NGO advocacy and lobbying in Armenia

Abstract

The theory of democracy proclaims that the citizen’s full participation in public policy formation is the one of the fundamental grounds on which the accountable and truly representative government can be sustained. Citizens progressively demand more accountable and transparency from their governments and opportunity to participate in formation of public policies, that have immediate impact on their lives and lives of coming generations. One of the primary forms for citizens to participate in public decision-making is via non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are involved in advocacy and lobbying. The role of NGOs that are involved in advocacy and lobbying is to mobilize, articulate, and represent people’s interests and concerns at the different levels of government: including locally and nationally. Informed about the needs and expectations of the poorer, disadvantages sectors of society, using information as a key tool, NGOs try to equalize unequal power relations, to change political discourse and effectively influence important decision-making processes. NGOs also use mobilization of public opinion as a tool for political pressure. Advocacy and lobbying remains relatively new concepts for NGOs in Armenia. Very few NGOs are involved in advocacy and lobbying. The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency of those few NGOs’ activities that are involved in advocacy and lobbying. Moreover, the purpose for undertaking this study is the need to discuss the importance of strong and viable NGO sector that actively involved in advocacy and lobbying and to reveal existing obstacles that hamper the development NGO lobbying in Armenia. Analysis has resulted in a number of important findings. Based on these findings certain recommendations have been put forward.