Anna Jenderedjian, Supervisor Prof. Anne C. Bellows Institute of Social Sciences in Agriculture 20 years of transformation: The role of civil society organizations in food security in countries with transition economies with special emphasis on womens participation. Case studies of Armenia and Georgia June 2011

Name Research project Timeline: 2010 October – 2013 October Fieldwork : 2010 November – 2011 May Policy relevance: governmental organizations, donor agencies, civil society organizations working in the field of food security and safety

Name Research question What is the nature of civil society organizations (CSO) influence on the state of food security in Armenia and Georgia? -What is the gender profile of these organizations? -What is their role in monitoring of the right to adequate food? -Who are the main beneficiaries of these organizations? What are the strategies for outreach in particularly in the context of vulnerability? Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (FAO, 2001).

Describe the profile of CSOs by providing information on their main activities, and the character of activities such as charitable, advocacy or development, and their main ideology and worldviews. Reveal the gender, educational, and other socio-demographic differences characterizing the CSOs and their leadership. Identify the focus of the organizations on food security issues. Describe and assess the activities that are aimed to reshape the dynamics of the food system. Identify and compare opportunities and obstacles for CSOs involvement in a rights-based monitoring of the right to adequate food. Research objectives

Armenia Food Security: IFPRI Global Hunger Index – Moderately High (9.8) Number of registered NGOs 3300 registered (ArmStat 2010) GINI Coefficeint – 33.8 (rank 84) (Human Development Report 2009) Country Profiles Georgia Food Security: IFPRI Global Hunger Index – Moderately Low (5.8) Non-commercial legal persons (GeoStat 2010) GINI Coefficient – 40.8 (rank 89) (Human Development Report 2009)

FAO Hunger Index

Methodology STAGES Design and implementation of online survey In-depth key informant interviews with the representatives of NGOs Progress Questionnaires were sent to the representatives of CSOs in Armenia and Georgia in October 2010 – March Relevant CSOs were interviewed in Armenia from April 2011 – May Relevant CSOs are being interviewed in Georgia (June August 2011)

Methodology: online survey Armenia Sampling: CSOs registered in online databases Number of registered CSOs in Armenia according to ArmStat All addresses of organizations registered in online NGO databases are used to send the s. Double check on the names/ s of organizations. Each organization - one response. 1 invitation with 2 reminders were sent during October 2010 – March 2011.

Sampling: CSOs registered in online databases Number of registered CSOs in Georgia according to GeoStat- apr *. All addresses of organizations registered in online NGO databases are used to send the s. Double check on the names/ s of organizations. Each organization - one response. 1 invitation with 2 reminders were sent during October 2010 – March Methodology: online survey Georgia

Online survey: results Food Security Perception (availability and access) Country (Sample Size) YesMaybeNo Armenia (105)53.33% (56)25.71% (27)20.95% (22) Georgia (123)45.53% (56)34.15% (42)20.33% (25) Food Safety Perception Country (Sample Size) YesMaybeNo Armenia (105)82.86% (87)16.19% (17)0.95% (1) Georgia (122)77.05% (94) 19.67% (24)3.28% (4)

ArmeniaGeorgia Online survey: results

GeorgiaArmenia Online survey: results

Armenia Organizations gender ratio Georgia Online survey: results

Armenia Organizations leadership Georgia Online survey: results

Human rights based approaches and right to adequate food in Armenia Count Human rights based approaches by organizations Total do not know do not work, but I know projects/trai nings by org primarily work Right to food by organizations do not know do not work, though I know projects/trainings by org primarily work00134 Total

Online survey: results Human rights based approaches and right to adequate food in Georgia Count Human rights based approaches by organizations Total 0 = "do not know" do not work, though I know projects/traini ngs by orgprimarily work Right to food by organizations do not know do not work, though I know projects/traini ngs by org primarily work32128 Total

Methodology: interviews NGOs who work primarily or currently on the projects related to food security (including nutrition, agriculture and rural development, food safety) will be contacted Interviews with organizations heads and/or managers. Normally between 1.5 and 2 hours. Interviews are semi-structured and are based on the clarifying questions based on the completed questionnaire. Other organizations are contacted when referred during the interviews to avoid the error of non-response. Interviews are recorded and being transcribed (NVivo).

Questions and Comments? Anna Jenderedjian