Mission and Background
The Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis (TCPA) was established in 1995 by the AUA School of Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) with the central mission of promoting knowledge and understanding through objective and independent research and policy analysis employing the latest methodologies. TCPA provides students and graduates with opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary applied research in a broad spectrum of contemporary social, political, and legal fields concerning Armenia. The Center’s long-term objective matches that of the School — to contribute directly to Armenia’s transition to a democratic state.
The Center’s long-term objective is to contribute directly to Armenia’s transition to a democratic state. The Center accomplishes this objective through its open door policy for all persons involved in Armenian policy-making processes and through its educational, research, and analytical activities, which as a by-product help introduce new research methods and analyses to experts and scholars in Armenia.
TCPA is a non-profit and independent organization and is supported through a major donation by the Jerry Turpanjian Family and subcontracts and grants from organizations such as the Urban Institute, Development Associates, the World Bank, and the United States Information Agency. The Center is a member of the Transition Policy Network, a consortium of research institutes in Eastern Europe and the CIS that collaborate on policy reform projects.
TCPA has become an academic meeting place that provides unique opportunities for the development of young researchers, both in and outside of Armenia, committed to making contributions to Armenian policy-making processes.
In Armenia, the Center has become known as a resource for a variety of policy issues. In its various projects, the Center is able to draw on expertise from the Graduate School of Political Science and International Affairs’ permanent and visiting faculty. In addition to its regular staff of researchers, the Center hosts Research Fellows and Visiting Scholars from both the United States and Europe. The Center hires students and graduates of the School as short-term assistants for research projects, thus providing opportunities for direct participation in western-style analyses and methodologies in the field.
Research
TCPA provides hands-on research experiences that permit the School’s best students and graduates to apply concepts and skills learned in the classroom directly in development projects. Students must be in good academic standing in order to apply for research assistantships.
The researchers of the Center have a strong commitment to development projects. The Center’s recent work has focused on research in the areas of democratic systems and local governance, housing policy in the earthquake zone, legislative processes at the national level, human and women’s rights, the development of non-governmental organizations, and tobacco control.
TCPA has produced dozens of project reports analyzing original data collected through surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and content analyses. TCPA researchers have used the skills they have developed in their studies to present their work in journals and at international conferences.
Many graduates of the program go on to positions in development programs funded by major donors such as the United States Agency for International Development, the European Union, and the United Nations.
Research Services
The Center provides full research services from the development of reliable and valid measures and indicators and sample designs to complete quantitative and qualitative data analysis and report writing. The Center staff is expert in survey research and polling, focus groups, in-depth interviews, policy and legal analysis, and the use of SPSS for statistical analysis.
Recent Projects
OSCE Police Assistance Program. Opinion polls to evaluate the performance of the Arabkir Police Department Local Units. 2009.
The Services Group’s Armenia Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project, funded by USAID. Nationwide baseline survey of the Armenian general population to measure knowledge about the current pension system and upcoming pension reforms in Armenia for monitoring purposes. 2009.
UNHCR/Armenia. Survey to identify sexual and gender-based violence among female refugees and asylum seekers and to understand its forms, peculiarities and prevalence. 2008.
The Services Group’s Armenia Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project, funded by USAID. Focus groups to gather information on knowledge about pension reforms, attitudes towards responsibility for social insurance provision, and trust towards various institutions with respect to investment of pension savings. 2008.
The Services Group’s Armenia Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project, funded by USAID. Assessment of data on the pensioner living standards available in Armenia. 2008.
Women’s Rights Center. Nationwide study to determine women’s attitudes toward domestic violence against women and understanding about its causes and solutions and to assess the extent of domestic violence and abuse of women in Armenia. 2007.
EcoArmenia Consortium, Save Our Forests initiative. Nationwide study to assess the understanding and level of knowledge in the public about forests and deforestation, to determine the Armenian public’s beliefs, attitudes, and behavior toward the protection of forests, and to understand wood use patterns. 2007.
UNDP Armenia Communications Project. Baseline survey that aims to assess public awareness of and attitudes toward UNDP/Armenia activities, programs, image, and reputation among target audiences. 2006.
Promoting Human Rights and Facilitating Public Awareness of the Public Defender’s Office in Armenia . UNDP/Armenia. Comprehensive assessment of human rights education in Armenia to be used as a basis for the development of a national strategy and plan for human rights education. 2005.
International Research Exchanges Board (IREX) Mass Media Program, funded by USAID. Nationwide survey of mass media and businesses to determine advertising situation in Armenia. 2005.
Bearing Point’s Commercial Law and Economic Regulation Project (CLERP), funded by USAID. Nationwide survey of business to assess knowledge about the ROA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition and attitudes and behavior regarding business competition in Armenia. 2005.
United Nations Development Fund Program to Promote Human Rights and Facilitate Public Awareness of the Public Defender’s Office in Armenia. Nationwide public opinion survey of human rights attitudes and knowledge. 2004.
Urban Institute’s Armenia Local Government Program, funded by USAID. Five annual surveys to assess citizen changes in knowledge and attitudes toward local government after implementation of program to increase citizen participation. Workshop in household survey methods for local governments. Evaluation of CATI use in Armenia. Qualitative data collection with key stakeholders to assess methods for increased citizen participation in local governance. 2000-2005.
