The Forum on Local Democracy will bring together all stakeholders of the local government system in Armenia – representatives of local governments, Associations, CSOs and international organisations, the Government and the National Assembly of Armenia, as well international and local experts – to foster an environment of constructive dialogue on development of local self-government in Armenia. A longer-term objective is for the Forum to become an annual event at which the actors and defenders of good local governance may join together to focus on significant and topical issues related to self-government, its development and challenges in Armenia.

The Forum will provide a platform for open discussion and free exchange by all participants through two themed sessions, the first on decentralising competences to transfer powers to the local level and the second session on financial decentralisation. The “Davos Format” for the organisation of the discussion allows for the expert panel of each session to outline their approach followed by interactive discussions with participants. The expert panels will comprise local and national elected representatives, international and local experts in local democracy and local elected representatives from Council of Europe member states. 

Celebrating local democracy

Every year, on 10 November, Armenia celebrates Local Self-Government Day to honour the creation of the local self-government system in the country in 1996. At the end of the Forum there will be an opportunity to mark this occasion and the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Communities Association of Armenia.  An award ceremony to announce the winners of the 'Best Community' competition is planned to conclude the Forum.