United Nations in Armenia

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Armenia:

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02 May 2023

FAO and Ministry of Environment of Armenia Host a Two-day Training on Forest and Landscape Restoration in Armenia

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia have successfully co-executed a two-day training on forest and landscape restoration. The training was organized as part of the "Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation" project. The project is co-funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Government of Armenia, the Austrian Development Agency, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - Italy, and the World Wildlife Fund Armenia. The specific objectives of this two-day training were to introduce the concept, methodologies, and practices related to Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), and to complement the theoretical thinking behind FLR with successful examples and best practices. Representatives of the Forest Committee of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia, “Hayantar” SNPO, civil society organizations and academia participated in the training. Norbert Winkler-Rathonyi, FAO Project Lead Technical Officer, said: “The dependency of people in rural areas of Armenia on forests for energy and livelihood (i.e., beekeeping, non-wood forest products and fodder) requires new approaches that take account of the people’s needs when planning and implementing afforestation or other restoration activities. FAO’s project uses the new Forest and Landscape Restoration approach that helps Armenia to restore degraded landscapes by implementing practices that aim to balance the ecological, social and economic benefits of forests and trees for the people of Armenia.” Pedro Pajares, FAO International Consultant, led the working sessions that focused on a wide range of aspects related to enhancing forest resilience. Participants were provided with detailed information and insights about the principles, cost, financing opportunities and monitoring of forest and landscape restoration. The training continued with discussing effective field restoration interventions. The working session covered topics like species selection, planting design, soil preparation, and post-planting interventions. The training was a success, and the participants expressed their satisfaction with the knowledge and practical skills they acquired during the two-day event. ‘Forest Resilience of Armenia’ project The project entitled ‘Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation’ is implemented by FAO and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. The project is co-funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Government of Armenia, the Austrian Development Agency, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - Italy, and the World Wildlife Fund Armenia. Armenia is highly vulnerable to climate change. The World Bank reports a clear increase in the annual number of extreme weather events (such as hurricanes, snowstorms, and heat waves) data in recent decades. Current climate trends and projections for the country indicate future elevated average temperatures, precipitation and river-flow decreases, and snow cover reduction. At the same time, the population depends heavily on fuelwood, which puts forests that are sensitive to climate change under further stress. This eight-year forestry project aims to increase forest cover in Armenia by 2.5 percent, and to reduce the fuelwood demand of rural communities by at least 30 percent. The project also works to increase the role of communities governing and managing natural resources, and to improve fuelwood management as well as the production of wood and non-wood forest products and services. Two regions – Lori in the north, and Syunik in the south – are targeted. They were selected based on forest types, population density, local poverty levels, and exposure to climate change, in addition to the potential impact on important forest ecosystems. The project represents a relatively new approach to sustainable forest management in Armenia, with the potential to act as a model for the entire country and to produce a paradigm shift towards low-emission development.

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Four men during the discussions on the sidelines of the training.

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03 May 2023

UNHCR and The International Institute of Humanitarian Law (Sanremo Institute) strengthen the capacity of partners engaged in the reduction and prevention of statelessness in Armenia

In the framework of UNHCR’s #IBELONG campaign, a ten-year (2014-2024) global initiative highlighting the importance of eradicating statelessness, UNHCR cooperates with and strengthens the capacity of State partners, legal experts, the civil society and academia engaged in the statelessness. The International Institute of Humanitarian Law (Sanremo Institute) is one of UNHCR’s longstanding international partners providing courses on human rights, including refugee law and statelessness, to UNHCR’s partners worldwide. UNHCR has recently supported the participation of five colleagues from Armenia, representing the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS), “Mission Armenia” NGO and the Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty of the Yerevan State University (YSU) in the two, Russian and English online Courses on Statelessness of the Department of International Refugee Law and Migration Law of the Sanremo Institute. “It was a well-tailored and constructive educational course where we acquired in-depth knowledge and practical skills. The case studies and following discussions allowed the participants to understand the causes and the circumstances of the occurrence of statelessness and share effective international experience in the prevention, reduction and eradication of statelessness”, said the Head of the Legal Unit of the Passport and Visa Department of the MCS, Ms. Irina Mkrtchyan. The Courses analyze the international legal framework related to nationality and the development of national legislation governing the rights of stateless persons. They also vividly showcase the causes and negative impacts of the lack of citizenship and explain the interrelation between statelessness and forced displacement, as well as give an overview of stateless populations in different parts of the world. “I was really inspired by the Course. The theme of statelessness has brought together people from many countries, lawyers and experts eager to know more to help resolve the plight of stateless people”, said Ms. Knarik Vardanyan, the Head of the Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty of the YSU. “The participants shared their good practices, learned about different mechanisms and practical methods of addressing statelessness in a smooth and effective way. We also acquired lots of interesting updates from UNHCR colleagues who told us about the #IBELONG campaign to end statelessness”, she added. It is rewarding for the UNHCR Representation in Armenia to know that a group of its partners, along with participants from all around the world, have benefited from the online Courses during March-April 2023. As expressed by the participants, they received crucial knowledge on statelessness and exchanged experiences and best practices in the prevention and reduction of statelessness. *** Learn more at: UNHCR and The International Institute of Humanitarian Law (Sanremo Institute) strengthen the capacity of partners engaged in the reduction and prevention of statelessness in Armenia - Armenia | ReliefWeb

