The Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation, in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, has successfully published a policy paper entitled «Սոցիալական Բարեփոխումները Հայաստանում II» (“Social Reforms in Armenia II”) in both Armenian and English, focusing on Agriculture, Mining and Education.
Download the PDF format of the English version.
In 2011, the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation (HMF) with the financial support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) of Germany published, “Social Reforms in Armenia,” the objective of which was to present groundbreaking policy papers to address the inherent problems in three critical sectors of healthcare, social housing and employment. This program was in line with the core mission of the HMF: to formulate informed policy solutions, present them to all relevant stakeholders and advocate for their implementation.
Thereby, this initiative was realized to fill the void of public policy discourse in the country, which continues to contribute to mounting social exclusion and polarization in society. We hope it will help broaden the scope of diverse approaches and begin to close the gap that exists between current government practices and the expectations of citizens for better access to services. When citizens are left out of the decision-making process they become further alienated from all political, economic and social processes. If the government of Armenia wants to mitigate the dangers of social exclusion, disillusionment, migration and lack of trust in the authorities, it must allow for a broader public discussion of those issues which directly impact the lives of its citizens.
This second volume, “Social Reforms in Armenia II” aims to continue in this vein and here the reader will find viable, applicable policy solutions that will address critical problems and shortcomings in yet another three spheres of national importance. The first paper, “The Republic of Armenia’s Strategy for the Development of Agriculture” underscores the critical importance of productive, efficient agriculture as a key precondition for economic development and presents a strategy for the coming decade in the agricultural sector. The second, “The Main Issues of the Development of the Mining Industry in Armenia,” includes the economic potential and basic issues of development
and the legal regulation of the mining industry.The third paper, “The Social Protection of Teachers in the General Education System of the Republic of Armenia,” evaluates the current issues of the social security of teachers in the RA public education system, reveals the infringements of their social rights and makes recommendations for their improvement.
Applying best practices and evidence-based research to help understand these issues and to explore the implications of this research for the design and implementation of policy initiatives will lead to more modern policy-making. It will result in better public services, foster broader involvement of the public in the decision-making process, encourage greater citizenship and better utilize creativity in organizations and communities and the final result will be securing public confidence through greater transparency.
Both the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung stand firm in the belief that the objective of coherent public policy is to identify and solve problems, and by doing so improve the lives of citizens, contribute to their quality of life and ensure a just and socially sustainable society.
This study, “Social Reforms in Armenia,” commissioned by the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation (HMF) and made possible through the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) of Germany, provides a timely analysis of issues confronting policy-makers in Armenia for three critical sectors: Healthcare, Social Housing and Employment.
Applying best practices and evidence-based research to help understand these issues and to explore the implications of this research for the design and implementation of policy initiatives will lead to more modern policy-making. It will result in better public services, foster broader involvement of the public in the decision-making process, encourage greater citizenship and better utilize creativity in organizations and communities and the final result will be securing public confidence through greater transparency.
The aim of “Social Reforms in Armenia” is to supply high quality, independent research that will foster and inform the public policy debate in Armenia. By tapping into wider sources of information, perspectives and potential solutions, the government can improve the quality of policy making and build public trust in government, and contribute to strengthening democracy and civic capacity.
Ultimately, the aim of this study is to begin to embark upon a national discourse in those areas where there are serious shortcomings and in some cases a lack of an enduring and coherent policy. We foresee that “Social Reforms in Armenia” will be a first in a series of such studies to help broaden the scope of diverse approaches and begin to close the gap that exists between current government practices and the expectations of citizens for better access to services. The right of everyone to affordable and accessible healthcare, housing and employment are among the many challenges that the government of Armenia must address in the coming years if it wants to mitigate the dangers of social exclusion, disillusionment, migration and lack of trust in the authorities.
Both the Hrayr Maroukhian Foundation and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung stand firm in the belief that the objective of coherent public policy is to identify and solve problems, and by doing so improve the lives of citizens, contribute to their quality of life and ensure a just and socially sustainable society.
