Since November 1, 2020, until March 31, 2023, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Embassy of Sweden in Yerevan, and SIDA have been jointly implementing the Civil Society Support for Ensuring Impact on Reforms (CS Support) project, aimed at providing support to civil society in Armenia.
The CS Support project consisted of three main components, one of which is the open door grants' competition. Throughout the project implementation period, EPF received over 120 project proposals from organizations based in Yerevan and the regions, covering various thematic areas. In total, 46 projects were implemented, including 36 Open Door grants and 10 Invited grants of InfoTuns (please refer to the list of Infotun projects provided within the Invited Grants Provided Within the Framework of Civil Society Support for Ensuring Impact on Reforms section).
The Evaluation committee and EPF program team collaborated with short-listed applicants to enhance their project ideas for the full application stage. With the goal of supporting as many new CSOs and ideas as possible, the EPF program team initiated a mentoring and accompaniment process for all sub-grant recipient organizations and individuals. This process aimed to strengthen project implementation, improve the institutional systems of these organizations, and foster networking to enhance the impact of projects within similar thematic scopes.
The sub-grants covered a range of thematic areas, including Human Rights, Crisis Response, Urban/Community and Environmental Policies, Education, Culture, Media, Entrepreneurship, Economic and Social Policies, Gender Equality, and others.
Below, you will find a description of the projects. The activities and progress made within these projects are detailed in the attached document.
Public Agenda Journalists NGO, “Peace Messages Distortion Mechanism and How to Combat it”,
Budget: 5,780,000 AMD
Duration: June 2021 - October 2021
Recent events in Armenia have once again demonstrated that one of the main reasons for troubles and misfortunes is the inability to provide a civilized environment for constructive and healthy nation-wide public discussions, as well as the incapacity of avoiding naming people ‘traitors’ or ‘heroes’. This situation results in lack of acceptance of rational thoughts and ideas. Messages about peace are also being trapped in this nexus. The research project aimed at finding answers to the following pressing questions: Why the democratically formed new government in Armenia, just like the previous ones, refused to discuss the prospects for peace with the society and form a new discourse, instead of tightening its rhetoric and positions in the negotiation processes? What factors have influenced the notion of peace and what mechanisms were used to undermine them? Who were the initiators and main protagonists obstructing the peace narrative? Which segment of the population was the main target of these mechanisms and what tools were used? Is it possible to transform the environment of public discussions, to create a public agenda that can replace the ‘private-clan-group’ agenda and neutralize attempts of presenting it as a public one? The project studied the internal information war, its cause-and-effect relationships.
4Plus Documentary Photography Center, “Post-war post-truths,”
Budget: 10,220,000 AMD
Duration: September 2021 - April 2022
The goal of the project was to document and reveal through visual narratives the hidden post-war issues and the unspoken side of reality in the aftermath of the conflict.
Open platform NGO, “DOK & THEATRE. A platform retelling modern text,”
Budget: 9,994,366 AMD
Duration: August 2021 - April 2022
The aim of the project is to create a forum (stage) of creative art and documental plays (performance, video-performance etc.). The platform and this innovative format aimed to create an opportunity for artists to reflect on recent pivotal developments in Armenia, such as the 44 days War, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Velvet Revolution in 2018. At least six performances were played as a part of the project, which reflect the recent developments. Performing art aimed at enabling reflection and reevaluation of the past and future. The project experiments to bring the online discourse to offline space, create communication environment and boost effective public discourse and debate. The Doc and theater project is an attempt to create a documental theater in Armenia.
Haverzh NGO, “Rethinking the code of conduct in media covering war and post-war crisis”
Budget: 8,871,000 AMD
Duration: December 2021 - May 2022
In post-war situation, the operation of the media has become more important. It is imperative to monitor the quality and impact of the content, ethical procedures during the content creation process, as well as coverage of sensitive topics and conflicts. The project aims to enhance the media quality of responsible coverage in war and post-war crisis situation, and encourage free and objective coverage of mass media. The goal of the project is to sensitize the media sector to the war and post-war crisis situations, to promote free work of the media. The project aimed at developing a methodology for assessing the problems in media sphere, related to the coverage of war and the post-war crisis, create a manual on increasing media sensitivity while covering these issues, as well as develop guidelines for working with conflict affected people in the war and post-war situations.
