Sotq, Kut and Tretuq Villages in Gegharkunik Region, Armenia, were included in Vardenis enlarged communityf. Prior to that, the villages were part of Geghamasar Community, where Sotq was the administrative center. These three villages have many problems that have not yet been solved. The issue of security, which was aggravated by the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war, is a priority. For years, the problems of job shortages, environmental pollution due to mining, lack of water resources, low social status, uncertainty of economic development remain unresolved.
Administrative representatives and residents of Sotq, Kut and Tretuq Villages met with the teams of "EcoLur" and "Martuni Women's Community Council" NGOs in Sotk on February 4, 2022.
The meeting took place within the framework of "Social and Ecological Responsibility" project, with the aim of identifying the existing problems in Vardenis Community and discussing possible solutions.
The representatives of "EcoLur" and "Martuni Women's Community Council" NGOs discussed with the residents of the settlement the step-by-step completion of "Data collection tool-measure for environmental and social policy assessment". The data collected as a result of filling in the thermometer will allow to develop the socio-ecological policy of Vardenis Community, which will be aimed at solving the problems.
Anahit Gevorgyan, President of Martuni Women's Community Council NGO, noted that the post-war situation, compounded by environmental problems in the settlements, has exacerbated the obstacles to economic development prospects.
Inga Zarafyan, President of "EcoLur" Informational NGO, noted that one of the goals of the program was to force companies to fulfill social and ecological obligations and support the development of the community.
The residents were able to raise the issues raised during the meeting and expressed their willingness to work out possible ways to solve them by filling in the tool-measure.
The details of the meeting and the information on the socio-ecological problems of Vardenis Community will be presented in the next publications.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The 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 “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
February 08, 2022 at 09:47