Donor: World Vision Armenia Child Protection Foundation
Duration: October 2025-April 2026
25,596,000 AMD
In partnership with World Vision Armenia, as part of a broader European Union-funded initiative, ESI Consulting Group implemented a sub-grant project aimed at strengthening the practical application of Armenia’s new ICF-based (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) disability assessment model, which has been in full operation since January 2024.
What was accomplished:
The project addressed critical systemic gaps in how multidisciplinary data is collected, shared, and used across government agencies involved in disability assessment. Through two interconnected components, ESI Consulting Group delivered the following results:
- Interdepartmental Awareness and Cooperation: The organization designed and facilitated a series of six regional meetings across Armenia’s provinces, engaging more than 250 participants from healthcare institutions (polyclinics and hospitals) and social workers from Territorial Social Service Centers. These meetings fostered a shared understanding of the ICF data flow, clarified the responsibilities of each actor in the assessment chain, and addressed common errors stemming from incomplete or improperly transmitted information—issues that often lead to flawed assessments, appeals, and repeated evaluations. The final event on April 21 will convene 100 representatives from hospitals and primary healthcare institutions and will also present the positive changes introduced in both systems as a result of recommendations voiced during the regional meetings.
- Data Monitoring and Policy Recommendations: Working in close collaboration with Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA), the project designed four sets of routine monitoring tables to collect and track data on functional assessors’ workload, the number and reasons for complaints, and particularly the ICF domains subject to revisions and changes in Individual Service Plans. A key challenge was obtaining detailed data on each ICF code qualifier, which is essential for reassessing the fairness of the formula used to determine the level of functional limitation based on assessed ICF codes. The team analysed approximately 59,000 de-identified disability assessment cases from the e-disability information system (2023–2024). This data analysis produced a monitoring mechanism and a package of evidence-based recommendations for improving the accuracy of protocol selection, code assignment, and decision-making within the ICF assessment system.
- Information Flow Map: ESI Consulting Group developed a visual data flow map, distributed as a poster, illustrating the assessment process, the chain of actors, and the information requirements at each stage. This tool was designed to serve as a durable reference for frontline professionals across health, social protection, and education sectors.
Organizational Track Record:
ESI Consulting Group NGO brings deep, hands-on expertise in disability policy and inclusive social protection in Armenia. Prior to this project, the organization implemented a series of high-impact programs, including: strengthening services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (May 2022 – February 2023); supporting the development of social protection strategies for children with disabilities and their transition to independent living (August 2023 – November 2024); piloting personal assistant services for adults with disabilities (August – December 2023); and enhancing care quality standards within Armenia’s inclusive social protection system (June – December 2025). The organization was actively involved in all phases of the design, piloting, and launch of Armenia’s current ICF-based disability assessment system, making it a uniquely qualified partner for strengthening its implementation.
