Results of the Three-Year Project “Partnerships for Syunik – Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” Summarised

The conference was organised by the implementing organisations: People in Need (PIN), WINNET Goris Development Foundation, and Caritas Armenia. The event was attended by Heriknaz Tigranyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia; Members of Parliament Lilit Stepanyan and Gayane Yeghiazaryan; H.E. Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia; Tatevik Stepanyan, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia; Arnak Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia; as well as representatives of state and local self-government bodies, civil society organisations, international partners, social service providers, project partners, and participants.

H .E. Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, highlighted that sustainable regional development cannot be achieved without accessible and quality social services. He emphasised that the nine types of community social services piloted within the project have already had a significant impact on the lives of the residents of Syunik. He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia for supporting the accreditation of civil society organisations, as well as to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure for ensuring continued financing of services by local authorities.

In her welcoming remarks, Tatevik Stepanyan, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia, noted that the project provided an important opportunity to pilot new models of social service delivery, several of which have already received sustainable state funding. According to her, the social taxi service and home adaptation services for persons with disabilities have contributed to the development of larger-scale state programmes, which will be further integrated into the state budget.

Arnak Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, highlighted the important role of communities, noting that the capacities developed within the project will ensure continuity, while several services have already been incorporated into municipal budgets. According to him, the development of community-centred social services is an important step towards decentralising service provision and ensuring a more effective response to the actual needs of residents.

Kristopher Schmitz, Country Director, PIN Armenia, noted that the project’s main value lies in the partnership established between the state, communities, and civil society, which enables the replication of developed solutions in other communities of Armenia and ensures their long-term sustainability.

Representatives of PIN, WINNET Goris Development Foundation, and Caritas Armenia highlighted that through participatory planning conducted in all seven communities of Syunik, the services selected and piloted were those directly responding to the priority needs identified by communities. Some of the tested models have already secured municipal or state funding, and represent one of the project’s key achievements.

Partnership for Syunik key results:

• 30+ social sector professionals from over 15 CSOs and communities improved their professional capacities;

• 9 community-based social services were piloted or improved by 12 CSOs and 4 municipalities;

• Community social committees were established and strengthened in 7 communities in Syunik;

• Social development and social service plans were developed and approved in the same 7 communities;

• The communities of Goris, Sisian, Kapan, and Meghri will continue providing newly introduced social services through municipal funding;

• The communities of Goris, Tegh, Tatev, and Kajaran have started financing social services delivered by CSOs;

• 4 CSOs received state certification to provide 5 social services and transitioned from European Union to state financing;

• More than 850 residents of Syunik have benefited from social services provided by the project.

Special attention during the conference was given to the sustainability of the results. It was highlighted that several services piloted with EU funding have already secured state or municipal financing, while these approaches have contributed to shaping new state programmes and policies in the field of social protection.

Partnerships for Syunik

Date: Jul 10, 2026   Place: Armenia   Author: PIN   

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The “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project is implemented by People in Need within the framework of the EU Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative, in cooperation with the WINNET Goris Development Foundation and the Armenian Caritas.
The Resilient Syunik – Team Europe Initiative is a joint programme involving the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ten EU Member States (Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden), and Switzerland. This initiative promotes sustainable socio-economic development in the Syunik region.