On 19 June, the start of the face-to-face (offline) training phase of the budget training program for young professionals and CSO/Mass Media representatives was launched within the framework of the “Budgets for Citizens” project.

The stage began with the speech of Ms Lilit Hakobyan, an expert on the budgetary component of the project, representative of the “Economic Development and Research Center” (EDRC) NGO.
The topic of the first lesson was the analysis of public budgets, in the framework of which the participants together with the expert raised a number of questions and had a productive discussion on the objectives, application, financial volumes, costs and revenues of the budget analysis.

Further, having the aim to ensure a more interactive process and develop practical skills, the participants carried out group and practical activities, trying to master the budget analysis.

During the course, both the young professionals and the CSO/Mass Media representatives filled out the preliminary tests developed by the expert, and at the end of the lesson, the final knowledge verification tests. The purpose of the tests is to evaluate the effectiveness of the course and the growth of the participants’ knowledge.

The course is conducted 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).