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28 March 2023

Strengthening education in Goris with the support of Argentina

On 23 March, UNICEF Representative in Armenia Christine Weigand and Ambassador of Argentina Mariano Vergara visited Syunik region to visit a number of programmes implemented with the support of Hayastan All Armenian Fund in Argentina. They were joined by Zaruhi Aznauryan, Head of Programmes at Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Leonardo Moumjian, reporter and representative of the Armenian community in Argentina and Margarita Piliposyan, Deputy Director of Fund for Armenian Relief. Together they visited Goris school #2, where UNICEF had provided school furniture for classrooms, the school library and the rehabilitation room for students with disabilities, in total benefiting nearly 400 students. This was one of the total of five schools receiving such support through the programme. A meeting was held with Arush Arushanyan, Mayor of Goris and Irina Yolyan, Deputy Mayor of Goris where parties discussed progress in programmes implemented in Syunik with the support of Argentina, as well as the humanitarian situation and needs for children and families. “Despite the distance, Armenians in Argentina are very connected to their ancestral country and concerned about the ongoing situation, affecting so many families. Argentina is ready to support to improve the situation of children and their families, and today I saw the results we have been able to achieve in a number of areas,” noted Mariano Vergara, Ambassador of Argentina to Armenia. The delegation also visited Goris kindergarten #5, attended by 120 children 3-5 ages, which was renovated by UNICEF in partnership with Goris Mayor’s office and FAR. The kindergarten had not been renovated in over 50 years, and had a leaking roof, making it unsafe for the development of children. As part of the renovation, the building now has a new heating system, sewage system, boiler house upgrade, renovated four group rooms, hallways, event hall, canteen, food storage, and a new roof. As a result, the kindergarten was able to open doors to a new group of children, reaching 150. The delegation also visited the old culture and arts building of Verishen village where UNICEF will work with partners to renovate and establish a youth center, supporting civic activism and non-formal learning for adolescents in Verishen and Goris community. “The support from the Armenian community of Argentina enabled UNICEF to scale up our programmes in Syunik region, benefiting various age groups of children. This year, with their support, we will also work in Shirak region to establish a youth center in Artik and renovate the child and family support center in Gyumri in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,” informed Christine Weigand, UNICEF Representative in Armenia.

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A man and a woman playing with children.

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17 March 2023

EU4Environment introduces the Product Environmental Footprint methodology in Armenia

Resource scarcity and the need for sustainable practices are key issues in the transition towards a green and Circular Economy. For this reason, under the European Union (EU) funded, EU4Environment programme, UNIDO is helping industries in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region become greener by introducing practices related to Circular Economy and Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP). Concretely, on 13 March 2023, a hybrid event took place in Armenia’s capital to introduce the potential impact of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology in Armenian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The methodology, part of the EU Single Market for Green Products (SMGP) initiative, has emerged as a valuable tool in recent years, as it measures the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifecycle (from production to disposal). By using PEF to assess products, SMEs can identify ways to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize environmental harm. PEF is also a crucial component in the drive towards a more sustainable future, as producers and consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of products and manufacturing practices. "On behalf of the Ministry of Environment, I would like to emphasize that the engagement with SMEs and the business community is crucial in the shift towards a green economy. Whereas the Government can provide support and help exchange experiences, the green transition depends on the ability of Armenian enterprises to seek and utilize the opportunities available at hand. Such an opportunity is embracing a green mindset when it comes to production. Here, Armenia is already piloting several novel concepts which are also resource efficient,” said Ms. Gayane Gabrielyan, Deputy Minister of Environment, Republic of Armenia. Gathering over 50 participants, the event was packed with presentations and discussions with experts in the field and provided a comprehensive understanding of the concept of PEF and that of environmentally friendly products. "The introduction of the EU SMGP initiative is a crucial component in our efforts to embrace a green economy, as we firmly believe that its success depends on the collaboration of all relevant stakeholders. As Government representatives, we are committed to working together with the private sector and creating a regulatory framework and level playing field for all producers. In this sense, today’s event is an important way to provide information and a platform for discussion and collaboration,” said Mr. Alik Sargsyan, Head of EU Programmes Division, Department of EU Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Republic of Armenia. The three major topics that marked the event revolved around the applicability of green product instruments to support sustainable economic growth, the EU policy landscape on green products (with a focus on the EU SMGP, PEF and the EU Green Deal), and ways to apply PEF at the company level (by looking at preliminary assessments on green products initiatives in Armenia, existing eco-labelling practices, and the relevant legislative background). "When it comes to promoting green production, we have come a long way both within the European Union and outside it. The EU has high ambitions when it comes to green, sustainable development, and tools such as the EU Green Deal will help transform the economy into a modern, competitive, and resource-efficient one, while decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation and leaving no one behind. In this sense, we appreciate our cooperation with UNIDO in the country as well as in the EaP region to promote sustainable economic growth,” said Mr. Frank Hess, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Delegation to Armenia. Within the EU4Environment Action, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is introducing the EU SMGP and PEF methodology in the EaP region, including Armenia, where it is supported by Civitta (a consultancy firm with extensive experience in environmental and sustainability projects). "While remembering the results of a previous regional programme on resource efficiency, EaP GREEN, we are grateful to the Government of Armenia for being receptive and results-oriented in both programmes. Resource efficiency is a core aspect in developing industries as it orients them towards the benefits of becoming greener. From theory to practice, as the Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) methodology encourages circularity, today, we also have a first attempt to speak about green products, starting with their very design. Here, we bring forth the opportunities of the EU SMGP and encourage SMEs to become pioneers in the Armenian market by looking at their environmental footprint and by greening their supply chains. We also work to bring this notion closer to stakeholders and industries to boost inclusive and sustainable industrial development,” said Ms. Tatiana Chernyavskaya, EU4Environment Project Manager, UNIDO.

