Social-ecological engagement for resilience (2024)

In cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Yerevan Office – South Caucasus Region, the Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO implements a project titled “Social-ecological engagement for resilience.”

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In recent years, Armenia has witnessed an increase in cases where various well-known and newly established mining and geological exploration companies target ecologically important areas within or adjacent to rural communities for mining exploration and exploitation. The geography of more than three dozen such cases in the last four years shows that these lands are mostly alpine zones of socio-ecological significance. As a result, villagers are often compelled to defend their socio-ecological rights and interests and engage in actions and public discussions. In the meantime, they struggle to carry out effective civic campaigns and protect their interests.

The goal of the project is to increase the socio-ecological resilience of three communities in Armenia by empowering active citizens in these communities to plan and implement effective civic campaigns.

To pursue the goal, the following objectives are set:

1. Strengthen the ability of community activists and initiatives to design and implement civic campaigns, prioritizing the Lori, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Tavush, Gegharkunik, and Ararat regions of RA.

2. Support the planning and implementation of civic campaigns aimed at addressing community socio-ecological problems and create dialogue between affected individuals and decision-makers.

3. Develop a guide to local democracy tools for activists, which will contain descriptions of mechanisms stemming from the RA Local Self-Government Law, through which community activists can carry out advocacy processes at the local level.

To accomplish this goal and objectives, civic activists will improve their skills in conducting civic campaigns that address socio-ecological problems. Roundtable discussions will be organized in the target communities, and a guide for utilizing local democracy mechanisms will be developed and disseminated among activists and NGOs.