PUBLIC AFFAIRS - NEWS ARCHIVE

Archive - 2009    Archive - 2008    Archive - 2007    Archive - 2006    Archive - 2005

18.12.2009

MCA-Armenia Marks the End of the Year by Signing Two More Contracts

Yerevan, Armenia - On December 18, 2009, the Millennium Challenge Account - Armenia (MCA-Armenia) SNCO signed two contracts: Rehabilitation of Ararat Valley Drainage System (Package I) and Rehabilitation of Tertiary Irrigation Canals (Package I).

Press release

11.12.2009

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch visits the MCA-Armenia office

On December 11, 2009 MCA-Armenia hosted U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch. This is the second ambassadorial visit of to the MCA-Armenia office, a clear indication of the importance of this U.S. Government funded Program to the high U.S. official. This visit gave the Ambassador a chance to get to know closer the people responsible for the implementation of the Program, and to hear from them about progress in the last year and the upcoming plans. Ambassador Yovanovitch expressed her willingness to support the Program and promised to continue the regular visits to Program sites.

11.12.2009

On November 11, 2009, the first Consolidation Center for storage and sales of farmers produce was officially opened in Yerevan. Present at the opening ceremony were Gerasim Barseghyan, the RA Minister of Agriculture and Mari L. Yovanovich, the US Ambassador.

...details

10.12.2009

On December 10, 2009, the MCA-Armenia Environmental and Social Assessment and Oversight Consultant, British "Mot MacDonald", held its annual workshop through which its activities, achievements and lessons learnt in the past year were presented to the Program partners and the wider public alongside with the plans for the upcoming year.

...details

09.12.2009

On December 9, 2009 MCA-Armenia hosted a group of US Peace Corps Volunteers interested in collaboration with the MCA-Armenia Program. During the MCA-Armenia staff presented the Program components, ongoing activities in marzes, role of the civil society during the Program implementation and discussed possible ways of collaboration with the volunteers.

The volunteers had an opportunity to learn about the projects being implemented in the marz where each PVC is based. This meeting also served as a wonderful opportunity for the volunteers to understand the crucial problems faced by the rural community dwellers. They were particularly interested in the role and activities of the Water Users Associations and thought t they could take the role of mediators between the community inhabitants and the WUA representatives. As far as the , the MCA-Armenia Program is concerned, the volunteers also saw themselves as active advocates of the Program in their communities to ensure that the local projects are more efficient and beneficiary oriented.

From the MCA-Armenia perspective, cooperation with the PCVs could raise the public awareness of the Program and contribute to better understanding of the Program and promotion of the participation of the civil society representatives in the Program implementation.

03.12.2009

Spitak Gravity System Construction Contract Signed

Press release

13-14.11.2009

All the Makings of an Excellent Team

At MCA-Armenia we have little doubt that to succeed in this challenging and highly visible Program of considerable scope and impact we should be the best team, have the most conducive working environment and a strong collegial spirit. Still, it is never undue to remind ourselves what being such a team means and entails. The MCA-Armenia team-building retreat that took place on November 27, 2009 was a unique format that helped the team to contemplate on all the extra things we could do to make our work more efficient, more professional, and why not, more fun. While the MCA-Armenia team has had many formal and informal occasions to discuss issues related to work environment and relationship, this was the first time when we had a professionally designed and coordinated event to help us reveal how else we could improve our work and our team. It was very rewarding to realize that most of us have similar concerns and see similar solutions to the existing problems, but most importantly to reinstate once again that we work well together, we are tolerant to each other, we find creative solutions to difficult tasks, and all in all we are close to being a very good team.

23-24.11.2009

Alex Russin, the country director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Armenia and Ara Hovsepyan, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Challenge Account Armenia S.N.C.O. presented the MCA-Armenia Program and its credit component at a Panel under the title "Access to Finance; Financing Programs for SME in the Republic of Armenia" during the 5th Fruitful Talent Armenia Event.

The event was held on November 23-24, 2009, at the Marriott-Armenia hotel and in addition to the finance related projects included a discussion on agricultural issues. The highlight of this two-day event were the presentations of the young contestants that participated in the "Fruitful Talent Armenia" contest with their essays on such categories as Agriculture and Agro-industry Production, Commerce and Marketing, Finance and Infrastructure. Ara Hovsepyan, MCA-Armenia CEO, exchanged contact information with the young presenters and invited them over to MCA-Armenia to discuss possible ways of collaboration.

20.11.2009

On November 20, 2009 MCA-Armenia Water-to-Market project Manager (Consortium of ACDI/VOCA (USA), "Arcadis Euroconsult" (Holland) and "VISTAA plus" (Armenia)) organized a workshop with the participation of directors and professor of the agricultural colleges.