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14 March 2023

International Women's Rights Day Marked at Byurakan Observatory

We celebrated the International Women's Rights Day at the Byurakan community, where 13 young girls from all the provinces of Armenia told more than 50 young people gathered at the Byurakan observatory about their "flight to the stars" and their dreams. Successfully taking first steps in the fields of technology and innovation, these young women participated in an International Women's Day event to inspire their peers with their stories. Representatives of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Armenia, UNFPA, UNHCR, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the Aragatsotn Governor’s Office, EU partners, representatives of the Human Rights Defender's Office, The Body Shop, Safe You, WomenNet, Byurakan observatory, non-governmental organizations and other guests were also present at the event. Welcoming the attendees, Tsovinar Harutyunyan, UNFPA Armenia Head of Office, told the background of March 8 and the great contribution of women, including of our own nation, in the field of science and technology. "Gender equality and women empowerment is not just the right thing to do but also is the smart thing to do. The United Nations absolutely supports this, and we are sure that with every year that goes by we will see progress increasing involvement of women in digital technology," said Niels Scott, acting UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia. RA Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Tatevik Stepanyan, addressing the girls, called on each of us to be brave in our place on our “flight to the stars” today. "Let's never have the fear that we do something worse than the other sex, that we have much bigger obstacles than men... everything is in our hands," said Ms. Stepanyan. Areg Mikayelyan, Director of the Byurakan observatory, talked about famous Armenian female astronomers: Elma Parsamyan, who discovered Karahunj, Alenoush Terian, who is called the mother of Iranian astronomy, Paris Pishmish, who is considered the founder of modern astronomy in Mexico. Mr. Mikayelyan, on behalf of the observatory, expressed his willingness to support and guide the girls if they show interest in the field of astronomy. The speakers mainly represented the fields of science and mathematics, and some also proposed innovative technological solutions to bring positive changes in their community and province. They told stories one more interesting and inspiring than the other. "Never give up no matter what happens, always have your dream in front of you and move forward, you are the one who paves your way," said one of the 13 speakers, 22-year-old Varditer Beglaryan, from the Metsamor community of Armavir region, nuclear reactor physicist and Mari Curie scholarship recipient. Anahit Jilikyan, a nineteen-year-old resident of Vanadzor, advised the girls never to give up, because science loves failures, and every failure is a new discovery in itself, anyone who chooses science should know. "If someone has done it, you can too, if no one else has done it, you will be the first." Before the event, the young people visited Viktor Hambardzumyan's house museum and the largest telescope of the observatory. And at the end of the event, the speakers received awards from the institutions and organizations present. They also became ambassadors of Ne, the symbol of the Girl Child. All the participants of the event received one copy of the book "50 women with disabilities who changed the world". The event was held under the theme of the 2023 Women's Rights Day, "Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality", declared by the UN. The goal was once again to value and emphasize the important role of young girls in the field of technology and innovation, to inspire teenagers and young people to take their confident steps and choose a profession by the example of young girls who have successfully taken the first steps in these directions. The event was initiated by UNFPA Armenia, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Aragatsotn Governor's Office and implemented in cooperation with "Feminno" within the framework of the "Addressing Gender-Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in the South Caucasus: Support to Regional, National and South-South Interventions" project implemented by UNFPA. The project is financed by the European Union and UNFPA.

