Grigor YERITSYAN, Armenia
PROJECT: Evidence-based Youth Policy Development in Armenia

Passionate about supporting young people to achieve their full potential and engage in civic, political and economic domains, Grigor Yeritsyan is a political scientist, educator and a civil society activist with considerable practice in consolidating youth. In his capacity as the CEO of the Armenian Progressive Youth NGO – one of the largest youth movements in Armenia – he is working towards promoting active citizenship and active participation of young people in civic life, increasing the activism of young people and contributing to the development of civil society in Armenia. He believes that in times of global retrenchment of democracy and lack of responsible leadership worldwide, we need more young people in decision-making positions, young people with enthusiasm, progressive values and willingness to shape their future and the future of the world.

Grigor holds a Master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies. Following his graduation, he worked at the EU’s European Economic and Social Committee (2015-2016). With an ability to work in a multicultural and diverse environment and juggling multiple identities, projects and commitments, Grigor is a young leader uniquely positioned and capable of supporting young people to use their power and become actors of change both locally and globally. Following the youth-led peaceful, non-violent transition of power in Armenia in 2018, he was elected as a member of Yerevan City Council and served as a Member of the Council in the Committee on Education, Culture, Youth and Social Affairs until 2021.

Grigor Yeritsyan has led a number of local and international youth empowerment projects focusing on democratic education, civic participation and active citizenship, social inclusion and economic participation of marginalized youth, student rights and quality in higher education. He worked as a consultant and expert for a number of international organizations, including the European Union, Council of Europe, UNICEF and UNDP.

“Through my Fellowship, I hope to contribute to building an inclusive youth sector that reflects the wide diversity of Armenian youth. Armenia still lacks a development and implementation of evidence-based youth policy. A mindset shift and system change in how young people and youth organisations are perceived, engaged and participate in youth policy development should be achieved. And I am very excited to embark on this journey.” – Grigor YERITSYAN

Evidence-based Youth Policy Development in Armenia

Fellowship Summary: Preparing and promoting a participatory policy analysis as evidence for reforming youth policies in Armenia, with support from a youth CSO social media campaign.

Grigor’s project was focused on exploring and enhancing youth participation in policy development and decision-making in Armenia. Its cornerstone is the publication of a bilingual Armenian-English Research Report “Youth Participation in Policy Development and Decision-Making”. (Download the Research Report in English here and in Armenian here). This comprehensive report sheds light on the political and civic involvement of young people at both the community and state levels. It identifies key issues and provides 22 recommendations for addressing gaps and needs, targeting national and local authorities, international organizations, and political parties.

The project engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including youth workers, youth policymakers, and national authorities responsible for youth, who were interviewed to gather valuable insights. Additionally, Grigor and his colleagues reached out to approximately 200 young people through an online survey and conducted five focus groups involving 50 participants in total, including young people and policymakers. This collaborative effort ensured that diverse perspectives were incorporated into the research. Furthermore, Grigor took a study trip to Brussels to learn about evidence-based youth policy development and implementation best practices.

The impact of the work is already evident, as its recommendations have been considered during the drafting of the Law on Youth and the Youth Policy Strategy and Action Plan of Armenia.  Furthermore,  the Armenian Progressive Youth NGO will utilize the methodology developed within the project to conduct the same study annually, monitoring changing patterns and emerging trends.

Fellowship Programs 2021
Country Armenia
Areas of Interest Advocacy
Topics Transparency & accountability
Youth empowerment
Project duration May - December 2022

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