View Research by Author - Malcolm Simpson

Publications

In the wake of Armenia's political and economic transformation, local government units are faced with the task of developing a strategic approach to municipal management and local economic development. This strategy for Ijevan, Armenia offers a model for how to use the strategy planning process to develop a long-term vision of the city's economic growth, and to prepare, implement and monitor an action plan to achieve that vision. A cooperative effort between the Urban Institute's USAID-funded Local Government Project, city officials and community members, this document details the strategy's methodology, vision statement, SWOT analysis, critical strategic issues, prioritized tasks, and action plan.

Conducted at the outset of the Urban Institute's Local Government Program in Armenia, this study seeks to determine the status of local government reform and to support design of a 3-year technical assistance program. Findings cover fiscal and administrative decentralization, service delivery and citizen participation, and confirm that local government remains weak and largely ineffective. Causes include an ambiguous legal framework, inadequate authority and revenue to deliver basic services and lack of citizen interest in local governance. The study includes preliminary recommendations to address these problems.

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