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26 May 2023

UNIDO, EU and Armenia jointly celebrated the World Metrology Day 2023

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia, and the National Body of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) of Armenia jointly celebrated the World Metrology Day 2023, being held under the theme "Measurements supporting the global food system" in Yerevan on May 19, 2023. Over 70 representatives from the public and private sectors in Armenia joined the celebration and learnt about the importance of local metrology services for a well-functioning food system. During the event, the latest development of the quality infrastructure system for food safety in Armenia was presented, while how metrology contributes to efforts by various public and private actors in this regard was highlighted. As the National Metrology Institute, NBSM also presented the achievements that Armenia made in developing its capacity and providing needed service to the society in collaboration with international partners. Besides, a dedicated workshop was organized with support of UNIDO, aiming to raise awareness of participants on metrological requirements for prepackaged products focusing on the EU system. “The reforms in the sector are continuing and we aim to bring all elements of quality infrastructure to the internationally recognized level,” Albert Babayan, the Director of NBSM mentioned in his opening speech. “Compliance with rigorous metrology standards is essential for the Armenian food industry to gain consumer trust and access international markets. Alignment with EU requirements will allow food companies in Armenia to improve their competitive edge. We welcome the efforts of Armenia in reforming and improving the national metrology system and we are supportive in this process,” highlighted Frank Hess, the Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Armenia. “The vision embedded in the Metre Convention, its universal principles are still relevant today,” said Zhanna Zakaryan, the Head of the Department of Quality Infrastructure Development, MoE. The WMD 2023 celebration was supported by UNIDO through the project “Support to Quality Infrastructure in Armenia” which is funded by the EU. The project is to develop capacity of NBSM in order to provide sustainable and internationally recognized metrology services to stakeholders within the country, ultimately supporting Armenia to implement the CEPA Agreement with the EU for improved trade competitiveness and meaningful utilization of the benefits.

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15 May 2023

UNHCR Armenia and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs work in partnership to strengthen the capacity of social workers

Recently, UNHCR Armenia organised the first of a series of workshops on refugee protection for social workers from the Unified Social Service (USS) of Kotayk and Gegharkunik provinces of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA) and community social workers from Abovyan, Charentsavan, Hrazdan, Sevan, Martuni and Vardenis municipalities. Through this comprehensive training programme, conducted by UNHCR and the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS) of Armenia, the participants were introduced UNHCR’s mandate and humanitarian work carried out in partnership with the state, the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers and discussed durable solutions for people forced to flee. “UNHCR is grateful to the Government and the people of Armenia for their generosity and hospitality towards people forced to flee. This collaboration with the government to strengthen social protection systems is essential to ensure the protection of people we serve.” said Ms. Kavita Belani, the UNHCR Representative in Armenia. The session conducted by the Adviser for Donor Relations and Structural Reforms of MLSA, Ms. Inga Harutyunyan, allowed the social workers to review the questionnaire on the state-commissioned online platform for registration of displaced and vulnerable people’s initial needs, to test its effectiveness through a practical exercise and make recommendations. “Social workers play a crucial role in emergency situations. They are on the frontline of forced displacement, outreaching, identifying and addressing the needs of people forced to flee. It is our obligation to facilitate their work by offering some advanced tools to ensure effective and efficient humanitarian response”, said Ms. Inga Harutyunyan. “I am therefore very glad that today, together with UNHCR, we had the opportunity to test the Emergency Registration Portal for Displaced Population, acknowledge its usefulness, identify points for improvement and make sound recommendations.”, Ms. Harutyunyan added. The event was concluded by the introduction on UNHCR's guiding principles on child protection and child-friendly approach for refugees and a session on prevention and response to gender-based violence conducted by UNHCR and its partner Women’s Support Center. UNHCR will organize similar workshops in collaboration with MLSA and other partners such as the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during this year. It is envisaged that participants will be familiarized with refugee protection principles, rights and obligations as regulated by the national laws relevant to displaced populations and trained on identification and referral mechanisms. UNHCR Armenia thanks, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Migration and Citizenship Service and all the state partners and host communities for their partnership and solidarity.

