Within the framework of “Social and Ecological Responsibility" project, a working meeting of Social and Ecological Consortium took place on August 13, 2021 at EcoLur Press Club, where the draft toolkit for developing a socio-ecological database in the communities was discussed. This toolkit should be used to collect data on the socio-ecological situation in Odzun and Akhtala Communities in Lori Region, Geghamasar and Verin Getashen Communities in Gegharkunik Region and Sisian and Goris Communities in Syunik Region.
The representatives of the Social and Ecological Consortium, “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs took part in this meeting.
Project Expert Rosa Julhakyan presented the draft main structure of the toolkit-format, according to which a 3-part toolkit-format is proposed. The first information-analytical part should reflect the social profile of the affected community, the description of the current community development program, including the community budget, received official subsidies and subventions, information on projects implemented in the community with the funding of international organizations, large organizations operating in the administrative area of the community, information on the risks to human health, their negative impact on the environment, the assistance these organizations provide to the community, as well as the current environmental profile of the community.
The second part of the toolkit will include the clarifications of the local governments of the affected communities on the official data and the state of factual performance, the proposals for the development of the green economy, the possibilities of attracting possible financial and non-financial resources.
In order to ensure pluralism, the 3rd part of the toolkit will include the opinion of different social groups of the affected population, an assessment of the socio-ecological condition of their community, and proposals for the development of a socio-ecological and green economy of the community.
The completed toolkit-format analysis will be the basis for establishing a database, which, in its turn, will allow the development of socio-environmental policy for a specific community.
The next step is to establish databases with the participation of active residents of the communities, local self-government bodies.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is implemented in the partnership of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Community Mobilization and Support Center” NGO and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
August 17, 2021 at 13:28