In the Armenian language, there is no direct translation of the term “Local Works”; it’s often expressed as “community development,” a phrase that conveys more than just a linguistic shift. This interpretation reflects how the meaning of the Local Works program has been internalized by those who implement its initiatives across Armenia, shaping the work carried out by both the USAID Mission and its local partners. 

Hasmik Azibekyan has spent nearly two decades encouraging sustainable development in Armenia. With many years of experience in the private sector and guided by her commitment to locally led development, she founded the Support for Noyemberyan non-governmental organization in 2002. Bolstered by her experience, Hasmik believed she could introduce fresh approaches to community development in Noyemberyan to address its core local governance and economic challenges. Locally led development allows the community to drive its own progress, blending grassroots solutions with external support.

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Consolidation and Growing Pains

Limited local capacity, systems, and resources pose continuing challenges to the Armenian government’s ability to fulfill its citizens' needs. In 2015, the Government of Armenia initiated the Territorial Administrative Reform of Armenia (TARA) to consolidate and enlarge Armenian municipalities, streamlining their administration and strengthening their institutional and fiscal capacities. USAID and other international donors supported these reforms, recognizing that stronger local governments are essential for balancing power between local and national governments and fostering political and economic competition. However, TARA came with unexpected challenges. On paper, it grouped smaller communities as new, larger municipalities; in practice, residents still felt most closely tied to their previous, smaller community structures.

After Noyemberyan's consolidation in 2016, its 34,000 residents felt disconnected from the new government of this larger municipality. A renewed sense of community and a shared vision for  development was needed. The geopolitical upheaval in the South Caucasus, which led to an influx of displaced populations from Nagorno-Karabakh into Noyemberyan in 2020, heightened the need for effective local governance and services.

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Diaspora Seeks Opportunities for Investment

As part of USAID’s Local Works-funded Smart Noyemberyan initiative, Hasmik and the Community Center for Development (CCD) conducted extensive consultations with members of the local community and government officials to identify their top development priorities. They found that most people were more concerned with their families' immediate well-being than broader community issues; this also presented  an opportunity: Armenian diaspora groups, eager to invest in their homeland, could be mobilized to support community-driven projects through their local connections.

In response, Hasmik and the CCD team partnered with local government representatives, entrepreneurs, and active community groups in Noyemberyan to explore untapped opportunities. In collaboration with members of the Armenian diaspora in Glendale, California, they set out to build connections that would drive community development, promote mutual learning, and leverage investments. By engaging the private sector, they sought to strengthen local governance and development through a network-based approach. 

“The most significant change [from Smart Noyemberyan] … is bringing together local government and community so they're building joint projects,” like the exchange visit to California, said Ani Harutyunyan, Project Manager at CCD. “Before, they weren’t working together. We’re not just building local government, but also the capacities of youth and women’s groups [within the community].”

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Global Exchange Builds Foundation for Collaboration

In April 2024, Hasmik and the CCD team organized a one-week community development exchange in Glendale. The delegation from Armenia included Noyemberyan Mayor Arsen Aghababyan, three local entrepreneurs, and staff from CCD and USAID/Armenia. What began as an introduction to Noyemberyan’s competitive advantages soon grew into a broader partnership. The group facilitated connections between Armenian entrepreneurs and U.S. markets, creating a promotional video that highlighted Noyemberyan’s core values, vision, and attractions. Additionally, meetings with Armenian American Business Council Board members and diaspora entrepreneurs led to tangible business opportunities, including offers for Noyemberyan entrepreneurs in the herbal tea, honey, and textile industries to present their products in the United States. These entrepreneurs are now navigating export procedures to bring their products to new markets.

The exchange also provided opportunities for municipal leaders to connect with local government representatives in California. Mayor Aghababyan established ties with the Glendale City Council, laying the groundwork for a potential formal partnership. Discussions on community management and emergency response planning between Glendale and Noyemberyan’s leaders have already begun, offering a resource as Noyemberyan develops its own plans.

Additionally, civil society and faith-based organizations in Glendale provided valuable insights to the Noyemberyan delegation, particularly on diaspora investment in social, educational, agricultural, and emergency preparedness projects. This input may become an alternative source to addressing various community needs while also creating and expanding employment opportunities. “Once per year, we’ll be organizing fundraising projects to support a specific social project in Noyemberyan,” says Hasmik. “We had great support from the Armenian consulate and community [in Glendale]. It was important to bring the knowledge and connections.”

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These collaborations between Noyemberyan and the Armenian diaspora in California have laid a strong foundation for the future. This partnership approach connecting private sector initiatives with local government and civil society to meet community development goals ensures that Noyemberyan’s contributions are greater than the sum of their parts. As Hasmik put it, “This has been truly from and with the community of Noyemberyan.”