EPF Technical Application for RFA-OAA-13-000020 Proposal Narrative / Annex 4: Memorandum of Understanding
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Re: Date:
Consortium Agreement July 15, 2013
Seven Armenia-based organizations including Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC), Media Initiatives Center (MIC), Martuni Women’s Community Council (MWCC), Support fo Noyemberyan (SN), Goris Press Club (GPC), and Vardanants Center for Innovative Medicine (VCIM) agree to enter into a Consortium with their good will and respect towards each other to cooperate for the elaboration and implementation of USAID’s Development Grants Program (DGP) and beyond. The Consortium members agree to do their best for the achievement of the DGP goals in the framework of the jointly elaborated five-year Support to Sustainable Civil Society Development in Armenia (CSDA) project and beyond. The Consortium will be governed in accordance with the following partnership principles: -
Consortium is the main strategic governance body of the CSDA project. EPF is in charge of the financial and programmatic administration of the CSDA project vis-à-vis USAID. Any member of the Consortium can speak to the general public in the name of the Consortium based on the to-be-developed communication rules that will be in line with USAID’s Branding Strategy and Marking Plan. Any Consortium member can communicate any project-related issue to USAID in case it keeps EPF copied on the communication. However, prior to communicating with USAID, Consortium members are advised to first consult with EPF and/or other members of the Consortium
The Consortium members undertake to resolve all the emerging issues in an amicable manner. The Consortium makes decisions on the basis of a consensus. In case of a disagreement between any members of the Consortium, the issue should be discussed at the meeting of the heads of the Consortium. In case the latter is unable to resolve the issue, the Consortium should suggest an arbitrator acceptable to the aggrieved members, and the arbitrator’s decision re: the issue should be final. The Consortium will govern its operation via the following means: -
Monthly meetings of the Consortium heads in-person or on-line to discuss most important governance and policy issues. The meetings will be chaired by one of the Consortium members on a rotational basis: the chair for the first year of the CSDA project will be the head of EPF. The chair will make sure that notes are taken and distributed among all the participants after the meeting.
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EPF Technical Application for RFA-OAA-13-000020 Proposal Narrative / Annex 4: Memorandum of Understanding
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Bi-weekly Consortium management meetings in person or on-line to discuss lowerlevel operational issues. Daily on-line communication among Consortium management to coordinate programmatic and administrative issues regarding jointly implemented activities. Annual discussion of the CSDA annual strategy, lessons learned, and other strategic issues.
The Consortium will invite a representative from USAID as an observer to its monthly meetings. Also, in order to facilitate project implementation, the Consortium can establish specialized working groups (such as on training modules, innovation, gender mainstreaming etc) comprising some of its staff members plus external experts. Such groups can also involve a representative from USAID, if needed. EPF bears the ultimate responsibility for the proper programmatic performance and financial management by the Consortium members in compliance with USAID requirements. EPF will also ensure unified standards of programmatic and financial reporting across the Consortium to meet the standards and requirements of USAID: EPF will collect the reports from the Consortium members, and will deliver aggregate reports to USAID. While each member will have its clearly defined area of work, the Consortium will work on the implementation of the CSDA project jointly, and mutual enrichment of different parts of the project will take place. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The provisions of this MOU were agreed upon and approved by: Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, CEO EPF Heghine Manasyan, CEO, CRRC Nune Sargsyan, Managing Director, MIC Susanna Shahnazaryan, Director, GPC
Anahit Gevorgyan, President, MWCC Hasmik Azibekyan, President, SN 2|Page
EPF Technical Application for RFA-OAA-13-000020 Proposal Narrative / Annex 4: Memorandum of Understanding
Harutyun Mangoyan, CEO, VCIM