10-13.11.2009

"ARMPRODEXPO 2009"

Through November 10-13 MCA-Armenia participated in the 9th international exhibition "ARMPRODEXPO 2009" presenting its Water-to market activity with a focus on s it High Value Agriculture component and the "Buy Armenian" campaign.

During the three days of the exhibition local and foreign companies presented their products including alcoholic beverages, natural juices, meat and dairy products, dry fruit, fruit-vegetable cans, etc. The purpose of the "ARMPRODEXPO 2009" is to demonstrate the development of the food industry, to become aware of e progressive technologies as well as to expand the export opportunities.

RA president Serge Sargsyan visited the 9th international exhibition "ARMPRODEXPO 2009" the last day of the exhibition, where he familiarized with the products presented by local and foreign food processors. At the MCA-Armenia booth the RA president was very much interested in none traditional corps presented under the High Value Agriculture component.

11.11.2009

U.S. Government Provides Additional 15 Million Dollars to Rehabilitate Main Canals

Press release

06.11.2009

On November 9, 2009 MCA-Armenia hosted the Water- to- Market Activity trainers. During the meeting the trainers were briefed on a number of issues, including all the changes that occurred in the Program in the recent couple of months, the programmatic achievements as well as the future plans. In his opening speech the MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan emphasized the role that the trainers have in the overall program. Not only they teach advanced methods and practices of On Farm Water Management and High Value Agriculture, but in their everyday contacts with the direct Program beneficiaries they have to respond to many questions that the farmers have on the different aspects of the MCA-Armenia Program. In this respect it is essential that they are well aware of the programmatic developments, something that the meeting intended to achieve.

29.10.2009

Integrated Living Conditions Survey Key Findings have been Presented in the Framework of "Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia 2009" Report Presentation

"Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia 2009" report is available in the NSS official website at: www.armstat.am

...details

26-28.10.2009

Last week MCA-Armenia participated in the SunChild Eco-Expo

On 26-28, 2009 MCA-Armenia SNCO participated in the SunChild Eco-Expo organized within the frames of SunChild Second International Environmental Festival. The SunChild Eco-Expo aimed to introduce Armenian society to positive ecological approaches, such as the saving of energy and water, recycling, and the reduction of garbage by using sustainable materials.

During the Eco-Expo MCA-Armenia presented the measures aimed at ensuring environmentally and socially sustainable progress of the program, activities of Environmental and Social Assessment and Oversight Consulting Company, as well as environmental topics and publications presented during the training implemented as a part of the Water to Market Activity.

23-24.10.2009

On October 23-24, 2009 a workshop on "Contract Administration of International Funded Programs" was organized in Tsaghkadzor, Writers House by the Consortium of CES Consulting Engineers, AHT Group AG and Yerevan State University of Arcitecture and Construction, the construction supervision contractor under MCA-Armenia's Irrigation Infrastructure Activity.

The main purpose of the workshop was to discuss a range of issues including the following: introduction to the construction and supervision companies the key resposiblities of all the parties involved in the program, preserntation of the new contract types used by MCA-Armenia, intorduction of the the recently developed Construction Supervision Manual and its implemtation methods, discussion of works measerment and evaluation approaches as well as the quality assurance plan.

13-14.10.2009

Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia's Water to Market Activity Marks its Three Project Years Through a Two-Day EXPO

photos

Press release

30.09.2009

U.S. Government Provides 36 Million Dollars to Rehabilitate Pumping Stations

Press release

26.09.2009

On September 26, 2009 the elections of the Stakeholders' Committee fourth composition members took place in Congress hotel.

Representatives from 378 organizations applied for participation at the elections. In the result of closed secret voting the following 15 candidates from the registered 23 were selected as SC members:

Minutes of the Election Committee

Press release

...details

22.09.2009

Four Gravity System Construction Contract Signed

Press release

18.09.2009

The Stakeholder Committee of the Millennium Challenge Armenia Program Reports to the Public

Press release

...details

16.09.2009

U.S. Ambassador, RA Deputy Prime Minister and RA Minister of Agriculture visit MCA-Armenia Program Sites in Kotayk and Aragatsotn

Press release

16.09.2009

Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia Presents its Efforts to Improve Agricultural Data and Overall Data Quality

Press release

12.09.2009

Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia Presents its Efforts to Improve Agricultural Data and Overall Data Quality

Press release

10.09.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

At the regular and the last meeting of the Stakeholders' Committee the seven members of the election committee on the SC members' elections 2009 were selected: Alina Lalayan, "Greens of Ararat marz" NGO, Homeros Safaryan, Vardenis WUA, Gayane Arsenyan, "Armenian Association of UN" NGO, Vahagn Asryan, "Semant" NGO, Amalya Balabekyan, "All Armenian Youth Center" youth NGO, Marina Khazaryan, "Areg" Scientific and cultural youth association" NGO, Vahe Hayrapetyan, "Against HIV" national association NGO.
SC members also discussed issues concerning the format of the SC public report presentation, as well as extending the date of the deadline to present the application for participations.

