2009-2011

ICHD supports the capacity building of Armenian institutions directly involved in the implementation of the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan. Since April 2009, ICHD together with its partners in Consortium: Altair Asesores (Spain), the leading partner, East West Consulting (EWC), European Consultants Organisation (ECO), and European Social, legal and Economic Projects - ESTEP (Lithuania) implements a 24 months long Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre (AEPLAC)- Phase V project aimed primarily at building a long-lasting capacity in public administration of Armenia to implement the PCA and the ENP AP, in cooperation with the EU Advisory Group and under the guidance of the EU Delegation.

2001 - ongoing

One of the major domains of ICHD’s development practice focuses on policy analysis and formulation capacities of public and civil society institutions in Armenia and in the region. ICHD targets these capacities through training, study tours, expertise, discussions, networks of practitioners, etc. ICHD’s experience on assisting the government and non-governmental institutions in policy development covers a wide spectrum of sectors ranging from economic development, public finance management and anti-corruption, migration management and Diaspora relations, education, public health and gender based violence.

2001-ongoing

ICHD policy research team is carefully choosing the most suitable and effective approach to each and every problem. Thus, in the research on the tobacco taxation and illicit tobacco trade issues in Armenia, ICHD experts have mostly focused on individual problems and their solutions with the primary aim to identify the most effective and efficient solution in technical and economic terms for tax raise policy.

Further, while estimating the remittance flows and channels of remittance transfers to Armenia, ICHD analysts focused on political processes and stakeholders involved also addressing the political dimension of the problem. Through this research ICHD team have determined the processes and channels of remittance transfers, analyzed the effects of remittances on poverty in Armenia, explained the role and influence of stakeholders within the policy process and provided policy recommendations to enhance positive effects of remittances on poverty in Armenia.

In assessing the impact of the World Bank and Armenian Government funded Education Quality and Relevance Project ICHD researchers have approached the entire system and context of education in Armenia. The political, economic and socio-cultural contextual factors, as well as sub systems including links of secondary education system with pre-school and high school systems, system of assessing pupils, school graduation and university entrance examinations system, teachers training system, integration of ICT into the teaching and learning process have been considered.

Meanwhile, in each and every policy study and policy research ICHD carried out our experts tried to determine which of various alternative policies will most achieve the area and issue specific goals in light of the relations between the policies and the goals – tried to explain policies and their development, formulated policies and recommendations.

2001-ongoing

The tobacco control is another key focus of the Center and a cornerstone of ICHD’s activities since 2001. Smoking rate is traditionally very high in Armenia. About one third of Armenian adults are regular smokers. About 3,000 deaths of smokers at the age of 35-69 years in Armenia are due to diseases caused by smoking. The smoking prevalence is rather high among the adolescents. The accession of Armenia to the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004, triggered elaboration and adoption of stricter legislation and policies on tobacco control.  However, the tobacco industry lobbying is very strong in Armenia. ICHD is a leading organization with its 12 projects in this area. The economic impact of stronger tobacco control policies were in particular focus of the Center. The ICHD was the key player in lobbying for Armenia’s accession to the FCTC and in recent increase of tobacco taxes. Two key ICHD associates represented the EURO region respectively in FCTC protocols on Illicit Tobacco Trade and in Tobacco Farming. ICHD has produced a number of publications and conducted the first ever comprehensive nationwide smoking prevalence survey in Armenia. The Center is a member to Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) and Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA). The ICHD operates a unique Tobacco Control web portal at http://nosmoking.ichd.org.

2001-ongoing

ICHD assists reforms in the security sector in Armenia and in the region through advocating for democratic governance in the security sector and promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the major systems of collective security including the NATO.