Community Self-Help Fund Program sub-grants’ submission official event
ArmRadio.am
27.03.2007 10:45
On March 27, 2007 at 11 am the official submission of sub-grants to
the winners of the Community-Self-Help Fund Program’s (CSHF) 6th round
took place at the Save the Children office in Yerevan. Representatives
of the US Embassy, USAID, Save the Children, as well as 5 sub-grantee
organizations, participated in the event.
The Community Self-Help Fund program is sponsored by the United States
Embassy and USAID and implemented by Save the Children, which provides
expert technical assistance for program implementation. CSHF aims at
improvement of basic economic and social conditions of the communities
through provision of small grants to local communities’ ongoing
projects. Since November 2003, twice a year Save the Children has
announced calls for proposals inviting interested community
organizations to apply for small grants.
Round 6 was announced in October 2006 through national and local
media. Save the Children received 85 project proposals, of which 14
were short-listed and submitted to the U.S. Embassy for final
selection of the winners. The Embassy’s Assistance Coordination Group
selected 5 projects to be funded through the CSHF program: renovation
of kindergartens ## 2 and 3 in Martuni, Gegharkunik marz (USD 46,558);
renovation of state collage in Vardenis, Gegharkunik marz (USD
25,568); reconstruction of potable water system in Aygepar, Tavush
marz (USD 12,724); rehabilitation of irrigation water sypply system in
Myasnikyan, Armavir marz (USD 20,573); and reconstruction of potable
water pipeline in Dsegh, Lori marz (USD 38,611).
The total cost of these projects is USD 144,034. Community
contribution constitutes 42% of the total cost of the projects. The
overall number of the projects’ direct beneficiaries is 3,053.
During the first five rounds of the CSHF program, 47 projects in
Armenia have been funded, resulting in the renovation of
kindergartens, schools and other educational institutions, health
posts and hospitals, social and cultural infrastructures, and
irrigation and drinking water systems. The projects have played a
vital role for the residents of communities by helping overcome
community problems and encouraging self-help initiatives. More than
66,200 people directly benefited from the program throughout the five
rounds. Communities contributed the 38% of the total projects cost in
the form of money, materials and volunteer work. Another significant
impact of the projects was the creation of temporary and permanent job
opportunities for the vulnerable people of the communities: 630
short-term and 40 permanent jobs were created.