871 USD. In addition all grantees were provided with technical assistance aimed to develop local NGOs’ capacities and skills in advocacy.

CDPF/Counterpart contract period was September 2006 – September 2009 with overall budget of 89’000 US.