USAID Attends the Fifth Annual Congress of Rural Communities in Jermuk

USAID Armenia Mission Director Karen Hilliard at Jermuk Conference
USAID Armenia Director Karen Hilliard speaks at the 5th Annual Congress of Rural Communities in Jermuk, Armenia.
A.Karabekian, USAID/Armenia

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

About 130 community leaders, local council members, government officials and representatives of local and international organizations came together in snowy Jermuk on November 10 for the Fifth Annual Congress of Rural Communities. The event, which was symbolically held on the Local Government Day, marked the 19th anniversary of the local government system in Armenia. Conference topics included agriculture, rural tourism, and inclusive growth in the regions of the country.

The head of USAID Armenia, Karen Hilliard highlighted USAID's two decades of collaboration with the Government of Armenia in local governance. “We believe that local governments can play a key role in the development of their communities if they are granted the authorities they need, if they are responsive to citizen voices, and if transparent and accountable systems are in place,” she said. With regard to Armenia’s ongoing administrative and financial decentralization reform, Dr. Hilliard noted that in the coming five years USAID would be supporting infrastructure development projects in the consolidating communities. She emphasized the need for close coordination between various Ministries and with the donor community to ensure that the benefits of development are spread beyond the capital Yerevan.

During the event, in recognition of USAID’s valuable contribution to the development of local government in Armenia, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan awarded the Prime Minister’s commemorative medal to Dr. Hilliard.