EU LEAD Programme Closing Ceremony

December 11, 2025

Photograph: woman in blazer speaks at a podium, an EU banner in the background. — Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, welcoming the event participants.

UNDP in Armenia

Тoday, the closing ceremony of the European Union (EU) “Local Empowerment of Actors for Development in Lori and Tavush Regions” (EU LEAD) programme took place.

During the event, opening remarks were delivered by Frank Hess, Head of the Cooperation Section at the EU Delegation to Armenia; Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia; Anna Ivanyan, Head of the Territorial Development Department of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; and Botagoz Nartaeva, Representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Armenia.

“The EU LEAD programme is not merely about the implementation of grant initiatives. More than 3,000 people have been trained and capacitated within the programme. EU LEAD has also supported around 250 agricultural, educational, cultural, healthcare, and sports initiatives, thereby contributing to the well-being of local stakeholders,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, in her opening remarks. 

Beyond these initiatives, the EU LEAD programme has created the institutional foundations required for long-term sustainability. Five territorial offices essential for the operation of Local Active Groups (LAGs) have been established, furnished, and equipped with modern technologies. The five LAGs established under the programme have been formally registered as non-governmental organizations, guided by Strategic Action Plans developed and approved through participatory methods.

At the policy level, the programme has made a significant contribution to Armenia’s territorial development planning. With the programme’s support, the draft Territorial Development Strategy of the Republic of Armenia for 2025–2030 has been developed, in which LAGs are recognized as key actors in ensuring territorial development. The strategy is now in its final approval stage.