In result, it was decided to set September 18, 2009 as the date to present the SC public report, as well as the deadline to present the applications for participation in the SC elections 2009.

Minutes of the meeting soon

21.08.2009

US Ambassador visits demonstration site founded with the assistance of the MCA-Armenia Program

Press release

04.08.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

The Minutes of the Stakeholders' Committee meeting dated on August 04, 2009 is available here.

Minutes

14.07.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

The Minutes of the Stakeholders' Committee meeting dated on July 14, 2009 is available here.

Minutes

16.06.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

The Minutes of the Stakeholders' Committee meeting dated on June 16, 2009 is available here.

Minutes

04.06.2009

Trip to Armavir marz

On June 4, 2009 the Program activities in Armavir marz were in the center of attention of the MCA-Armenia, in particular, the improvements brought forward by the Water-to-Market project.

The outreach trip was led by the MCA-Armenia General Counsel Nora Martirosyan. This time the outreach trip participants mainly witnessed the results of the High Value Agriculture Program Component. Thanks to the Program the stakeholders of Armavir marz acquired new green houses or reconstructed the ones they had. The new green houses currently serve for the co villagers as seed and vegetable seedling production centers. In addition to this, drip irrigation system was installed in the green house of Simon Jamalyan from Griboyedov community. By the way drip irrigation has brought forward much interest in Armenia as a new method to improve agriculture activities efficiency.

MCA employees also participated at the High Value Agriculture training which was being held in Khorunq community.

22-23.05.2009

Trip to Vayots Dzor and Syunik marzes

On May 22-23 the MCA-Armenia team, with participation of CEO Ara Hovsepyan, SC members and representatives of the Implementing organizations, visited Vayots Dzor and Syunik marzes.

...details

19.05.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

The Minutes of the Stakeholders' Committee meeting dated on May 19, 2009 is available here.

Minutes

15-16.05.2009

Trip to Tavush Marz

On May 15-16 a group of MCA-Armenia staff members, headed by Ara Hovsepyan, the MCA-Armenia CEO paid a working visit to Tavush marz. The aim of this visit was to get acquainted with the current status of cooperation between Water-to-Market stakeholders of the region (demo site owner farmers and creditors) and to see the two pumping stations to be reconstructed under the Infrastructure component of the Irrigated agriculture project.

...details

14.05.2009

Consulting services contract to "Avag Solutions" LLC was signed conduct Water Users Association (WUA) and water users' survey to evaluate the Institutional Strengthening sub-activity of the Water to Market activity. The contract is aimed at collecting necessary baseline and time-series data on WUA administration and water users. The data will be mostly used for evaluating the Institutional Strengthening component. The consultant will collect baseline and time series data both on the WUA administration and WUA water users. Therefore, the consultant's key responsibilities will include the development and administration of appropriate survey instruments and sample will be responsible for the questionnaire pre-test and revision, interviewer training, sample verification, data processing and preparation of data files documentation, data analysis and reporting.
The contract value is AMD 66,946,644. The date of contract signature is May 14, 2009. The term of the contract is till September 29, 2011.

30.04.2009

Contracts Signed Between MCA-Armenia and Banks and Universal Credit Organizations

Press release

Program Administration Policies and Procedures

17.04.2009

Field trip to Kotayk and Ararat

With participation of the MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan and project Officers a field trip was organized to the construction sites of the infrastructures being rehabilitated under the MCA-Armenia program, a demonstration site of the Water-to-Market activity and on-farm water management training.

The first stop was in Kotayk marz, where the rehabilitation of injured sections of Arzni-Shamiram Main Canal is on-going, and then Mkhchyan pumping station in Ararat marz, which will be rehabilitated under the Irrigation Infrastructure component of MCA-Armenia program.

In Vosketap community (Ararat) the delegation visited the construction site of the M2-Vosketap-Vedi-Dashtakar-Urtsadzor 17,83km road section which is included in the First Package and is being rehabilitated under the RRRP. In Vosketap another visit was paid to the Water-to-Market farmers' training class and Sargis Muradyan's demonstration farm, where a seedlings' production of different vegetables in plastic greenhouse and seedbeds and their further production in the open field is shown. The demo farm also has a drip irrigation system and 2 soil moisture sensors.

Within the frames of her two-day working visit to Armenia, the MCC Deputy Vice-President Frances Reid and MCC's Armenian office representatives also joined the site visit.

