Hovhannes Avetisyan

Hovhannes Avetisyan is an expert in public policies and public finance management.
He graduated from the Armenian State University of Economics.

Studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy – Tufts University, Georgia State and Harvard Universities.

He worked in the RA Ministry of Finance as the Head of the Bilateral Financial and Technical Cooperation Department, and in the RA Ministry of Economy as the Head of the Investment Policy Department.
He was a National Expert on Financial Management and Cost Accounting of the United Nations; Senior Expert of the European Union Delegation; Expert on Public Policy and Management of the EU-funded project “Support to Coordination of EU Projects”; Expert on Public Policy and Management at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Yelena Manukyan

Yelena Manukyan holds a PhD degree from the Armenian State University of Economics and boasts an impressive professional career spanning over 25 years. Her involvement with the Economic Development and Research Center (EDRC) has been consistent since its foundation, and she currently serves as an EDRC Board Member.

Her extensive background includes notable positions such as working in the Department of Macroeconomic Analysis at the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy. Notably, Yelena’s expertise as a data analyst has been a significant facet of her professional journey. She served as a statistician and data scientist for several large-scale, representative surveys at both the national and regional levels, with projects developed and implemented by the EDRC.

Moreover, Yelena Manukyan has undertaken numerous international consulting assignments, collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the World Bank, the German Agency for International Cooperation, Asian Development Bank, among others. Her consulting portfolio covers a wide range of topics, including international trade analyses, development of export-led growth strategies, price and macroeconomic situation analyses, external evaluations of public programs, and various other topics.

Bela Gevorgyan

Bela Gevorgyan is a seasoned professional in Public Finance Management, specializing in Program Budgeting. Since 2007, she has actively contributed to various programs dedicated to the implementation of Program Budgeting. Her work spans both methodological development and collaboration with government bodies to facilitate the adoption of appropriate methodologies. Bela holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).

Over the past 15 years, she has played a key role in the development and reform of the state finance system. Her contributions include the dissemination of program budgeting, the Fiduciary Management System, Government Financial Management Information Systems (GFMIS), and other related areas.

Jana Stehnová

Currently enrolled in an MPA program at the Institute for Public Administration Prague, Jana Stehnová holds a master’s degree from the University of Economics, Prague, with a focus on international politics and diplomacy, complemented by a minor in Lobbying and public administration.

Jana’s expertise lies in anti-corruption, fiscal and budget transparency and open governance, garnered through roles at Transparency International – Česká republika, ASTRA – Asociace pro Transparentnost, AGORA CE, and Integria. Her proficiency spans various domains, including democratization and rule of law, trans-national cooperation, good governance, open governance, political financing, and campaigns financing.

Areg Tadevosyan

President of “Intercultural Research and Development” NGO. He graduated from the Department of Biophysics of the Faculty of Biology of YSU, as well as the post-graduate course of the same faculty. He was an author and co-author of numerous articles, training manuals and research papers in the fields of youth work, civic education, non-formal learning, personal development and intercultural learning.

Since 1993, he has been working as a youth work specialist, trainer, researcher and consultant for various local and international organizations, state and public institutions.

He participated in almost all the main programs of development and development of the youth policy of RA, carried out a number of regional studies of the Council of Europe.

He was the president of the “National Team of Trainers” NGO.

Karine Harutyunyan

Karine Harutyunyan, holds a PhD degree, serves as a associate professor at the Department of Economic and Mathematical Methods at the Armenian State University of Economics. With a rich academic background, Mrs. Harutyunyan has been an integral part of the Economic Development and Research Center since its foundation. Her contributions encompass a spectrum of roles, from expert consultations to program management. Since 2004, she has held a position on the Center’s Board, and since 2012, she has served as the Center’s executive director.

During the period of 1998-2004, Mrs. Harutyunyan worked in the Macroeconomic Department of the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy. Subsequently, from 2007 to 2016, she provided consulting services at the Training Center of the Ministry.

Specialized in socio-economic research and analysis, Karine Harutyunyan boasts over 24 years of experience. Her expertise as an expert and consultant extends to involvement in more than 60 research and consulting projects initiated by EU, GIZ, UNDP, ADB, WB, and other international organizations.

Mrs. Harutyunyan’s professional interests lie in the domains of public finance management, program budgeting, public policy and program monitoring and evaluation. Actively participating in reforms within these areas at the central level, she continues to contribute significantly to advancements in these crucial sectors.

Suzanna Soghomonyan

Expert at the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.

She was actively involved in the development of the alternative law on the independent anti-corruption body in Armenia, as well as the revision of the bill on the whistleblowing system. Suzanna Soghomonyan graduated from the American University of Armenia and the RA National Academy of Sciences with a master’s degree in law. She also completed the intensive summer course “Leadership and Management for Integrity” of the Central European University (CEU).

In 2020-2021, she was a non-judge member of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the General Assembly of Judges.

In 2017, S. Soghomonyan was one of the anti-corruption leaders who was sent to the United Kingdom to assist the RA government in 2015-2018 through educational meetings to the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy and the program of measures for its implementation.

She is a lecturer at the Anti-corruption School of Young Leaders. She was also a national legal expert and consultant to the EU, CE, OSCE, USAID, UNHCR, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the USA in Armenia, the Czech Republic and in projects financed by the embassies of the German Federation.

Lilit Hakobyan

Lilit Hakobyan (PhD), brings over a decade of expertise to the fields of socio-economic research and policy analysis, coupled with five years of substantial experience in public finance management, particularly in Program Budgeting. Her practical and academic background is extensive. Since 2013, she has been an integral part of the Economic Development and Research Center (EDRC), and since 2018, she has been contributing to the academic landscape as a lecturer at the Department of Economic and Mathematical Methods at the Armenian State University of Economics.

From 2018 to 2022, Lilit Hakobyan actively participated in programs aimed at Full flaged implementation of the Program Budgeting strategy led by the German International Cooperation Company (ICC). Her role encompassed reviewing the structure and content of budget programs, introducing new Key performance indicators, as well as conducting capacity building events for state employees involved in the budgeting processes.

Moreover, Lilit Hakobyan has more than five years of experience in developing and implementing capacity building courses for both government and public sector professionals.

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