“Visual Innovation Studio”, “Post-war stories”
Budget: 7,999,250 AMD
Duration: February 2022 - June 2022
In the aftermath of the 44-day war, to give an opportunity to those who experienced the war particularly the young people, to share their stories, as well as to use this opportunity for post-war trauma therapeutic influence. The stories will be useful also to preserve the memory of the events for the future. A contest of short documentaries and video stories was announced for novice content creators from the regions of Armenia, Yerevan and Artsakh. Video products reflecting on human stories that were ousted from public discussion about a year and a half after the 44-day war in Artsakh or on well-known stories with new approaches were created through the eyes of young people.
Aghasi Tadevosyan, “Oral stories about the war: Lessons learned”,
Budget: 4,996,000 AMD
Duration: May 2021 - January 2022
The second Nagorno-Karabakh war was characterized by the powerlessness and insignificance of humans in the face of technology, the use of modern technical means that caused fear and horror, the brutality of human annihilation, intensity (the large number of casualties in a short time), and several other features that left a heavy and traumatic mark on people. The crises response measures generally assess refugees' needs and provide humanitarian assistance. One of the significant problems - the longer-term support for the health and rehabilitation of veterans and the society as a whole, received limited attention. The soldiers who went through the horrors of war, who have borne the heavy burden of this cruel experience, have accumulated information and experience that, if recorded, will have an impact on the structure of rehabilitation processes as well as on understanding the real consequences of the war. The issues of documentation of the war, the study of its consequences, and the influence on changing people’s worldviews, values, attitudes, and views towards war and peace are not addressed the way they should be. The changes in the attitudes of the veterans’ family members and relatives, changes in values, and the factors that shape them, in general, are also important to study. The main goal of the research project was to study the impact and consequences of the recent NK war on ex-combatants, both in terms of the traumatic repercussions it left and the transformations of veterans’ values and worldviews. Qualitative research via in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted in order to record the oral stories and study the issues raised above through qualitative materials.
Civilitas Foundation, “Raising public awareness and promoting participation in the electoral and post-election period”,
Budget: 9,910,900 AMD
Duration: June 2021 - November 2021
The project was a rapid response to snap parliamentary elections in Armenia. The aim of the project was to raise citizens’ awareness of political processes, so that they are well informed and participate in the elections by taking into account the content of the programs the candidates offer.
Boon foundation in consortium with Progressive Social Technologies NGO, “Policy and policies: BUN talks”,
Budget: 20,460,000 AMD
Duration: August 2021 - March 2022
The project aimed at increasing the effectiveness of public policy development processes through triggering constructive dialogues between civil society and state representatives on the issues of public importance. It is expected to achieve the following objectives: independent, inclusive and content-directed environment of dialogue between the state and civil society representatives; the project aimed at ensuring idea generation and increasing public awareness on current public policies and discourses.
Journalists’ Club “Asparez” NGO, “Ensuring Effective Judicial Production,”
Budget: 9,980,000 AMD
Duration: September 2021 - April 2022
The goal of the project is to increase the efficiency of the judiciary in Armenia․ In at least 13 courts in 6 regions (Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Syunik) and in Yerevan, a monitoring was implemented concerning the timing of court hearings, the condition of court buildings, furniture, equipment, software, working conditions, the capabilities and needs of judges and support staff. In addition, following the request of the Ministry of Justice it was decided to conduct the assessment of the capacity, efficiency and needs of the Public Defenders’ Office institution. The study of the work of the judiciary reveals the obstacles that hinder the effective administration of justice. Recommendations to address the identified issues are developed and presented to the stakeholders. As a result, professionals working for the judicial system; MPs, Ministry of Justice, Judicial Department, Public Defender’s office, may use the analysis and recommendations for policy changes and decision making, while NGOs may use it for advocacy and lobbying activities.
Rights and Freedom Center NGO, “Appealing the sentences of persons convicted on political grounds”
Budget: 5,680,000 AMD
Duration: November 2021 – June 2022
The goal of the project was to contribute to the improvement of the criminal justice system by creating precedents of acquittal and contributing to the prevention of the possibility of criminal prosecution of people for political views. The objectives of the project are to contribute to 1) acquittals of persons prosecuted for political views in RA after 2008, 2) recognition of violated basic rights, 3) restoration of justice. This project is addressing the March 1, 2008 events, when during a public aprising against rigged elections ten people were killed, emergency rule established, and several hundreds arrested and prosecuted. Justice is not restored yet, despite the 2018 revolution that promised the reevaluation of these events.
“Right Side” Human Rights Defender NGO, “Legal and psychological support to LGBTQI community”
Budget: 2,160,000 AMD
Duration: August 2022 – November 2022
The project goal was to contribute to legal and psychological protection of LGBTQI community through provision of legal and psychological support, as well as decrease hate speech and discrimination cases towards LGBTQI people by registering victories in the courts.
