Three Pathways to Promote Democracy in Armenia
Local leaders empower citizens, build resilience, and help make lasting change in their community
In 2018, the Armenian people successfully took to the streets to demand a change in leadership — their efforts ushered in democratic reforms through the “Velvet Revolution,” which brought to power a new reform-minded government and hope to a new generation.
However, the outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in autumn 2020 strained government momentum and resources. The conflict led to thousands of deaths and displaced tens of thousands of people from Nagorno-Karabakh.
One of the towns heavily impacted by the fighting was Goris, in Aremenia’s Syunik Province, an ancient town known for important historical and cultural sites, as well as mining and agriculture. Located near the frontlines, Goris served as a “rear” town for the conflict, providing humanitarian assistance and social services to people displaced by the renewed hostilities, and staging for military equipment and personnel.
Keep reading to learn about three ways that USAID has helped the people of Goris, and surrounding communities, re-engage in society following the 2020 escalation of hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, through renewed democratic systems, including strengthening public participation and civil society in local governance, promoting democracy among youth, and launching critical social services. This work, and similar efforts throughout the country, is enabling thousands of citizens to face and endure recent challenges with optimism and increased resilience.
Ensuring Social Inclusion and Access to Social Services
Anzhela Grigoryan — a social worker in Tegh, a community 12 miles from Goris that was heavily impacted by the hostilities — turned the loss of her 7-year-old son who had a disability into motivation to register for various USAID-supported training sessions in community social work.
She also completed a distance course at the Yerevan State University in 2019 — one of 19 participants in the first cohort of community social workers in Armenia. The course equips social workers with skills and resources to be successful in their work.
This new crop of community social workers demonstrates progression from the legacy of the Soviet Union, during which the social worker profession and inclusive social services for vulnerable families did not exist. Through social workers such as Anzehla, USAID is promoting community-based social services in Yerevan and over 80 communities in all 10 provinces of Armenia — with the goal of helping them identify, prevent, and address pressing social issues.
Anzhela’s role includes identifying vulnerable families, supporting child well-being, and responding to domestic violence cases. During the conflict — in which she often heard or saw shooting between combatants — she assisted displaced families who sought help at all hours after leaving their homes and belongings due to the conflict. Many are recovering and returning to Nagorno-Karabakh or finding new opportunities in Armenia, due to the efforts of Anzhela and others.
The benefits of Anzhela’s efforts are not just for the community. They are personal as well.
“My beneficiaries are my friends,” she said, adding that one displaced family she served gave her the honor of naming their sixth child after her.
In the future, her aspirations include establishing her own multi-functional and inter-community facility for people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence in Tegh, which she will name “Arev,” or “sun,” in Armenian. She also envisions a garden, orchard, and crops that will serve the facility.
Engaging the Local Government
Varduhi Mesropyan, 25, a graduate of USAID’s “School of Local Democracy” hosted by the Goris Press Club in Syunik, is part of a group of young Armenians eager to invest in their communities and become more engaged in local governance processes.
She was one of 58 young people from Goris who attended the school, which was launched in 2019 by USAID to galvanize Armenian youth engagement in local politics and to promote oversight of political and electoral processes at the local and national levels. These young people learned the essentials of local democracy, government operations, strategic planning, budgeting, human rights, and other topics related to activities they could implement in their community.
Feeling empowered to engage in local decision making, Varduhi, along with 20 other youth, organized an open air public hearing on behalf of Syunik Province for its citizens to identify their pressing issues. Seventy citizens participated in person and an additional 2,000 viewed the hearing on the municipality website — nearly half of the 5,000 person community.
Afterward, the youth presented to the mayor the top 10 issues that were identified by citizens — one of which has already been addressed through the construction of a new playground.
“The youth felt important,” said Varduhi. “We listened to the citizens’ problems, and then the mayor came up with the solutions. It was good for residents of the community to see the youth engaged.”
Strengthening Public Participation and the Role of Local Government
Marat Gerasimyan, from Tatev community, 22 miles south of Goris, was first elected mayor of his small village at age 29 — motivated to participate in the development process, rather than waiting for others to take the lead. During his tenure, he implemented critical infrastructure projects, and aimed to increase youth activities through the establishment of a youth community center with funds from USAID.
While his position was eliminated during the recent community consolidation, Marat is gearing up to run again on Oct. 17 for the five-year mayoral term in Tatev, a consolidated municipality overseeing eight smaller communities. Through participation in USAID-supported training, Marat said he has increased his knowledge of how local government can engage citizens and represent their interests, as well as the process of decentralized reform, which makes the delivery of services to citizens more effective.
Marat now has a new motivation as well: to be a role model for his two children, and a third who is on the way.
“The culture of volunteerism is important, he said. “If local governments are transparent enough, participation will be introduced and fostered.”
Anzhela, Varduhi, and Marat are just a few of the citizens of Syunik, and Armenia who are leading by example — advocating for inclusion, and engagement in democratic processes. Through USAID, they join thousands of change-makers throughout Armenia are empowered and equipped to make lasting changes in their communities.
About the Author
Jessica Benton Cooney is the Lead Communications and Outreach Specialist for USAID’s Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance.
