YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Information about the
completion of the Armenian Social Investment Fund's (ASIF)
second program and the fund's third program was discussed at the
December 18 sitting of the ASIF Board of Trustees conducted by
the board chairman, the RA prime minister Andranik Margarian. NT
was informed about it from the RA Government Information and PR
Department.
According to the ASIF executive director Ashot Kirakosian,
the ASIF-2 Program started in November 2000. In addition to a
credit equivalent to 20 mln USD, resources of the Armenian
government, communities and the grant and co-financing resources
of the UK DFID were allocated. The fund's executive office
received over 1,200 program-related proposals from Armenian
urban and rural communities. These proposals were examined in
accordance with the ASIF procedures.
The executive director said that 333 programs of the total
contract cost of 22.24 mln USD were implemented. Most of them
were related to comprehensive schools (60%), drinking water
pipes (19%), specialized schools (6%), community centers (5%)
and medical establishments (4%).
35 thousand two-seat desks were distributed to 620 schools
with the fund's financing.
During implementation of infrastructure restoration
programs, the fund cooperated actively with a number of local
and international sponsor organizations (Aznavour for Armenia,
IFAD, UNHCR, Hayastan and Tufenkian Foundations) and private
philanthropists, implementing 56 programs of 2.1 mln USD.
During the years under review, the finacial assistance to
communities was great as well, with about 1.43 mln USD being
transferred for community investments by local and international
donor organizations and private philanthropists. Besides, given
the lack of knowledge, experience and stable traditions for
governing the newly established self-government bodies in
Armenia, the ASIF-2 Program also included the training component
with the aim of strengthening local self-government bodies and
community organizations.
It was noted that the fund's activities were appreciated by
communities, which prompted the government to express its
interest in the ASIF's continuing its work and starting the
ASIF-3 Program. For this purpose a credit agreement of 25 mln
USD was signed between the Armenian government and the
International Development Association in September 12, 2006.
A. Kirakosian said that the ASIF-3 Program aims to improve
the living standard of the poor and vulerable groups through
restoration of community infrastructures, improvement of the
quality and accessibility of services, and development of
additional capacities at community and municipal level. The
fund's third program has three components (community
investments, formation of local self-government bodies'
capacities and management of ASIF-3 Program). It will start in
the second half of December 2006 and finish in June 2011. During
this period it is envisaged to implement numerous programs on
restoration of infrastructures of small and medium communities,
mostly in poor rural settlements, remote, isolated, mountainous
communities and communities of the earthquake zone.