Committed to advancing democratic processes in Armenia, Arpine is working on matters related to decentralization and the enhancement of the local self-governance system.

For the past 8 years in her professional career, Arpine has been dedicated to executing a diverse range of projects aimed at enhancing Armenia’s local self-governance system. As an independent expert in this field, she has authored numerous analytical reports and policy recommendations, with a strong focus on local governance and the efficient management of public finances. In 2018, with the support of like-minded individuals, she established the “Civil Youth Center” Community Development NGO, with its core mission being the promotion of active civic engagement among young people and the facilitation of their participation in decision-making processes within Armenian communities.

Arpine is an alumna of the OPEN WORLD exchange program, which is supported by the US Congress (2019). She is also a graduate of the SI Leadership Lab, an initiative implemented by the Swedish Institute (2023). Additionally, she has achieved remarkable success, being the recipient of five individual grants from the Open Society Foundation-Armenia for her work the sphere of local self-governance and education.

As part of the fellowship programme, Arpine will be working on developing a comprehensive communication strategy for the recently enlarged Ijevan community. This strategy will be designed with a long-term vision of extending its effectiveness across all communities.

“I firmly believe that horizontal governance represents a distinctive path to democracy. Within this context, empowering communities and bolstering local self-governance stands as the initial step toward achieving this goal”- Arpine Yeritsyan