CARD Foundation (Armenia), CARE International in the Caucasus and CiDA (Georgia) for almost two years now have developed cross-border cooperation within the project “Poverty Reduction and Confidence-building in Border Areas of Georgia and Armenia by Strengthening Civil Societies in Sustainable Rural Development” (STAGE II).

The activities implemented during the project were focused both on developing capacities of the civil society organizations and local government, building dialogues and sharing experiences and knowledge among representatives of both countries.

In March 2011, as a result of Strategic Planning and Policy development consultancies, all three target CSOs – “Shirak Competitiveness Centre”, “Spitak-Farmer” Association and “Yerevak” NGO received essential inputs in developing their internal policies and revisiting their 5-year strategic plans. The workshops were conducted individually in order to maximum meet the needs of each CSO and ensure active participation of their members.

Further, in April 2011, a workshop on Urban Planning was organized for Spitak municipality. This topic was also identified through needs assessment conducted at the beginning of the project. Since 1988 Earthquake, Spitak community has not had architectural layout for the town. Despite some construction work implemented, the town still needs reconstruction, beautification and naming of the streets. This workshop aimed at developing the skills and capacities of the members of Spitak Municipality’s urban planning department. Together with the consultant, the participants developed the draft of the assignment/ request on the layout of the town.

Two study tours were organized in the frame of the STAGE II Project. In March 2010 the Armenian partners hosted Georgian colleagues and presented their projects and activities in Shirak and Lori regions. On May 2-4, 2011, the Armenian delegation, among them the management of CARD Foundation, representatives of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and regional governments, Mayors of Spitak and Noyemberyan towns and Directors of CSOs visited Georgia.

During the three-day study tour organized by CiDA and CARE international in the Caucasus, the Armenian delegates visited different project sites in Marneuli, Bio-farm and Milk processing facility in Akhalkalaki municipality, met with Rustavi Mayor Zakro Darchiashvili and Advisor to Georgian President Van Baiburt and participated in the Local Economic Forum organized in Tbilisi.

Similar events aim at strengthening the existing links between the partners in Armenia and Georgia and build new networks for cooperation. The project is still in the implementation phase, but the outcomes have already ensured positive impact on the communities benefiting from the STAGE II Project.

“Poverty Reduction and Confidence-building in Border Areas of Georgia and Armenia by Strengthening Civil Societies in Sustainable Rural Development” (STAGE II) Project is financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation and Cooperation with Eastern Europe (ADC) (for more information please visit: www.mfa.at/adc, www.ada.gv.at), implemented by CARE Osterreich and CARE International in the Caucasus, along with the partner organizations – Civil Development Agency (CiDA) in Georgia and Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) in Armenia.