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12 May 2023

150 million babies born preterm in the last decade

An estimated 13.4 million babies were born pre-term in 2020, with nearly 1 million dying from preterm complications, according to a new report released by United Nations agencies and partners today. This is equivalent to around 1 in 10 babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) worldwide. Born too soon: decade of action on preterm birth, produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) together with PMNCH – the world’s largest alliance for women, children, and adolescents – sounds the alarm on a “silent emergency” of preterm birth, long under-recognized in its scale and severity, which is impeding progress in improving children’s health and survival. The report includes updated estimates from WHO and UNICEF, prepared with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, on the prevalence of preterm births. Overall, it finds that preterm birth rates have not changed in any region in the world in the past decade, with 152 million vulnerable babies born too soon from 2010 to 2020. Preterm birth is now the leading cause of child deaths, accounting for more than 1 in 5 of all deaths of children occurring before their fifth birthday. Preterm survivors can face lifelong health consequences, with an increased likelihood of disability and developmental delays. Survival gaps by region, income, race Building from a landmark report on the topic in 2012, this new Born too soon “decade” report provides a comprehensive overview of the prevalence of preterm birth and its profound impact on women, families, societies and economies. Too often, where babies are born determines if they survive. The report notes that only 1 in 10 extremely preterm babies (<28 weeks) survive in low-income countries, compared to more than 9 in 10 in high-income countries. Gaping inequalities related to race, ethnicity, income, and access to quality care determine the likelihood of preterm birth, death, and disability, even in high-income countries. The report also highlights that the impacts of conflict, climate change and environmental damage, COVID-19, and rising living costs are increasing risks for women and babies everywhere. For example, air pollution is estimated to contribute to 6 million preterm births each year. Nearly 1 in 10 preterm babies are born in the 10 most fragile countries affected by humanitarian crises, according to a new analysis in the report. Maternal health risks, such as adolescent pregnancy and pre-eclampsia, are closely linked to preterm births. This underlines the need to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health services, including effective family planning, with high-quality care during pregnancy and around the time of birth. Agenda for action: more country investment and parent-led activism WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and PMNCH are calling for the following actions to improve care for women and newborns and mitigate risks from preterm births: Increased investments: Mobilizing international and domestic resources to optimize maternal and newborn health, ensuring high quality care is provided when and where it is needed.
Accelerated implementation: Meeting country targets for progress through implementing established national policies for maternal and newborn care.
Integration across sectors: Promoting education through the life cycle; supporting smarter economic investments, with co-financing across sectors; strengthening climate adaptation responses across the life course; and advancing the coordination and resilience of emergency systems. Locally driven innovation: Investing in locally led innovation and research to support improvements in quality of care and equity in access.

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08 May 2023

Empowering the Food Insecure: WFP's Food Cards Unlock Access to Nutritious Meals

Rima Asoyan was one of the many families affected by the armed escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan in September 2022. Forced to flee her home with her three children, Rima and her family found refuge with her parents-in-law in a small house with very poor conditions. The challenges of meeting basic needs such as food were difficult, but thankfully, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners provided support to help Rima and other food-insecure families cover their food needs for two months. For Rima, receiving a food card from WFP not only provided her family with food but also helped them make the right choice when choosing nutritious products. "The food card has made a huge difference for my family," says Rima. "Thanks to it, my youngest son can enjoy breakfast before school, and we can afford to buy meat. We are grateful for the support and kindness that has helped us during the tough wintertime." The food card project provided Rima and her family with access to financial resources that allowed them to make informed decisions about their food choices. Moreover, the assistance from WFP gave Rima a feeling of optimism during a challenging period. Rima expresses her appreciation by saying, "This assistance gave me hope for the future. It provided some stability and allowed me to focus on finding a job. Now my dream is to have a job that can help me meet the needs of my three children.”, – adds Rima. WFP is committed to supporting families like Rima during times of crisis and instability. Through initiatives like the food card project, WFP aims to ensure that families have dignified opportunities and access financial resources to ensure food needs are addressed for the entire family. The food card project not only addresses immediate food needs but also empowers families to make informed decisions about their food choices, improving their overall health and wellbeing. The activities are implemented within the framework of REBCA project (Resilience and Economic Recovery of Border Communities in Armenia) funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the UN World Food Programme (UN WFP) in partnership with the World Vision Armenia (WVA), Child Development Foundation (CDF) and Strategic Development Agency (SDA). The REBCA project aims to improve the crisis resilience in the border settlements of Vardenis (Gegharkunik), Sisian (Syunik), and Jermuk (Vayots Dzor) communities by providing humanitarian and economic support.

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A woman holding a food card provided by WFP Armenia.

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11 May 2023

An Armenian homecoming

Up to 400,000 ethnic Armenians lived in Ukraine before the war and many hold Armenian passports. The European Union has allowed them to enter EU counties bordering Ukraine without Schengen visas. IOM has helped 100 Armenians to return to their native land since the invasion. Two months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Anna’s parents, took the hardest decision ever: short-term separation. “It sounded very much like a jail sentence to me”, Anna says. “My father and uncle Vlad stayed with the elderly grandparents in Kirovohrad, and me, mum, and my little brother Areg fled to Slovakia, where an old acquaintance of my uncle promised to help and offered us a temporary shelter.” The journey to Bratislava took two days and involved three route changes over more than 700 km but they made it safely. At the bus station, uncle Vlad’s friend met the family and took them to his modest accommodation in one of the suburbs of the city. Here in Bratislava, they found out that the situation around Kirovohrad region had deteriorated right after they left, and that uncle Vlad had been killed. Although the family stayed in Bratislava for only two months, Anna and her brother started taking school classes daily. “Our education was always very important for our parents, so when we arrived in Slovakia, first thing my mum tried to arrange for us with the social workers was school. We did not know how long we would end up staying in Bratislava”. The initial plan was to find a way to return to their native country, Armenia, which was arranged by IOM. “We have received return and reintegration assistance which I am grateful for from the bottom of my heart. It has given us a chance to stay on firm ground”, she says. The siblings are now back in the city in which they were born and raised. They are attending their former school with their old friends. Anna is studying hard and preparing for university entrance exams this June. She wants to become an interpreter. “It’s my dream to study in university and to succeed in life.” She becomes quiet, and through tears says “we have no news from my father since we are back in Armenia, but I believe that he will find and contact us one day. I want to make him proud with my achievements”.