Non-discrimination and Equality Coalition, “Youth for Equality: Promoting an inclusive culture among young people in the regions of Armenia.”
Budget: 9,562,000 AMD
Duration: November 2021 – November 2022
The main goal of the project was to expand the scope of anti-discrimination practices across Armenia, involving the regional youth in the fight against discrimination. One of the sub-goals was to raise awareness among young people in different regions about various forms of discrimination, direct and indirect, double or multiple forms of discrimination, and to some extent promote a culture of equality and inclusion in their communities, including positive changes in information channels, media, language, etc.
Disability Rights Agenda NGO, “Effective and full participation in policy development and monitoring procedures”,
Budget: 9,732,000 AMD
Duration: July 2021 - February 2022
The goal of the project is to support the rights of persons with disabilities through participatory development, implementation monitoring and evaluation of the comprehensive social inclusion program for persons with disabilities. Project objectives are as follows: (1) Assess the National Comprehensive Program for 2017-2021 on the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and make suggestions for the improvement; (2) Support the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for the participatory and accessible development of the National Comprehensive Program for 2021-2026; (3) Develop the organization's institutional capabilities of monitoring and advocacy (including through the development of necessary procedures, tools, and formats) and increase the visibility of the organization.
Center for Legal Initiatives NGO, “Contributing to the effective implementation of the right to education of prisoners”,
Budget: 6,867,000 AMD
Duration: June 2021 - November 2021
The goal of the project was to promote the proper implementation of the principles adopted by the state concerning the exercise of the right to education of prisoners. In order to achieve the goal, the following actions were envisaged:
- To study the legislative-practical obstacles to the realization of the right to education of persons deprived of their liberty, and their impact at the individual level.
- To raise public awareness on the identified issues.
- To develop recommendations for improving the situation based on the results of the study.
- Conduct advocacy for the solution of the identified problems.
Intra Psychological Club NGO, “For the benefit of a healthy society: Preventing violence in schools”,
Budget: 9,717,400 AMD
Duration: July 2021 - February 2022
The goal of the project is to raise the level of awareness of students and teachers from 20 schools in Shirak region about bullying and to provide psychological support to those bullied. The objectives of the project are as follows:
- To ensure the existence of appropriate methods of prevention and solving problems in schools.
- To support the students who voice about violence, change the culture which condones violence in school classes and communities.
- Make school security solutions and practices more effective and targeted.
For equal rights NGO, “Promotion of legal mechanisms to ensure freedom of speech in the RA”
Budget: 9,985,000 AMD
Duration: October 2021 - November 2022
The aim of the project is to raise the issues in the spheres connected with freedom of speech and fight against hate speech; to guide solutions through creating a common platform for politicians, experts and stakeholders, enabling them to hold discussions and constructive debates for exchanging their ideas.
Alvan Tsaghik NGO, “Unhindered education. New opportunities,”
Budget: 8,280,000 AMD
Duration: October 2021 - May 2022
Criminal subculture is a serious challenge to societal development. It has manifested itself in almost every aspect of social relations in Armenia. The penitentiary institutions still remain the main source of ‘reproducing’ criminal subculture. The project aimed at contributing to the reduction of the negative influence of criminal subculture by reforming the educational rights of detainees in PI “Artik” and creating new opportunities in terms of new professions and skills.
“Pathway to” NGO - “Promoting inclusion among the youth in Armenia”
Budget: 7,500,000 AMD
Duration: November 2021- May 2022
In local decision-making processes, people with disabilities are often not taken into account, sometimes even when the decision directly concerns them. The goal of this project was to increase the level of inclusion of young people with and without disabilities in the participatory governance processes in Armenia.
ALT TV, “Preventing the desertification of the Ararat Plain,”
Budget: 6,694,500 AMD
Duration: October 2021 - May 2022
The Ararat Plain has faced an ecological catastrophe. The mismanagement of water resources leads to the transformation of the semi-desert landscape into a desert. The aim of the project was to prevent the decrease of the Ararat artesian basin and the desertification of the Ararat Plain by developing public awareness about the current situation.
“Heqiateren” mobile interactive puppet theatre, “A modern fairy tale in a magic suitcase”
Budget: 4,970,000 AMD
Duration: April 2022 - September 2022
The project introduceս crucial ecological issues through interactive performances to children living in the regions of Armenia, as well as to develop their critical thinking skills on the topic.
