Brief description
The project aims to strengthen the participation of Armenia’s largest ethnic minority – the Yezidi community – in local and national decision-making processes, with a particular focus on women and youth. By strengthening leadership skills, fostering dialogue between communities and authorities, and elevating community perspectives in public discussions, the initiative promotes inclusive governance and greater civic participation. The project creates opportunities for underrepresented voices to influence local and national agendas while contributing to a more equitable and responsive environment for minority communities in Armenia.
Project Goal
To contribute to the realization of minority rights by strengthening the participation and leadership of Yezidi women and youth and promoting inclusive, evidence-based policy dialogue on minority rights in Armenia.
Main Objectives
- To strengthen the meaningful participation and leadership of Yezidi community members, particularly women and youth, in local governance processes in two Yezidi-inhabited communities:
- Build the capacity of Yezidi women and youth on minority rights, leadership, civic participation, and gender equality.
- Facilitate structured dialogue between community members and local self-government bodies.
- Increase confidence and practical engagement in local decision-making processes.
- To promote more inclusive and evidence-informed national-level policy dialogue on minority rights that reflects the perspectives of Yezidi communities:
- Generate community-driven recommendations on minority rights.
- Facilitate dialogue between minority representatives, decision-makers, civil society, and experts.
- Contribute to discussions on the adoption and/or implementation mechanisms of the Law on National Minorities.
Expected Results
- At least 30% of trained participants (minimum 60% female, 30% youth) report increased confidence to engage with local authorities and influence community decisions.
- At least 20 Yezidi community members take roles in community discussions or engagements with LSGs.
- Community-based recommendations developed with Yezidi representatives are discussed in at least seven national-level policy dialogue spaces, including CSO-NA platform meetings and thematic discussions.
- At least 50 decision-makers and stakeholders have engaged in discussions together with national minority representatives.
- Community-based recommendations developed and shared with decision-makers.
Duration: May 01, 2026 – November 30, 2027
Total project budget: 26,640,000 AMD
Location: Two communities in the Aragatsotn region of the Republic of Armenia
The sub-grant project “From Community Voices to National Policies” is implemented by OxYGen Foundation within the framework of the EU-funded “Sustainable, Impactful and Inclusive Civil Society” (SIICS) Project. The project is implemented by the Democracy Development Foundation (DDF), People in Need (PIN), and the Boon Cultural-Scientific Foundation. It aims to strengthen the role of civil society in Armenia as a resilient, independent, and trusted actor in democratic governance, policy development, and community empowerment.