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Press Release

07 March 2023

Malnutrition in mothers soars by 25 per cent in crisis-hit countries, putting women and newborn babies at risk – UNICEF

The number of pregnant and breastfeeding adolescent girls and women suffering from acute malnutrition has soared from 5.5 million to 6.9 million – or 25 per cent – since 2020 in 12 countries hardest hit by the global food and nutrition crisis, according to a new report released by UNICEF today. The 12 countries – including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen – represent the epicentre of a global nutrition crisis that has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and ongoing drought, conflict, and instability in some countries. Undernourished and Overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women – issued ahead of International Women’s Day – warns that the ongoing crises, aggravated by ongoing gender inequality, are deepening a nutrition crisis among adolescent girls and women that had already shown little improvement in the last two decades. According to the report – an unprecedented and comprehensive look at the state of adolescent girls’ and women’s nutrition globally – more than one billion adolescent girls and women suffer from undernutrition (including underweight and short height), deficiencies in essential micronutrients, and anaemia, with devastating consequences for their lives and wellbeing. Inadequate nutrition during girls’ and women’s lives can lead to weakened immunity, poor cognitive development, and an increased risk of life-threatening complications – including during pregnancy and childbirth – with dangerous and irreversible consequences for their children’s survival, growth, learning, and future earning capacity. Globally, 51 million children under 2 years suffer stunting, meaning they are too short for their age due to malnutrition. Of those, about half become stunted during pregnancy and the first six months of life, the 500-day period when a child is fully dependent on maternal nutrition, according to a new analysis in the report. Global crises continue to disproportionately disrupt women’s access to nutritious food. In 2021, there were 126 million more food insecure women than men, compared to 49 million more in 2019, more than doubling the gender gap of food insecurity. The report calls for governments, development and humanitarian partners and donors, civil society organizations and development actors to transform food, health and social protection systems for adolescent girls and women by: Prioritising adolescent girls’ and women’s access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets, and protecting adolescent girls and women from ultra-processed foods through marketing restrictions, compulsory front-of-pack labelling and taxation. Implementing policies and mandatory legal measures to expand large-scale food fortification of routinely consumed foods such as flour, cooking oil and salt to help reduce micronutrient deficiencies and anemia in girls and women. Ensuring adolescent girls and women in low- and middle-income countries have free access to essential nutrition services, both before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding, including ante-natal multiple micronutrient supplements. Expanding access to social protection programmes for the most vulnerable adolescent girls and women, including cash transfers and vouchers to improve girls’ and women’s access to nutritious and diverse diets. Accelerating the elimination of discriminatory gender and social norms such as child marriage and the inequitable sharing of food, household resources, income and domestic work.
“When a girl or woman does not get adequate nutrition, gender inequality is perpetuated,” said Russell. “Learning and earning potential is lowered. The risk of life-threatening complications, including during pregnancy and childbirth increases, and the odds of giving birth to undernourished babies rise. We know what it takes to get life-saving nutrition support and services to the women and children who need it most. We just need to mobilize the political will and resources to act. There is no time to waste.”

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Press Release

03 March 2023

Number of children without critical social protection increasing globally – ILO and UNICEF

The number of children without access to social protection is increasing year-on-year, leaving them at risk of poverty, hunger and discrimination, according to a new report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF today. More than a billion reasons: The urgent need to build universal social protection for children warns that an additional 50 million children aged 0-15 missed out on a critical social protection provision – specifically, child benefits (paid in cash or tax credits) – between 2016 and 2020, driving up the total to 1.46 billion children under 15 globally. “Ultimately, strengthened efforts to ensure adequate investment in universal social protection for children, ideally through universal child benefits to support families at all times, is the ethical and rational choice, and the one that paves the way to sustainable development and social justice,” said Shahra Razavi, Director of the Social Protection Department at the ILO. According to the report, child and family benefit coverage rates fell or stagnated in every region in the world between 2016 and 2020, leaving no country on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving substantial social protection coverage by 2030. Failure to provide children with adequate social protection leaves them vulnerable to poverty, disease, missed education, and poor nutrition, and increases their risk of child marriage and child labour. Globally, children are twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty – those struggling to survive on less than US$1.90 (PPP*) a day – approximately 356 million children. A billion children also live in multidimensional poverty – meaning without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation, or water. Children living in multidimensional poverty increased by 15 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing previous progress in reducing child poverty and highlighting the urgent need for social protection. Moreover, the pandemic highlighted that social protection is a critical response in times of crisis. Nearly every government in the world either rapidly adapted existing schemes or introduced new social protection programmes to support children and families, but most fell short of making permanent reforms to protect against future shocks, according to the report. “As families face increasing economic hardship, food insecurity, conflict, and climate-related disasters, universal child benefits can be a lifeline,” said Natalia Winder-Rossi, UNICEF Director of Social Policy and Social Protection. “There is an urgent need to strengthen, expand and invest in child-friendly and shock-responsive social protection systems. This is essential to protect children from living in poverty and increase resilience particularly among the poorest households.” The report emphasizes that all countries, irrespective of their level of development, have a choice: whether to pursue a “high-road” strategy of investment in reinforcing social protection systems, or a “low-road” strategy that misses out on necessary investments and will leave millions of children behind. To reverse the negative trend, the ILO and UNICEF urge policymakers to take decisive steps to attain universal social protection for all children, including: Investing in child benefits which offer a proven and cost-effective way to combat child poverty and ensure children thrive. Providing a comprehensive range of child benefits through national social protection systems that also connect families to crucial health and social services, such as free or affordable high-quality childcare. Building social protection systems that are rights-based, gender-responsive, inclusive, and shock responsive to address inequities and deliver better results for girls and women, migrant children, and children in child labour for example. Securing sustainable financing for social protection systems by mobilizing domestic resources and increasing budget allocation for children. Strengthening social protection for parents and caregivers by guaranteeing access to decent work and adequate benefits, including unemployment, sickness, maternity, disability, and pensions.

