DVV International in Armenia

Established in 2002, DVV International’s Armenia Country Office (DVV International Armenia) has evolved in the last two decades into a key player with respect to Adult Learning and Education (ALE) and Lifelong Learning (LLL) in Armenia.

To promote ALE and LLL in Armenia, DVV Armenia has worked in a number of key directions, including։

Support to ALE policies & strategies: advocacy for ALE to be considered/included as a separate sub-sector of education in relevant laws, strategies, government programs; implementation of various researches and studies, participation of policy makers in international conferences, etc.
Capacity building of ALE institutions & professionals: establishment of a non-formal network of ALE providers, including DVV-supported Adult Education Centers (AEC), partnerships between public and private ALE providers; institutional development through provision and implementation of management models and innovative ALE courses, exchanges and study visits, mentorship and consultancy; trainings of trainers and cooperation with academia to promote ALE, etc.
New opportunities for beneficiaries through AECs: provision of hundreds of courses for vulnerable adults through supported partners. The focus is on the development of vocational skills required by the labour market, but also numerous other activities including discussions, public hearings, community initiatives have been implemented thus promoting civic participation and community involvement.
Publication of professional content, both print and digital, on a wide range of social and educational topics. Over 50 books, research reports, manuals, videos and other products have been created on issues ranging from general ALE and LLL, museum and prison education, history teaching, Armenia-Turkish reconciliation and many others.

DVV’s main funding for these core activities comes from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). However, funded by the German Foreign Office and the European Union, several other projects have been implemented to contribute to the inclusion of adult education in the following fields in Armenia:

Civic education
Museum education
Prison education
Media literacy of vulnerable adults
School teachers' professional capacity building
Use of oral history to confront the historical past,
Social integration of displaced people
Community development, and others

Milestones and Results

Over 5 million euros have been invested in 2002-2024 to implement 40 programs and projects that have reached over 60,000 beneficiaries, of which 7,000 involved in ALE courses, over 1000 in different professional trainings, and over 5000 in events, festivals, etc.
Over 150 institutions benefited from DVV financial and technical support.
Over 50 resources have developed and disseminated to promote ALE.
6 Adult Education Centers currently supported by DVV in Aragatsotn, Gegharkunik, Lori, Shirak, Syunik and Tavush regions of Armenia annually provide trainings to over 500 beneficiaries through 30+ training courses developed in response to market demands and target group needs.
A non-formal network of 10 ALE centers and CSO partners has been established for information exchange, ALE awareness building and advocacy purposes.
During the past 22 years, about 170 ALE experts, trainers, government officials and other professionals from Armenia have been involved in study visits to around 30 countries of the world to learn about ALE policies and practices in different settings.
Around 150 trainers, ALE managers and academia representatives attended the Curriculum GlobALE Training of Trainers (ToT) for ALE professionals with 100 of them completing the course successfully.
In 2020-21, the first ever Adult Education Survey was conducted in Armenia according to which participation in non-formal education (age group 18-64) is 14%.
An ALE action plan developed and shared with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MoESCS). Six ALE-related action items included in the 2021-2026 Government Action Plan and the Education Development State Program (until 2030).
DVV supported the government to implement two of the action items, including the study on ALE terminology harmonization with international context and support to amendments to the Law on Education.