Armenian Municipalities are ready to have a faster pace towards decentralisation
During a visit to Armenia in October, the SALAR International team met with partner municipalities to get insights about the country’s decentralisation reform process and how to best support them moving forward.
Armenia inherited a centralised political system, but in signing the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the country has begun a transformational process to develop and support the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities. Since 2022, SALAR International has supported the government with its implementation of the decentralisation reform and strengthening of local self-governments. Entering the second phase of the DeaLoG project, SALAR International will continue to enhance commitment, capacity, and trust among national and local stakeholders for decentralisation and local self-government reforms in Armenia.
During a visit in October, SALAR International’s Project Manager, Shane Quinn and Garik Khachikyan, Local Governance Advisor, met with two partner municipalities to get their insights and perspectives on the reform process. Located west of Yerevan, Khoy Municipality and Vagharshapat municipality are two out of the ten municipalities collaborating with the project. Discussing the decentralisation process so far, the municipalities enhanced the importance of dialogue and stated that the government should have more discussions with the communities to integrate their views in the process and strategy. They also highlighted the need for having more functional association of local authorities in promoting local self-government and decentralisation reforms.
In the journey towards local self-governance, both municipalities stated that the support from SALAR International and the experience from Sweden is crucial for them to move the process forward. The leaders of Khoy municipality and Vagharshapat municipality are positive for the future work, stating that;
It is a long term cooperation but we are ready”
according to the Deputy Mayors of Vagharshapat municipality, Mr. Arsen Petrosyan and Mr. Mher Mkrtchyan and reinforced by the Mayor of Khoy municipality, Mr. Argishti Mekhakyan saying that:
“We are ready to have a faster pace towards decentralisation”.
From left: the delegation of Vagharshapat municipality and the delegation of SALAR International.