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Press Release

22 February 2023

War in Ukraine pushes generation of children to the brink, warns UNICEF

“Children in Ukraine have experienced a year of horror,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Millions of children are going to sleep cold and scared and waking up hoping for an end to this brutal war. Children have been killed and injured, and many have lost parents and siblings, their homes, schools and playgrounds. No child should ever have to bear that kind of suffering.” An economic crisis, with a vast number of families reporting a significant loss of income, along with an energy crisis triggered by the war have been devastating to the well-being of children and families. A recent UNICEF survey saw 80 per cent of respondents noting a deterioration of their economic situation, while UNICEF analysis suggests the percentage of children living in poverty has almost doubled from 43 per cent to 82 per cent. The situation is especially acute for the 5.9 million people who are currently displaced within Ukraine. The war is also having a devasting impact on the mental health and wellbeing of children. An estimated 1.5 million children are at risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues, with potential long-term effects and implications. Children and families’ access to basic services have been devastated. More than 1,000 health facilities are reported to have been damaged or destroyed by shelling and airstrikes, with such attacks killing and causing serious injuries to patients – including children – as well as to medical personnel, and restricting access to care. Thousands of children fleeing conflict across the country are missing vital vaccines to protect them from polio, measles, diphtheria and other life-threatening diseases. Since February 24 2022, UNICEF, thanks to the support of the international community, has provided learning supplies to 770,000 children, engaged 1.4 million children in formal and non-formal education, provided mental health and psychosocial support to 2.9 million children and caregivers, provided gender-based violence response services to 352,000 women and children, provided access to safe water for 4.6 million people, provided healthcare services to 4.9 million people, and provided multi-purpose cash assistance to 1.4 million people inside Ukraine and 47,494 households in neighbouring countries. “Children need an end to this war and sustained peace to regain their childhoods, return to normalcy and begin to heal and recover,” said Russell. “Until that happens, it is absolutely critical that children’s mental health and psychosocial needs are prioritized. This should include age-appropriate actions to provide nurturing care, build resilience, and especially for older children and adolescents, give them opportunities to voice their concerns.” Further compounding this issue, the war has disrupted education for more than five million children, denying children sense of structure, safety, normality and hope the classroom provides. Limited access to schools come after two years of lost learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than 8 years of education disruption for children living in eastern Ukraine. UNICEF continues to call for principled, safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, an end to attacks on children and the infrastructure they rely on, including schools, hospitals and water and sanitation systems; the avoidance of use of schools in this conflict; and to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, directly responsible for killing and maiming hundreds of children. Above all, UNICEF continues to advocate for an end to hostilities. In December 2022, UNICEF launched its annual Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal. UNICEF requires US$1.1 billion to address the immediate and longer-term needs of 9.4 million people, including 4 million children, both inside and outside Ukraine who remain deeply impacted by the war in Ukraine. Funding will enable UNICEF to provide, sustain and expand critical services in health, nutrition, child protection, gender-based violence, water and sanitation, and social protection alongside government relief and recovery efforts. It will ensure timely preparedness for additional internal displacements and refugee movements.

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Press Release

06 February 2023

Global food prices decline further in January

Rome – The benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in January for the tenth consecutive month, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 131.2 points in January, 0.8 percent lower than the previous month and 17.9 percent below its peak reached in March 2022. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. The price indices for vegetable oils, dairy and sugar drove the January decline, while those for cereals and meat remained largely stable.

