Services

	Training
	Technical Assistance
	Grants to NGOs
	Facilitation of Multi-Sectoral Partnerships

Training on NGO Operations is offered to NGOs on a regular basis and as-requested. Training topics can be modified to meet specific organizational needs. Available training topics are:

• Democracy and Good Governance: History of Theory of Democracy; Historical and Cultural Types of Democracy; Values, Principles, Categories; Phenomena of Civil Society, Definition; Elements of Civil Society and Open Society; Principles of Good Governance; Characteristics of NGOs in Armenia.
  
• Third Sector as a Phenomenon, The Third-Sector in Armenia: Third Sector as a Phenomenon; NGO Essence and NGO’s Role in Civil Society; Motives for Creating NGOs; NGOs as Economic Subjects; NGO-Government Relations; Types of NGOs; Role of NGOs in the Private Sector; NGO-Donor Relations; Evolution of the Social Service Sub-Sector in Armenia; Implementation of Social Service Projects, Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.
• Strategic Planning: What is Strategic Planning?; Steps of Strategic Planning Process: Formulation of the Organization’s Vision; Situational Analyses; Mission Statement; Directions and Goals; Strategies; Strategic Objectives; Elaboration of Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plans; Budgeting; Implementation; Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Marketing, Public Relations Directions, Types, Methods, Elements:Introduction to Marketing and Public Relations; Business Writing; Fact-Sheet Development; Media Relations (Media Conferences, News Releases, Letters, TV/Radio Programs, Website); Publications (Newsletters, Bulletins, Leaflets); Events (Open house days, Conferences, Seminars, Sponsorship, Charitable Events.)
• Fundraising: Fundraising Development Phases; Fundraising as a Management Process; Fundraising Techniques; How to Work with Donors.
• Project Management: Needs Assessment and Problem Identification; Defining Goals and Objectives of Your Project; Designing a Plan of Action; Designing a Monitoring System; Project Implementation; Project Monitoring; Review and Evaluation of the Project.
• Proposal Writing: Idea Development; Cover Page; Executive Summary; Statement of Need; Project Concept; Project Mechanics; Monitoring and Evaluation Plan; Budget; Conclusion; Attachments.
• Financial Management: Budgeting/Planning, Budget Implementation; Budget Monitoring and Revision; Receipt Books, Petty Cash Records; Savings Account Records; The Need for Non-Monetary Records; Reports (Monthly, Quarterly, Annual); Register Report, Summary Report, Balance-Sheet; Financial Documentation (Basis for Charges); Following Donor Requirements; Implementing Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Public Policy Initiatives, Advocacy as Type of Civic Initiative:Personal Advocacy; Policy Advocacy; Public Policy Advocacy; Analysis of Decision Making Process and System; Strategic Planning for Advocacy.
• Governance and Structure:What is Governance?; Organizational Structure; Factors Influencing the Structure; Types of Structures; Authority, Responsibility and Power; Labor Distribution and Functions of Each Structure; Executive Director; Staff Committees (Auditing, Fundraising, Information and PR, Project Committees); Practical Ways to Strengthen Governance.
• Boards: Board Roles and Responsibilities; Staffing the Board; Ensuring Successful Committees; Ensuring Successful Meetings; Evaluating the Board; Board and Staff Relations; Board Orientation/Training; Board Operations.
• Offerings of Information Technologies to NGOs: Advantages and Uses of Databases; The Importance of the Internet for the NGOs; Specific Benefits the Internet Provides to NGOs; Means of Electronic Communication; Types of Online Communities; Useful Internet Resources on Fundraising, Volunteer Recruitment, Advocacy and Research, Electronic Communication and Overall Activities of NGOs.
• NGO Cooperation, Types and Directions:NGO Partners: NGO – Community Cooperation; NGO – Mass Media Cooperation; NGO – Business Sector Cooperation; NGO – National Assembly and Government Cooperation; Types of Cooperation – Information Exchange; Joint Projects; Financial Support; Quality of Cooperation; Cooperation Strategies; Corporative Interests.
• Community Based Projects/Community Empowerment: Community Resources; 16 Elements of Community Capacity; Capacity Measurement, Capacity Building, Capacity Development; Needs Assessment, Need for Designing Community Projects; NGO - Community Cooperation (types and methods); Community Based Groups, Civic Active Groups, Community Leaders; Community Centers or Discussion Clubs as Civic Education Institutions.
• Database Creation: Functions of the Database; Types of Databases; Types and Classification of Information; Sampling; Methods and Procedures of Information Collection; Editing and Entering Information.
• Management and Leadership: Management Levels; Leadership; Types of Leaders; Leadership Styles.
• Human Resource Management, Cooperation, Conflict Prevention and Resolution: Staffing Policy; Information Transparency and Accessibility; Internal and External Cooperation; Definition of Conflict; Conflict Resolution Phases, Social and Psychological Factors; Constructive and Effective Conflicts; Cooperation of NGOs with Other Stakeholders, Types and Directions; Types of Cooperation; Cooperation Strategies.
• Team Building and Group Dynamics: Types of Groups; Characteristics of Groups in Organizations; Problem Solving in Groups; Making Formal Groups Effective; Group Development Phases; Group Functions.
• How to Conduct a Sociological Survey?: Research Projects; Hypothesis; Subject; Object; Methodology.
• Training of Trainers: Comparative Analysis of Pedagogy and Andragogy (Adult Learning); Adult Learning Styles; Comfort and Discomfort Zones; Responsibility Distribution in Training Process; Kolb Experiential Learning Cycle (Experience, Reflection, Generalization, Application); Training Techniques; Effective Facilitation Process; Assessment of Training Needs (Trainer, Trainee, Group); Seven Steps of Structured Learning Planning; Training Monitoring and Evaluation.

