THE ITALIAN PARTECIPATION IN THE RURAL POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAM

The Armenian Government launched in September 2006 an ambitious project aimed at promoting the development of 50 villages located on the borders (which were selected among a first set of 159 communities). The project is focused on the eradication of rural poverty and on the need of balancing the economic growth of the country concentrated mostly the capital city. The initiative is following 3 main streams: building of new infrastructures, developing economy and promoting democratic institutions by means of a ‘community engagement’ scheme. Each village will be entitled to have irrigation and water supply pipelines, medical and school facilities, telephone networks, paved streets, access to internet and television. As far as the economic development is concerned, special micro-crediting policies will be adopted to enhance private entrepreneurship and, where possible, to specialize single villages in separate production sectors. Furthermore, particular care will be devoted to stimulate the idea of the ownership of the initiative by means of a direct involvement of local communities in the implementation of the projects. According to the Government’s intentions, the project will have to be harmonized with what UNDP has already been doing in Armenia, as well as with the USA Millennium Challenge Account and the World Bank activities, so as to avoid overlapping and redundant efforts. The involvement of the Armenian Diaspora will be crucial, as already sensitized by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian, during his missions abroad. As a matter of fact, Italy will be the first country taking part in this important initiative by contributing the conspicuous amount of 500,000 euros for an action to be developed in the region of Tavush.

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