Nature conservation and community development can go hand in hand; a vivid proof of this was the practical micro-project development workshop held in Dilijan.
Within the framework of the “Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia” program, and as part of the “Implementation of the Financial Participatory Approach (FPA) in Communities Adjacent to Dilijan National Park” initiative, working groups and local self-government representatives from target settlements adjacent to Dilijan National Park gathered together to collectively form important community initiatives.
At the beginning of the meeting, Arpine Hakobyan, President of the “NGO Center” Civil Society Development NGO, and Sergey Hovhannisyan, Expert at WWF-Armenia, welcomed the participants and detailed the terms and opportunities of the grant competition. Following the welcome remarks and the theoretical part, the most exciting phase the practical stage began. Mentored by the NGO Center team, participants immediately started working on turning ideas into concrete project proposals.
As a reminder, the competition aims to support initiatives that will contribute to the socio-economic development of communities and the sustainable use of natural resources. One winning micro-project will be funded from each settlement.
The participants’ enthusiasm and joint work already create a wonderful foundation for the sustainable future of our communities.
This initiative is a component of the broader project “Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia.” In collaboration with WWF-Armenia, NGO Center provides facilitation and consultancy services aimed at community self-organization. The project involves organizing community meetings, defining priorities, and developing micro-projects that contribute to both environmental conservation and the improvement of local livelihoods.