23.03.2009

Workshop with the Water Users' Associations

Press release

List of participants

20.03.2009

Stakeholders' Committee meeting

Minutes

18.03.2009

Meeting with financial institutions

March 18, 2009 MCA-Armenia's Water-to-Market activity invited a number of Banks and Universal credit organizations, interested in credit component of the program, to participate in a working meeting. It was attended by MCA-Armenia, ACDI-VOCA, Rural Finance Facility PIU as well as representatives of some 2 dozens of financial organizations operating in Armenia.
The purpose of the credit component of the program, its' directions, beneficiaries, as well as the whole process of accreditation of financial institutions were presented during the conference. Participants discussed various sides of the component and MCA-Armenia specialists gave all clarifications to the issues and problems of the main concern.

02.03.2009

SC members meeting with the RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan

"We see the Millennium Challenge Account Armenia Program as an important tool for capacity building and management reforms", declared Minister for Economy Nerses Yeritsyan at the meeting with the Stakeholders' Committee members which took place on March 2, 2009. The key topic of the meeting was the MCC Indicator Performance Improvement Plan prepared with the initiative of the same Ministry.

...details

Armenia scorecard 2009

MCC Selection Policy Indicators: Short Descriptions

MCC INDICATOR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)

20.02.2009

Design for Rehabilitation of Ararat Valley Drainage System Contract Signed

The Millennium Challenge Account - Armenia SNCO announced the award of a consulting contract to the joint venture consortium of GITEC Consult GmbH (Germany) in association with HGSN Ltd (Armenia).

Press release

19.02.2009

Visit to the construction sites of Arzni-Shamiram main canal with the participation of the SC members

On February 19, 2009 SC members visited construction site of Arzni-Shamiram main canal, implemented within the frames of the MCA-Armenia Program. SC members had a chance to meet the contractor and country people.
SC member Mihran Hovhannisyan, the Director of Eghvard WUA, briefed SC members about irrigation problems of the region and introduced the important role of Anzni-Shamiram main canal in the issue of solving these problems.
SC members noticed the innovatory machinery and approaches used and encouraged the contractor to transfer the best international practice for the implementation of similar construction works in Armenia.
CEO of the MCA-Armenia SNCO Ara Hovsepyan mentioned that the contractor has committed to carry out rehabilitation works of about 2 km of irrigation canal prior to beginning of construction season.
The local population of Arzni-Shamiram main canal Eghvard district raised the issues of concern to SC members, in particular the issue of building a small dam on the whole length of canal. In their turn, SC members encouraged the beneficiaries to not dispose garbage in the canal and request the community authorities to install garbage collectors.

19.02.2009

SC Minutes

On February 19, 2009 Stakeholders' Committee regular meeting was summoned. The Committee members listened to the information on the Governing Council meeting dated on February 3, 2009 presented by the GC delegate Shirak Mikayelyan.
SC members met the last candidate for the GC Environmental Observer, President of the "Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of Armenia" (http://www.fpwc.org) Ruben Khachatryan. As a result of secret voting Ruben Khachatryan was selected in the position of the Environmental Observer and Lusine Vardanyan, representative of "Sustainable Water Environment" NGO, as the alternate of the Observer.
The Environmental Observer shall have the right to attend all meetings and discussions of the MCA-Armenia SNCO Governing Council, and receive all information and documents provided to the Governing Council members.

Minutes

16.02.2009

Irrigation Project Construction Supervision Contract Signed

The Millennium Challenge Account - Armenia SNCO announced the award of a contract to the joint venture consortium of CES Consulting Engineers Salzgitter GmbH (Germany) in association with AHT GROUP AG (Germany) and Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction (Armenia).

Press release

04.02.2009

Workshop of the Environmental and Social Assessment Consultant of MCA-Armenia

The first Annual Workshop of the Environmental and Social Assessment and Oversight (ESAOC) Consultant to the MCA-Armenia - Mott MacDonald - was held on February 4, 2009 to summarize its one year progress.

...details

30.01.2009

SC Minutes

Read the SC Minutes dated January 30, 2008 here.

Minutes

29.01.2009

Visit to Arzni-Shamiram Main Canal

MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Havsepyan and Irrigation team members had a working visit to the Arzni-Shamiram main canal, where construction works had been commenced since January 14. The Contractor is now dismantling the old concrete blocks and will finish the concrete lining works for 4.2km section of Arzni-Shamiram main canal before the beginning of irrigation season.

4.2km section of Arzni-Shamiram main canal is included in the First Package of Six Main Canals' rehabilitation project. The Contractor is "SADE" (France) in consortium with "SHMSH-23" (Armenia). The contract was signed in December, 2008.

16.01.2009

Handing of Certificates

On January 16, 2009, MCA-Armenia CEO Ara Hovsepyan officially handed certificates to the representatives of financial organizations, which implemented the first round of Credit component of the Water-to-Market activity.

...details