On 2 July, separate trainings with the participation of young professionals and CSO/Mass Media representatives on the implementation of advocacy in the budget process, as well as the expected results from that process were held within the framework of the face-to-face (offline) training phase of the budget training program. The trainings are conducted within the framework of the “Budgets for Citizens” project.

At the beginning of the training, the young professionals and CSO/Mass Media representatives filled out the initial knowledge verification tests, after which Ms Syuzanna Soghomonyan, the representative of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, delivered a lecture on the topic. She talked about the stages of implementation of budget advocacy, target groups of advocacy, as well as methods of advocacy at the state and local levels, emphasizing the expected results from the process.

The theoretical part of the training was followed by the practical part, where the participants were divided into groups and completed the task of the day that is, developing a draft advocacy plan with its constituent parts.

During the course, the participants had an effective discussion on the obstacles in each stage of the implementation of the advocay, the development of the Advocacy Plan, as well as the evaluation of the participatory processes and the expected results.

The course concluded with the completion of the final knowledge verification test, which was aimed to assess the level of knowledge of the participants before and after the course.

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).