On May 13, 2025, APRI Armenia launched its report Better Policy: Reforms to Armenia’s Public Administration, marking the conclusion of a pilot project aimed at assessing the implementation of the ongoing Public Administration Reform Strategy and the barriers to more effective policymaking.
The report is the result of extensive research conducted over six months, from September 2024 to February 2025. It identifies both structural and cultural barriers to effective policymaking and provides practical, actionable recommendations to support the implementation of the Strategy and improve governance processes and institutional efficiency.
The event began with a warm welcome by Anahide Pilibossian of APRI Armenia, followed by opening remarks from Edgar Mkrtchyan, Head of Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan’s Office. Mkrtchyan emphasized the importance of such critical work in supporting implementation of the reforms.
Joining the event virtually, Egle Rimkute, Senior Policy Advisor at the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development/SIGMA which supports the government on the Strategy, shared her reflections on Armenia’s reform progress. She offered insights, particularly in areas related to evidence-based policymaking and the engagement of civil society organizations in the reform process.
Hovsep Babayan, Research Fellow in Public Administration Reforms and lead on this pilot project, presented our key findings and recommendations. His presentation was followed by a panel discussion featuring Lilya Afrikyan from the Office of the Prime Minister, Tigran Jrbashyan of Ameria Advisory, and Hrachik Yarmaloyan from GIZ Armenia. The panelists reflected on the report’s implications and discussed ways to address persistent challenges within Armenia’s public administration system.