“Cultural & Social Narratives Laboratory” NGO, “Getar: Urban Transformations, Human Rights & Environment Told Through the Collective Memory of a River”,
Budget: 9,985,000 AMD
Duration: May 2021 - January 2022
The project addresses the issues of environment, urban planning and development, as a cross-cutting process affected by corruption and human rights violations, through one specific case study of the Getar river․ This interdisciplinary project is a research of collective memory of The Getar River, the history of its transformations largely based on human rights violations, the significance and the role the river had/has in the context of the development of the urban space of Yerevan. Getar, a partially closed river, which crosses the historical and residential center of Yerevan, remains a significant artery both for the ecosystem of Yerevan and for the memory and identity of its residents.
BirdLinks Armenia NGO, “Transferring the Hunting in Armenia into Responsible and Sustainable mode”,
Budget: 9,438,000 AMD
Duration: July 2021 - February 2022
The goals of the project are: 1) to introduce new State Exam for obtaining the hunters’ licenses. The main focus of the exam is testing the knowledge of the applicants on hunting rules and their skills on recognition of game birds and their differentiation from the protected species; and 2) to reshape the current public hunting lands, cutting out the areas of international conservation importance.
The proposed activities aimed at enabling a positive disposition by the Ministry of Environment of RA and an agreement to change the hunting legislation related to these two issues. BirdLinks Armenia NGO tracked the consistency of the Ministry’s position in promoting the proposed changes in legislation and developed and tested the Exam for Hunters and the appropriate training for Hunters.
“The sun shines for everyone” NGO, “Yard-community-ecosystem”
Budget: 8,830,000 AMD
Duration: December 2021 - July 2022
The main goal of the project is to create a community culture of street animal care by creating a network of dedicated volunteers. The project aims to establish an institutional framework of cooperation with the local and central authorities (police and patrol services, municipality), which is necessary for the protection and care of street animals.
Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan (YCCD) NGO, “Increased citizen participation in urban planning processes,”
Budget: 9,672,000 AMD
Duration: October 2021 - May 2022
The project aimed at identifying the problems of using public spaces and get the real picture of urban planning in Dilijan through data analysis, monitoring, interviews, research on urban planning, as well as raising public awareness and participation of civil society in urban planning decision-making processes through various public actions.
“Eco right”, “Economical use of groundwater resources in small mountainous areas”
Budget: 9,995,000 AMD
Duration: March 2022 - August 2022
The goal of the project was to increase the efficiency of water resources usage in mountainous areas, contributing to the regulation of social and environmental issues.
The objectives of the project were:
- Develop a methodology for inventory of mountain springs and evaluation of their qualitative-quantitative indicators, and apply in target communities.
- Based on the identified problems and research findings, develop recommendations for professional legal regulations on the effective management of mountain springs.
- Based on the recorded data, develop a policy summary to meet the drinking water needs of small settlements in the process of community consolidation.
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences, “Explanatory dictionary of criminal speech”
Budget: 8,403,000 AMD
Duration: November 2021 - August 2022
The goal of the project is to compose an explanatory dictionary of most common concepts and expressions in criminal jargon, which can help reduce the impact of criminal or similar behavior among teenagers and young people.
“PEN” cultural NGO, “Bibliotherapy as a way of overcoming post-war trauma”
Budget: 11,994,000 AMD
Duration: April 2022 - November 2022
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 44-day war in Artsakh, a multi-component crisis situation has emerged in Armenia. This large, multi-layered crisis requires a sound and well-thought solution, namely, through art and particularly literature, in the partial overcoming and mitigation of public trauma. Accordingly, the goal of the “Bibliotherapy as a way of overcoming post-war trauma” project implemented by “PEN” cultural NGO was to contribute to the overcoming of post-war trauma in Armenia through bibliotherapy.
“Factum” NGO- Exiled repatriates: The text of violence
Budget: 5,625,000 AMD
Duration: November 2021- February 2022
The aim of the project is to create an “encyclopedia” on the exile of 1949, when tens of thousands were exiled to Siberia, in particular, the repatriated deportees, which will comprise of factual materials: personal files, letters to authorities of USSR and Armenian SSR, applications, personal documents and family photos, oral histories, memoirs. All material will be digitized and archived. This activity addresses the root causes of violence in the Armenian society today through conducting historical excursion of human rights violations and faate of victims of the Soviet regime repressions.
All rights foundation, “School on e-literacy and digital security”,
Budget: 10,000,000 AMD
Duration: August 2021 - March 2022
The goal of the project was to increase the awareness of at least 12 young people from urban and rural communities of Shirak region on e-literacy and digital security. These beneficiaries were selected not only to participate in the trainings but also to pilot the modules and also become multipliers of the training content. It was anticipated that after intensive trainings with the invited experts the participants will get acquainted with the existing multimedia tools. The grantee will continue training new groups of beneficiaries after the completion of the project since the module developed has been successfully tested.
