Support for Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA) is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), mainly financed by the European Union. It is a demand-driven instrument that helps strengthen the foundations for better public governance, thereby supporting socio-economic development. SIGMA provides support in six priority areas: strategic framework for public administration reform, policy development and coordination, civil service and human resource management, accountability, service delivery, public financial management, external audit, and public procurement.

Projects may be initiated by partners, the European Commission, or SIGMA in response to the specific needs and priorities of the country concerned. One absolute requirement for each project is that it should reflect the reform priorities of the SIGMA programme and support the achievement of the European Commission’s institutional capacity-building objectives.

SIGMA supports the improvement of governance and management through the following methods:

• advisory support on the reform, design, and implementation of strategic development programmes,
• implementation of assessment and support missions,
• analysis and assessment of legislative frameworks, methodologies, systems, and institutions,
• provision of methodological, technical, and strategic input to optimize Commission support,
• support for network building,
• drafting of manuals and other reference materials,
• training.

Main SIGMA-supported projects implemented in Armenia (2008–2025)

1. Support for the development of the Strategic Development Programme of the Chamber of Control — 2008–2010
2. Support for the development of the public internal financial control policy document — 2008–2010
3. Gap analysis in the field of public internal financial control — 2008–2010
4. Workshop on public internal financial control for senior officials — 2008–2010
5. Support for improving the civil service system and the administrative legal framework — 2008–2010
6. Assessment of the civil service system — 2008–2010
7. Support for reforms of the public procurement system — 2008–2010
8. Support for reforms of public procurement and concessions / public-private partnership — 2008–2010
9. Support for simplifying the business licensing system — 2008–2010
10. Support to the Chamber of Control in the implementation of its Strategic Development Programme — 2011–2014
11. Support to the Ministry of Finance in the implementation of the public internal financial control policy — 2011–2014
12. Comprehensive assessment of the public procurement system — 2011–2014
13. Support for reforms of the public procurement system — 2011–2014
14. Support for reforms of public procurement and public-private partnership — 2011–2014
15. Support for the public administration reform process — 2011–2014
16. Support to the Civil Service Council in reforming the civil service system — 2011–2014
17. Support to the Ethics Commission for High-Ranking Officials in developing rules of conduct — 2011–2014
18. Support to the Ministry of Finance in reforming public procurement legislation — 2011–2014
19. Baseline Measurement Report on Public Administration in Armenia — 2019
20. Process of application and assessment of the Principles of Public Administration — 2019–2021
21. Support for the implementation of the public administration reform strategy — 2021–present
22. Support for the development of the strategic planning and policy coordination system — 2021–present
23. Support for the development of quality management mechanisms in the civil service — 2021–present
24. Support to the National Assembly in the approximation of employment relations legislation — 2022–present
25. Support to the Chamber of Control in the implementation process of its Strategic Development Programme — 2022–present
26. Comprehensive assessment of Armenia’s public administration system (Public Administration in Armenia 2025) — 2024–2025
27. Support for the development of the new Public Administration Reform Strategy (2026–2030) — 2024–2025

More information:

SIGMA website

SIGMA in Armenia