On 4 June, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia organized a public discussion of the 2027-2029 Draft Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), including the development of the 2027 State Budget, with the participation of interested civil society organizations (hereinafter referred to as CSOs).
Ms Marine Zhamkochyan, Ms Susanna Yeghiazaryan and Ms Armine Grigoryan, representatives of the “Business and Education Association” NGO, which currently is implementing a sub-grant programs within the framework of the “Budgets for Citizens” Project, as well as Ms Arpine Hakobyan, and Ms Nane Mkhitaryan from the “NGO Center” Civil Society Development NGO attended the discussion as well.
During the public discussion, the Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the RA presented in their speeches the main objectives planned for the next three years, emphasizing the importance of measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of the social protection system, promoting employment, expanding access to social services, and supporting vulnerable groups. Reference was also made to the reforms being implemented in the sector, the principles of result-based budgeting and the need for targeted and effective use of state funds.
The program directions envisaged in the areas of pension security, social assistance, housing and employment of the state programs, as well as the programs concerning the children, elderly, persons with disabilities, women and the fight against human trafficking were presented. Particular attention was also paid to the digitalization process of sectoral services, which is expected to introduce a more user friendly toolkit of electronic services for citizens, and save both time and resources.
The discussion was an important platform for the representatives of civil society to present their observations and recommendations in the process of developing the MTEF and the state budget, as well as to get acquainted with the upcoming program priorities in the social protection sector.
