Networking Initiative Reaches Out to Local Governments
In Armenia, a country with 925 municipalities, disseminating information to local governments is a difficult task. This is especially true when many of these municipalities lack even the most basic equipment. To engage these communities and address their needs, EF launched its Inter-Municipal Networking Program.
The program provided grant support to six municipalities and four inter-community unions (a total of 119 communities) for the establishment of new inter-municipal networks. Grantees developed the network infrastructure (hardware and/or network centers) to ensure rural areas are kept informed of national and local developments. As local governments began to share more information through their networks, the successes of the program became clear: 26 municipal strategic plans were developed, five municipal buildings were renovated, 51 jobs were created and overall municipal income increased. With the network in place, municipalities began to spread the word about grant competitions, which enabled smaller communities to secure a total of $400,000 in development grants.
While grants for the program have all concluded, EF continues to work with its grantees, who met earlier this month to discuss the program’s results and strategize the possible launch of a new municipal network program. Specifically, EF Armenia is interested in piloting a program to develop municipal performance indicators, which would increase the quality of services provided to the population by local governments.
