On 12 July, trainings on the topic of monitoring and evaluation of budget programs with the participation of young professionals and CSO/Mass Media representatives were held within the framework of the face-to-face (offline) training phase of the budget training program of “Budgets for Citizens” project.

Ms Karine Harutyunyan, Executive Director of the “Economic Development and Research Center” (EDRC) NGO, Expert of the budgetary component of the project, discussed monitoring, social audit, control of public expenditures and independent budget analysis with the participants.

Further, the types of budget analysis were studied separately and the types and criteria of assessment were considered.

Afterwards, the practical part followed the theoretical part. The participants tried to develop the main criteria for evaluating the budget program and to formulate the main questions for each evaluation criterion.

At the beginning and at the completion of the training, the participants completed initial and final knowledge assessment tests having the aim to check the growth of knowledge on the topic.

The courses are held in a hybrid method, in face-to-face and online (remote) formats, with the aim of giving young professionals and representatives of CSOs and Mass Media from distant marzes the opportunity to participate in the courses and have their input in the improvement of the sector.

The “Budgets 4 Citizens” (B4C) action (8 December, 2022 – 7 December, 2026) is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, in cooperation with partners “Economic Development and Research Center” (EDRC) NGO and “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic).