Presentation at OGP Regional Meeting in Dublin Snapshot of the idea of citizens' engagement through SMS on community priorities in Armenia, our approach, some initial results and challenges down the road.

1. MICRO-REFERENDUM TOOL
UNDP Armenia
UNDP Innovation Fund Project

2. Problem we see…
Low level of engagement of Armenian
citizens in their community affairs:
 Atmosphere of low trust, apathy
 Limited modalities for citizen engagement at
the local level

3. Solution we offer
Easy, safe
&
interactive
SMS
polling
tool
Queries sent
to residents
through SMS
Residents
send feedback
through
response SMS
Results put on
the web in
charts/graphs
(gender/age)

4. User-led approach
Getting insights from local self-
government reps
Collecting feedback from community
residents
Seeking advice from inter/national
experts
Engagement of local government
members in prototyping

5. The local government gets data to base and
substantiate their decisions on community
development priorities
What’s the core?

8. - Lack of culture of demand among citizens
- Method is new and unusual to people
- Collection of mobile accounts requires time and
effort (beyond the planned scope)
Challenges on the road

9.  The SMS-engagement triggers interest of community
people towards community affairs
 Local government is keen to practice the MR Tool on
regular basis and allocate the required funds from the
community budget)
 The voices of people influence the actual decision-making
at the local level
What is success to us

10.  Local government - constituency communication and
connection is strengthened
 Solid public-private partnership is established (local
government, UNDP, MTA, mob. service providers)
continued

11. THANK YOU!
Natalya Harutyunyan, UNDP Armenia
Presenter