The Children of Armenia Fund Launches the Cluster Model for Rural Development in Armenia

Introducing a Unique Approach to Comprehensive Development

February 1, 2006 — In a public forum held on February 1, 2006, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) presented its 2006 Integrated Rural Development Program and Strategic Approach to Clustering.  Cluster-based development is an innovative approach for implementing development in a group of villages in rural Armenia and forms the basis of COAF’s planned program in 2006.  Through this development methodology, COAF aims at building community and ensuring sustainability. The Model Cluster is an offshoot of the Model Village project, which was initiated in the village of Karakert, Armavir, in late 2004 and has resulted in considerable improvements in Phase I.  

The Model Cluster is designed to revitalize and augment the capacity of a group of communities in rural Armenia through an integrated approach that creates the structures and systems for improved public services, and fosters collaborative learning and innovation for sustained productivity and economic growth. The key components of COAF’s Model Cluster project comprise Infrastructure Development, Economic Development, and Community Development (including Health, Social, and Educational Programs). In each of these program components, COAF’s efforts will focus on resolving the most critical problems that have the potential for the highest positive impact on the young generation.   

In presenting the Model Cluster project, COAF Founder and President Dr. Garo Armen noted, “The underlying driver and resultant benefit of clustering in development is that it optimizes the use of available resources and plays a key role in generating economic growth and realizing equitable and sustainable improvement in the quality of life.” In the second part of the program, COAF Country Director Dr. Arpie Balian described the process emphasizing that “clustering provides the framework for building inter-community relationships, for filling gaps by way of leveraging resources that can be shared among the villages in the cluster, including specialized medical services, community activities, and entrepreneurial ventures.” Thus, clustering is an effective strategy to overcome isolation by way of creating networks of organizations and associations with common objectives, e.g., women’s association, farmers’ association, etc. Similarly, inter-enterprise cooperation allows cross-learning and specialization in core competencies.  

Cluster planning considers each village’s and each cluster’s overall long-term goals and needs in a participative process. Cluster development strategies are subsequently developed such that they produce the most advantageous results for cluster villages, both individually and collectively. The Model Cluster consists of a group of villages that are in close proximity to one another and face similar opportunities and challenges, but have the potential to complement one another in filling gaps and balancing weaknesses. Selection of the villages and different clusters are based on the actual data and findings from the Participatory Rural Appraisal of each prospective village. Thus, in 2006, besides the village of Karakert, COAF will work in Myasnikyan, Shenik, Dalarik, Lernagog and Argina.

CONTACTS: Sunny Uberoi, (212) 994-8206; or e-mail info@coafkids.org