YEREVAN, July 24. /ARKA/. The first international round table on EU LEADER rural development methodology in Armenia's Lori and Tavush marzes initiated by the EU-funded Local Empowerment of Actors for Development Programme. (LEAD) was held on Monday in Yerevan.

The goal of the event was to present the work done over the last three years on LEADER methodology implementation in Lori and Tavush marzes, targeting and engaging a wider range of stakeholders, including representatives of national and provincial government bodies, civil society organizations and the academic sector, who can have a crucial role in the process of LEADER implementation.

The event can serve as a platform for expanding LEADER in national rural development policies and programs.

Over the last three years, LEADER methodology projects have been implemented in Lori, Tavush and Shirak marzes of Armenia. In particular, five Local Action Groups were established, embracing most of the villages of the marzes.

In a similar format, three more Local Action Groups were established in the Shirak region with EU funding and the efforts of the Austrian Development Agency.

The groups are composed of representatives of the public, private and civil society sectors who, in accordance with the principles of integrated development, have created their own strategic action programs.

In the first half of 2023, each group set development goals to be implemented over the next two years and announced the first local grant competition.

After selecting proposals that comply with the purpose of the program and are feasible to implement, the first actions of the groups were launched in June.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili told reporters that the program is funded by the EU and implemented by the UNDP.

"The aim is to involve communities in development programs. This approach has been quite effective in different countries," she noted.

According to her, UNDP is using the LEADER approach in many countries. She singled out Moldova, which she said is one step ahead in terms of its application.

Armenia's Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Vache Terteryan emphasized the importance of the event in his opening speech.

"We have our own clear-cut idea about the future of LEADER. The exchange of experience will be very useful for us to clarify uncertainties and move forward," he said.

Frank Hess, Head of the Cooperation Department at the EU Delegation to Armenia, said that it will be interesting to get acquainted with Moldova's experience and see what can be taken as an example from that experience for use in Armenia.

Anush Sarkisyan, Head of Debed Village Administration of Pambak community, underlined that within the framework of the program, a target group was selected, including three communities of Tumanyan, Gyulagarak and Pambak. She said that the participants were selected from the communities, after which a strategic action plan was created.

The roundtable was attended by UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili, representatives of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the EU Delegation to Armenia, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, the regional administrations of Lori and Tavush marzes, stakeholders and others.

Experts invited from Moldova shared their successful experience and opinions on the implementation of LEADER methodology and program implementation in national policies. -0-