INFORMATION ON CONSORTIUM MEMBERS Lead partner: Eurasia Partnership Foundation 1 Legal name Eurasia Partnership Foundation 2 Date of registration September 20, 2007 3 Number of current staff 17 4 Average annual budget USD 1,300,000 5 Name/title of the head Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan, Chief Executive Officer 6 Contact info 1/21 Azatutyan Ave., Suite 23, Yerevan 0037, Armenia Phone: +37410 251575 E-mail: info-epf@epfound.am Web: www.epfound.am 7 One-sentence description EPF implements and supports grassroots, locally defined projects, consciously created as an alternative to more traditional technical assistance projects. Partner: Caucasus Research Resource Center 1 Legal name Caucasus Research Resource Center-Armenia 2 Date of registration July 17, 2013 3 Number of current staff 11 (including 2 temporary employees) 4 Average annual budget USD 400,000 5 Name/title of the head Heghine Manasyan, Chief Executive Officer 6 Contact info Address: 1 Alex Manoogian Street, Suite 602, Yerevan 0025, Armenia Phone: +37410 574868 E-mail: crrc@crrc.am Web: www.crrc.am 7 One-sentence description CRRC-Armenia is a leading independent policy-oriented organization in Armenia that collects, analyzes and publishes policy relevant data on social, economic and political trends in the country. Partner: Media Initiatives Center 1 Legal name Media Initiatives Center (formerly Media Support Internews NGO) 2 Date of registration Media Initiatives Center – July 3, 2013 Media Support Internews NGO – October 2, 2002 3 Number of current staff 33 4 Average annual budget USD 650,000 5 Name/title of the head Nune Sargsyan, Managing Director 6 Contact info Address: 3 Arshakunyats Ave., 3rd floor, Yerevan 0023, 3|Page
EPF Technical Application for RFA-OAA-13-000020 Proposal Narrative / Annex 4: Memorandum of Understanding
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One-sentence description
Armenia Phone: +37410 583620 E-mail: office@internews.am Website: www.internews.am MIC is a lead player in Armenia’s media community as it promotes freedom of expression and open media via training courses, supporting and carrying out media production, promoting media literacy and conducting advocacy and policy making.
Partner: Martuni Women’s Community Council 1 Legal name Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO 2 Date of registration Registered on June 2, 2001; re-registered on April 15, 2012 3 Number of current staff 7 4 Average annual budget $50,000 5 Name/title of the head Anahit Gevorgyan 6 Contact info 8 Proshyan Street, Martuni 1402, Gegharkunik Region, Armenia 7 One-sentence description MWCC implements programs that support informed citizen participation in community development and administration including community mobilization to address local needs. Partner: Support for Noyemberyan 1 Legal name Support for Noyemberyan 2 Date of registration December 16, 2002 3 Number of current staff 4 4 Average annual budget $34,000 5 Name/title of the head Hasmik Azibekyan 6 Contact info Address: Yerevanyan street #3, Noyemberyan 4010, Armenia Phone: +374 91-78-32-83 E-mail: h.azibekyan@gmail.com Website: www.sfnarm.nm.ru 7 One-sentence description The organization aims at improving the socio-economic conditions of the rural population and the development of competitive small and medium-sized businesses by attracting local and external investments to the region. Partner: Goris Press Club 1 Legal name 2 Date of registration 3 Number of current staff 4 Average annual budget 5 Name/title of the head 4|Page
Goris Press Club August 16, 2000 7 (including contractors) USD 41,360 Susanna Shahnazarօգոyan, Chief Executive Officer
EPF Technical Application for RFA-OAA-13-000020 Proposal Narrative / Annex 4: Memorandum of Understanding
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Contact info
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Brief description:
Address: Ankakhutyun Street, Suite 2, Goris 3200, Armenia Phone: +374284 20731 E-mail: gorispressclub@gmail.com Web: www.gorispress..am ‘’Goris press club’’ NGO aims at providing objective information to advance the informed participation of the society in decision-making on social, economic, and political issues in Armenia.
Partner: Vardanants Center for Innovative Medicine 1 Legal name Arinterlev LLC 2 Date of registration October 7, 2003 3 Number of current staff 116 4 Average annual budget USD 1,000,000 5 Name/title of the head Harutyun Mangoyan, Executive Director 6 Contact info Address: 18/1 Vardanants street, Yerevan 0010, Armenia Phone: +37410592100 E-mail: info@vardanants.am Web: www.vardanants.am 7 One-sentence description Vardanants Medical Center provides outpatient healthcare compatible with the highest international standards.
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