Urban Institute’s Earthquake Zone Recovery Program, Armenia , funded by USAID. For research and analysis on the social planning component of the earthquake zone housing strategy. Extensive evaluation and monitoring activities of the Program. 2000-2005.
Development Associate’s Armenia Legislative Strengthening Project, funded by USAID. Development of activities promoting citizen participation and public outreach activities. Conduct monitoring and evaluation activities. 2002-2004.
Armenia 2020 Scenario Building Project, grant. Research on attitudes of foreign nationals and ethnic minorities in Armenia. 2003.
Transition Policy Network, grant. Research on civil society and Armenian NGOs. 2003.
Political Parties in Armenia Project, funded by USIA. 2002.
Central Bank of Armenia, grant. Industry sector surveys. 2002.
Ministry of Urban Development. Assessment of accuracy of the Gyumri waiting list for housing resulting from 1988 earthquake. 2002.
Update of UNICEF’s 1998 Situation Analysis of Women and Children in Armenia. 2002.
Union of Information Technologies, funded by Eurasia Foundation. For first survey of IT business and education sectors in Armenia. 2000-2001.
Recent Reports and Publications
“Report on Baseline Public Opinion Survey: Performance of the Arabkir Police Department New Local Police Unit.” Report prepared for OSCE Police Assistance Program. 2009.
“Report on Follow-Up Public Opinion Survey: Performance of the Arabkir Police Department Acting Local Police Unit.” Report prepared for OSCE Police Assistance Program. 2009.
“Report on Nationwide Baseline Survey Findings: Pension Reform Knowledge in Armenia.” Report prepared for the USAID Armenia SPSS Project. 2009.
“Report on Survey Findings: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence among Female Refugees and Asylum Seekers In Armenia.” Report prepared for the UNHCR/Armenia. 2008.
“Report on Focus Group Discussions on Pension Reform.” Report prepared for the USAID Armenia SPSS Project. 2008.
“Assessment Report on Pensioner Living Standards in Armenia.” Report prepared for the USAID Armenia SPSS Project. 2008.
“2007 Report on Nationwide Survey Findings: Domestic Violence and Abuse of Women in Armenia.” Report prepared for Women’s Rights Center and funded by OSI/Armenia, CRS/Armenia, and the OSCE. 2007. (English | Armenian)
“Report on Nationwide Survey Findings: Deforestation and Protection of Forests.” Report prepared for the EcoArmenia Consortium. 2007.
“Survey of UNDP/Armenia Stakeholders: A Baseline Study.” Report prepared for the UNDP/Armenia Communications Project. 2006.
Raymond J. Struyk and Lucig H. Danielian. “Completing Post-Earthquake Replacement Housing in Rural Armenia: Did it Induce Further Investment?” Housing Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1, 97–112, January 2006.
Lilit Umroyan and Lucig H. Danielian. “Assessment of Human Rights Education in Armenia: A Baseline Report.” Report prepared for UNDP/Armenia Program to Promote Human Rights and Facilitate Public Awareness of the Public Defender’s Office in Armenia. 2005.
“Report on Mass Media and Advertising: A Baseline Study.” Report prepared for USAID and IREX/Armenia Core Media Support Program. 2005.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program in Twelve Cities: Report on 2005 Fifth Annual Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2005.
“Report on Nationwide Survey Findings: Human Rights Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior in the Republic of Armenia.” Report prepared for the United Nations Development Program/Armenia. 2004.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program: Report on 2004 Follow-Up Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2004.
“Results of Follow-up Survey of Members of the Armenian National Assembly.” Report prepared for USAID and Development Associates Armenian Legislative Strengthening Project. 2004.
“Results of Follow-up Survey of Staff in the Armenian National Assembly.” Report prepared for USAID and Development Associates Armenian Legislative Strengthening Project. 2004.
“Results of Baseline Survey of Members of the Armenian National Assembly.” Report prepared for USAID and Development Associates Armenian Legislative Strengthening Project. 2003.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program in Nine Pilot Cities: Report on 2002 Follow-Up Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2003.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program in Nine Pilot Cities: Report on 2003 Follow-Up Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2003.
“Findings of Focus Groups with Deputies of the National Assembly and Journalists Accredited to the National Assembly.” Report prepared for USAID and Development Associates Armenian Legislative Strengthening Project. 2002.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program in Nine Pilot Cities: Report on 2001 Follow-Up Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2002.
“2002 Update of UNICEF’s Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Armenia 1998.” Report prepared for UNICEF Armenia. 2002.
“Evaluation of Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) in Armenia.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2002.
“USAID Citizen Participation Program in Nine Pilot Cities: Report on Household Survey Findings.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2001.
“Report on In-Depth Interviews with City Governments, City Councils, Mass Media, and NGOs.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute Local Government Assistance Project. 2001.
“USAID Housing Certificate Pilot Project in Gyumri: Final Report on Monitoring Activities.” Report prepared for USAID and Urban Institute for the New Housing Strategy for the Earthquake Zone, the Republic of Armenia. 2001.
“Preliminary Findings of the Household Survey,” for the Urban Institute’s Citizen Participation Program under the USAID Local Government Assistance Program Technical Assistance Project. 2000.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For additional information and to learn more about the Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis, please contact:
Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Avenue
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374-10) 51-25-80
Fax: (374-10) 51-26-79
E-mail: [email protected]