The presentation was attended by representatives of the Ministry of MLSA, the Embassy of Japan, the World Bank, the United Social Service, the professional community of social work, as well as local and international partner organizations.

Anna Zhamakochyan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, who is also the chairperson of the support council for the implementation of the project, delivered the opening speech. She expressed her gratitude for all the work that had been carried out and highlighted the importance of the developed documents in the context of the implemented reforms.

Rika Onodera, the Second Secretary of Economic Cooperation of the Embassy of Japan in Armenia, noted that many activities have already been implemented within the framework of the program. She expressed confidence that the program is an important step in ensuring the improvement of the well-being of the population of Armenia.

World Bank senior social protection specialist Ivan Shulga, coordinator of the World Bank Project team on the interim evaluation mission of the project in Armenia, thanked the Japanese government for financing the project and noted that the project is of great importance and priority for the World Bank, as it responds to the problems of the most vulnerable people.

The head of the project, Ruben Markosyan, a member of the board of the Armenian Association of Social Workers, briefly presented the main issues of the project. He gave an overview of the range of target beneficiaries–which includes more than 11,000 socially vulnerable people in five regions of Armenia–as well as the implementation of the social case management methodology, and the program measures aimed at promoting the self-employment of the beneficiaries.

Within the framework of the meeting, project consultant Nune Geghamyan presented the social case management methodology, case management stages, models, developed tool packages, case manager functions, etc.

Referring to the results of the programs aimed at the establishment of the Institute of Social Work, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Anna Zhamakochyan noted that the given manual and tools will soon be put to practical use within the scope of the project by the joint social service and social workers of the communities of Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori, and Shirak marzes. Accordingly, documentation will be tested and revised as necessary for system-wide implementation.

The event ended with a question and answer forum, in which representatives of the social work community actively participated. Participants presented and discussed their observations and suggestions. Project consultants Suzanna Juharyan and Mane Karapetyan also responded to attendee questions.

The project is implemented by the Armenian Association of Social Workers in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, under the coordination of the World Bank, with funding from the Government of Japan (through the Japan Social Development Fund).