Evolution and challenges of using technology to encourage public

participation and advocacy - Case of Armenia

Hasmik GrigoryanAnalytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (www.acgrc.am)

State bodies of Armenia (Semi Presidential Republic)

• Government (President’s institute, Prime Minister, Ministries,

state agencies and power forces)

• Courts (Courts of First Instance, Courts of Appeal, Court of

Cassation and Constitutional Court)

• Parliament (National Assembly)

Positive steps towards use of technology

• e-governance initaitive (www.e-gov.am)

• Electronic letter

• Online reports

• Legal infomration portals

Open Government Partnership Initiative

• Started in 2011

• Working Group created

• 2 Action Plans adopted

Online-tools done by the state initiative

• State electronic payment system• System for Car Inspection and Licensing• Electronic System for Consular Services • E-Documentation Sharing System in Urban

Communities • www.ethics.am for Transparency of Asset

Declarations• Budget Planning• Review Regulatory Normative Legal Acts

The online websites

• www.E-register.am• www.Ethics.am• www.datalex.am• www.arlis.am• www.parliamentmonitoring.am• www.publicdata.am

Things that need to be worked on

• Ensure Transparency of Asset Declarations: many high ranked officials including parliament members do not report on their income or assets or report not fully

• Budget Planning: the present format of the budget does not help in understanding whether the Government of Armenia is achieving its sectoral goals and whether the money is used efficiently

• Technically the online tools exist – but analytically and practically they must be more effective

Challenges

• updating the information, • implementing these tools effectively; • government gives only the information that is favorable for

itself• More objectivity is needed• People have some mistrust towards the government• People do not know about these tools and how to use it• Providing precise information in due time• Political will• Less formal more civil society-government ties• Cyber security