2013

The overall objective of conducting country consultations was to stimulate discussions amongst national stakeholders involved in addressing MDGs, and voice out the perspectives, challenges and concerns of various groups of common citizens who were directly influenced by policies that contribute to the achievement of MDGs. The consultations in Armenia, happening in 2013 targeted several specific objectives: (i) ensure inclusive consultations with representatives from the government, non-governmental organizations, private sector, women’s groups, youth, social movements, and other social groups, such as marginalized poor, and refugees, and gain their inputs on development priorities; (ii) analyse the areas of primary importance related to the work and mandates of the different UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes working in Armenia (like population, migration, governance, food security situation, children, refugees and HIV/AIDS among others), and other important stakeholders in the process; (iii) provide analysis, conclusions and recommendations to UN Country Team (UNCT) on key issues for post-2015 global development priorities/agenda. These objectives were met through elaborating THM scenarios around five thematic areas pre-determined by the UN Coordination Team; organizing 12 Town Hall Meeting with stakeholder groups. More than 500 participants from the regions and 150 participants from Yerevan voiced out their ideas and concerns about the proposed scenarios. The results of the THMS were presented at the Validation Workshop, where critical appraisal and discussions allowed participants to professionally assess, evaluate and validate the proposed ideas and recommendations. To conclude the initiative a final report was drafted to reflect the findings both from the THMs and the Validation Workshop. It actually reflected the consolidated results of cooperative and inclusive multi-stakeholder process.