Mission Armenia NGO, “Digitization of archival documents of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia,”
Budget: 10,000,000 AMD
Duration: September 2021 - April 2022
The aim of the project was to finalize the digitization process of documents of those displaced from Azerbaijan from 1988-1992. According to the project, it is planned to digitize around 30.000 documents and manage 73.000 cases (available at the electronic database), in order to better advocate with the Migration Service changes needed to address the problems of this part of the population.
Vahram Martirosyan, “Mastery of writing skills”,
Budget: 3,716, 667 AMD
Duration: May 2021 - September 2021
The complexity of written communication is one of the problems that constraints free expression, the ability and willingness of people to create a content that is comprehensive, to use social media more effectively to reach wide audiences, to react on ongoing events, reforms, and legislation. These challenges influence Civil Society’s capacity to advocate professionally, and create a trustworthy content that is formulated so that it demonstrates expertise and communicability at the same time. The written language, especially on issues of public interest, is complex or distorted, often heavily influenced by foreign borrowed vocabulary. When writing a text, many Armenians, especially those who work on civil society policy papers etc., borrow terms from other languages and try to adapt them to Armenian language, sometimes making the texts incomprehensible for their beneficiaries and audience. The biggest issue that concerns text writing is the tedious linear narration, which makes the reader an “observer” rather than a “participant” and is far away from the internationally-accepted requirements for developing a policy piece. To address this issue, the project aimed at developing a course for civil society text writers on improving writing skills of public non-fiction texts, particularly those reflecting sectoral policies, popular articles, textual presentations and analysis of research.
Literary Station NGO, “Contest for young literary critics”,
Budget: 5,508,000 AMD
Duration: September 2021 - April 2022
In the times of the rapid popularization of social media platforms and with advancement of video and ‘shorts’ contents, even for learning processes, the ability of especially young people to reflect, analyze, make argumentations or fair judgement, gets limited. The goal of the project was to motivate reading habits, develop critical and analytical thinking skills among young people from Armenia, especially from the regions, through writing reviews on the works of contemporary Armenian writers.
“Sebastatsiner” Foundation, “School as a center of community development,”
Budget: 8,725,000 AMD
Duration: September 2021 - December 2021
The goal of the project is to strengthen the connection between the Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex and the community through organization of various workshops offering both the community members and the students an opportunity to obtain new knowledge and skills in an interactive environment. As a result of the project, it was expected to provide some employment opportunities for the residents of the community, giving them skills that can be used to receive new employment or establish an enterprise.
“Akhuryan” Community Development Association, “Competitive youth in labor market for business development,”
Budget: 8,708, 350 AMD
Duration: October 2021 - May 2022
Project description: According to the official statistics on unemployment rates in 2019, even before the crises of 2020, the Shirak region was leading in the negative statistics among all regions in Armenia. Reasons behind the statistics vary: incongruity between the requirements of the market and professional qualities; strict requirements posed by the employers; giving preference to youth, and many more. The goal of this project is to contribute to the development of the labor market in the Shirak region.
Homeland Development Initiative Foundation, “Empowering a bordering populace - Aygepar Community Center”
Budget: 9,999,675 AMD
Duration: June 2022 – November 2022
The project aimed to establish a community and a community center in Aygepar village. A core group of nine women are engaged in income generation activities, forming a stable community within the village. The community center, equipped with necessary facilities, serves as a social hub for the women and their families. The women actively participated in decision-making, resulting in changes to income generation activities.
Knowledge and Impact LLC- “Successful business responses to COVID-19 in Armenia: What are the supporting factors?”
Budget: 9,880,000 AMD
Duration: July 2021 - February 2022
COVID-19 outbreak generated unprecedented multifaceted crisis for economies all over the world. Armenia also did not stay away of the consequences caused by COVID-19, and in response to the pandemic, many businesses in Armenia have gone through transformations, such as work from home, remote operations, digitalization. In the case of some companies such changes were adopted for the first time. In this light, an in-depth exploration of innovative/inspiring business approaches in Armenia as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic is suggested by KnI LLC. The project applied a two-step methodology: a quantitative analysis (desk research) and a qualitative data collection (action research) to explore the innovative and inspiring business response to the pandemic.
The text was edited on June 29, 2023
"Civil Society Support for Ensuring Impact on Reforms” project is implemented by Eurasia Partnership Foundation with the support of Swedish Government.
