On May 24 the online regional meeting devoted to the presentation of the sub-grant programs of Shirak region was held. The representatives of all enlarged communities of Armenia participated in the online meeting. The projects implemented in Arpi, Ashotsq, Sarapat, Akhuryan, Marmashen and in other communities of the region were represented.

The Citizens Voice and Actions on Local Development in Consolidated Communities in Armenia is a 30-month EU funded project aiming to support the on-going government reforms and enhance capacity of consolidated communities in designing and implementing people-centered and sustainable local development projects. The project is implemented by a consortium of organizations: Communities Finance Officers Organization (CFOA), Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), Union of Communities of Armenia (UCA) with CFOA as a lead organization.

The project is designed to enhance the capacity of recently consolidated communities in designing and implementing people-centred and sustainable local projects that promote outdoor activities and local tourism in consolidated communities. The competition targeted the enlarged communities of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn marzes.

7 inter-community cooperation programs were funded in the field of local tourism development.

It should be noted that another discussion will take place, during which the programs implemented in Tavush marze will be represented.

The project coordinator Artashes Abrahamyan stated that the project gives opportunity to the communities for better economic development. Initially, the goal of the program was to establish inter-community cooperation, which was implemented through inter-community programs.

The aim of online meetings is to create an opportunity for communities to exchange experience, motivate other communities, lay the ground for duplication of implemented programs and ideas, turn them into inter-community as well as state programs.

At the end of the meeting Fabiana Gorassini by the example of Sauris community represented the European good practice in tourism development sphere.