PRESS RELEASE
Eurasia Foundation
4 Demirchyan Str., Yerevan 0019, Armenia
Contact: Alisa Alaverdyan
Tel/Fax: (374 10) 586059
E-mail: alisa@eurasia.am
Web:

Eurasia Foundation Supports Resource Development In Rural Communities

Yerevan, Armenia – More than 190 NGOs and informal community groups in
Armenia’s regions will gain access to trainings and resources through a
program administered by Eurasia Foundation’s (EF) representative office in
Armenia, enabling them to play a more effective role in the development of
rural communities. A total of $130,000 was awarded to nine organizations to
build their ability to serve as hubs and resource centers for local NGOs and
citizens.

The grants will expand the services provided by these nine resources
centers, allowing them to provide trainings to local NGOs in skills such as
participatory needs assessments, program development and fundraising,
community mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation. The centers will also
provide basic support such as Internet access, translation, and copy and fax
services.

"By strengthening the capacities of local NGOs and citizen groups to tackle
issues of local importance, EF hopes to build local ownership of the
development process and engage community members in the decision-making
processes," says Ara Nazinyan, EF’s Country Director in Armenia.

In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of each resource center, the
Foundation will also support capacity development activities for each
partner organization so that they can later provide trainings and other
services on a fee-for-service basis to other NGOs, donors, businesses and
community groups.

These organizations were identified by EF through an open grants competition
and selected due in large part to their strong potential for organizational
sustainability. They will be linked through network of Resource Centers for
Community Development to promote the exchange of information and experiences
between centers. The centers are: NGO Center for Civil Society Development
(Lori), Martuni Women’s Community Council (Gegharkunik), Kaghni Social
Ecological Governmental Organization (Tavush), Huysi Kamar Gyullibulagh NGO
(Shirak), Civil Initiative Center Vahagni XXI NGO (Lori), Goris Youth Union
Public Organization (Syunik), Nvatshum Youth NGO (Tavush), the A.D. Sakharov
Armenian Human Rights Protection Center (Shirak), and Sisian Development
Center Public Organization (Syunik).