In January, the FAO Cereal Price Index was essentially unchanged (up a mere 0.1 percent) from December and stood 4.8 percent above its level of one year earlier. International wheat prices declined by 2.5 percent as production in Australia and the Russian Federation outpaced expectations. World maize prices rose marginally due to strong demand for exports from Brazil and concerns over dry conditions in Argentina. International rice prices, however, jumped by 6.2 percent from December, influenced by tighter availabilities, strong local demand in some Asian exporting countries and exchange rate movements.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 2.9 percent in January. World prices of palm and soy oils dropped amid subdued global import demand, while those of sunflowerseed and rapeseed oils declined due to ample export availabilities.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 1.4 percent lower than in December, with prices trending down for butter and milk powders on lighter demand from leading importers and increased supplies from New Zealand. World cheese prices rose slightly, driven by a recovery in food services and retail sales in Western Europe following the New Year holiday, as well as currency movements.

The FAO Meat Price Index moved fractionally in January (edging down just 0.1 percent from December), as ample export availabilities weighed on poultry, pig and bovine meat prices , while ovine export prices rose due to stronger import demand.

The FAO Sugar Price Index dropped by 1.1 percent from December. Strong harvest progress in Thailand and favourable weather conditions in Brazil outweighed the impact on prices due to concerns over lower crop yields in India, higher gasoline prices in Brazil, which support demand for ethanol, as well as the Brazilian real’s appreciation against the United States dollar.

More details and data available here.
Cereal supply still seen tightening in 2022/23

In its new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, also released Friday, FAO raised its forecast for world cereal production in 2022; however, global cereal supplies are still forecast to tighten in 2022/23.

Global cereal output in 2022 is now forecast at 2 765 million tonnes, or 1.7 percent below the 2021 outturn. Upward revisions for Australia and the Russian Federation now point to a record global output for wheat in 2022, while total coarse grains production is expected to decline by 3.3 percent from the previous year. The forecast for world rice production was revised downward as lower-than-expected output in China more than offset upward revisions for Bangladesh and several other countries. As a result, global rice output is now predicted to decline by 2.6 percent from its all-time high in 2021.

Looking ahead to 2023, early indications point to likely area expansions for winter wheat cropping in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United States of America, driven mostly by elevated wheat prices. However, high fertilizer costs may affect application rates with adverse implications for yields.

Low domestic prices could result in a small cutback in wheat plantings in the Russian Federation, the world’s largest exporter, while severe war-induced impacts in Ukraine are estimated to reduce winter wheat area plantings by 40 percent. Record plantings are forecast in India, spurred by high market and support prices, and relatively high plantings are projected in Pakistan as standing water from the 2022 floods is causing less hindrance than initially anticipated.

In the southern hemisphere countries, most of the 2023 coarse grain crops have been sown. Brazil may post record maize plantings, while those in Argentina could decrease due to low soil moisture levels. Weather conditions augur well for maize yield prospects in South Africa.

World cereal utilization in 2022/23 is now forecast to drop by 0.7 percent from the previous year, to amount to 2 779 million tonnes, with the total utilization of maize predicted to decline, while wheat use increases and rice utilization changes little year-on-year.

The forecast for world cereal stocks is pegged at 844 million tonnes at the end of the marketing year, pushing down the world stock-to-use ratio for 2022/2 to 29.5 percent.

In its new brief, FAO predicts international trade in cereals in 2022/23 to decline by 1.7 percent from the previous year’s record level to 474 million tonnes.

More details and data available here.

More on this topic FAO Food Price Index
FAO's most recent Cereal Supply and Demand Brief
Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS)
AMIS: Market Monitor
FAO Markets and Trade

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Press Release

21 December 2022

WFP welcomes USAID contribution to strengthen social protection systems in Armenia

In recent years, Armenia faced multiple shocks that revealed an acute need to enhance the adaptability and response mechanisms of the social protection system to meet the needs of vulnerable populations during and after crises. In partnership with USAID, WFP launched the “Integrated Response to Increased Food Prices in Armenia” project that aims to improve and strengthen shock-responsive policies and promote social assistance tools for food-insecure populations over the next 15 months. “USAID is proud to work with the World Food Programme to support the government of Armenia in its efforts to respond to the needs of citizens, especially vulnerable populations, in the face of unforeseen challenges. We are pleased that at least 3,000 people will directly benefit from this program,” said USAID/Armenia Mission Director John Allelo. Also, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the WFP will develop and enforce shock-responsive social protection policy protocols, procedures, and resources. WFP will further operationalize food cards as cash-based transfer tools for meeting rapid food needs caused by shocks and crises to three thousand food-insecure persons in three regions. “We have experienced shock after shock in Armenia, and we aim to support the Armenian Government to have social systems in place that can adapt and provide the right assistance at the right time to people in need. “WFP welcomes USAID’s generous support to facilitate that the government of Armenia have all the necessary social protection tools and mechanisms and help people during and in the aftermath of shocks,” said Nanna Skau, WFP Deputy Director and Officer in Charge. WFP values the crucial role of improving the shock-responsive social protection system in Armenia, considering that the country is prone to various types of shocks. By enhancing social protection systems WFP can reach more people who are at risk, and therefore a multi-stakeholder approach is required to address the consequences of the shocks and ensure a timely and effective response to hundreds of people across Armenia.

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