"Young Experts Scheme - Armenia" Programme

New Opportunity to contribute to Armenia’s development!

The public sector in Armenia is in need for urgent reforms. The Government of Armenia is currently working on modernisation of the civil service to make it more open, flexible and dynamic, but above all – professional and attractive for young talent.

In Armenia and Diaspora, there is plentiful of expertise and know-how among those who have studied and worked in Armenia or abroad and are ready to contribute to development of Armenia. Every year, many young Armenians from Diaspora come to Armenia to volunteer in NGOs or private sector companies. Every year, hundreds of young Armenian graduates acquire degrees in top universities of the world or in the country. Most of this talent seeks opportunities to take part in Armenia’s development.

The Centre for Strategic Initiatives (CSI), with the technical and financial support from the EU Delegation to Armenia, is launching a Programme of Young Experts Scheme - “YES Armenia”. Through this Programme about 20 young Armenians and Armenian citizens will gain the opportunity to work in and for ministries, government agencies, and other government institutions for 12 months (starting in September 2017).

Through this Programme we offer young people an opportunity and a challenge to work with Government priority projects, which are central to Government reforms. In addition, the YES Armenia Programme is a perfect opportunity to start building trust between youth and public sector. It will bring in new dynamics and energy into civil service and contribute to its modernisation.

What is the “YES Armenia” Programme about?

Armenia faces many unresolved challenges whilst offering numerous opportunities in different sectors of the economy. Unlocking these opportunities requires strong leadership, partnership, and commitment to reforms through government and private sector engagement. The new Government Programme 2017-2022 envisages numerous reforms in different sectors. The YES Armenia Programme is designed to help the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and projects that support the realisation of key reforms envisaged in the new Government Programme.

To achieve this, up to 20 young Armenians from Diaspora and Armenian citizens will be recruited through the CSI to work in the CSI, ministries, and government agencies.

In a nutshell, the YES Armenia Programme will:

• Target young Armenians from Diaspora and Armenian citizens both abroad and in the country between the age of 25 to 35 with working experience of at least 2 years and University level education (preferably Master’s degree; PhD students or graduates will have additional advantage);
• Run for 12 months from September/October 2017 to September/October 2018;
• Focus on specific Government priority related projects rather than performance of functions or “business as usual”;
• Work with support of the CSI and high-level officials in the Government (e.g. ministers, deputy ministers, etc.);
• Involve a transparent selection process with a Selection Committee consisting of representatives of public and private sector and EU Delegation to Armenia;
• Offer an attractive training and skills development and mentoring/ coaching package for the young experts;
• Offer Armenia-competitive salary for young experts for the duration of 12 months (including additional incentives for the Armenians from the Diaspora).

What will be the tasks of the YES Armenia Programme participants?

The main task of the young experts will be to design and implement specific projects linked to Government priorities and reforms. Below is the indicative list of sectors/ areas where projects are envisaged:

1.      Tourism sector: support to development of tourism products and donor co-ordination; support to development of Tourism Satellite Account;

2.      Education sector: support to development of government education policy, its operationalization; modernisation of government structures and processes for development of school textbooks and teacher training; support to review of school management system and its modernisation;

3.      Public finance management: support to establishment of the Public Private Partnership unit in the Government; support to strengthening public investment management (appraisal, planning and prioritising) process in ministries; support reviewing and improving donor coordination system;

4.      Digital economy: support to development of Armenia National Digital Agenda;

5.      Agriculture sector: support to Agricultural Development Fund in designing incentives structure, promoting co-operatives;

6.      Investment promotion: development of investment projects (teasers);

7.      Other projects in Government priority areas.

Next steps

A call for applications for the positions of young experts with detailed projects and Terms of Reference will be published in the next 3 weeks – follow our announcements! The candidates will be asked to submit an application form.

For further information please contact:

EU funded project Development and Strategic Studies: dss@dada6.eu

Centre for Strategic Initiatives: info@reforms.am