Individual and group consultancies on organization development issues, such as:

• Mission statement
• Strategic planning
• How to develop NGO fact-sheets
• How to write a project proposal
• Project management techniques
• How to write fundraising messages
• How to apply to donor organizations
• How to develop public relations strategies
• How to create beneficiary databases
• How to conduct research on needs assessments, project effectiveness, evaluations, and more
• How to develop and implement community empowerment projects
• How to create and disseminate NGO profiles
• Legal issues related to NGOs
• Legal aspect of social partnership
• Purchasing operations
• Communications
• Computer equipment and software
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Budgeting
• Taxation issues
• Personnel issues

NGOC grants programs are announced periodically through Request for Proposals. Announcements are printed in central newspapers as well as circulated electronically.

Currently implemented programs are:Civic Advocacy Support Program in Lori, Shirak and Tavush Marzes. Click here for details on currently awarded grants.

Engaging stakeholders – NGOs, mass media, international and/or foreign organizations, intergovernmental organizations, state structures, private sector representatives, local authorities, university and high school students – in constructive dialogue to discuss problems, real and perceived obstacles, prioritize key issues of concern, find solutions and work to develop mechanisms for cooperation is one of our activity directions. The events result in increased citizen awareness on NGO activities and their role in service delivery, through more objective and adequate coverage in the media. Among these events initiated by AAA NGOC are:

• NGO-Media Thematic Encounters
• Site Visits
• Open Dialogue Meetings
• Special Events/Actions
  and
• Seminars on:

Legal Field of NGOs in ROA:ROA Law on NGOs; ROA Law on Registration of Legal Entities; State Registration of Non-Commercial Organizations; Legislative Initiatives and Legislative Monitoring; Activity Directions; Activity Methods; Procedures; NGO Related Taxation Issues.

Social Partnership: NGO Legislation; NGO Related Tax Relations; Social Partnership Mechanisms; Procurement Legislation; International Experience in Subsidizing of NGOs and Local Opportunities.