Recognizing the vital importance of preserving this cultural and agricultural legacy, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been actively supporting sustainable viticulture efforts in both countries. Building on this commitment, FAO Armenia and FAO Georgia joined forces to organize a study tour for the key players in advancing Armenia’s wine sector.This study tour, organized under the project “Digital Technologies in Support of Agriculture Value Chains and Rural Development,” focused on two key priorities for Armenia: the establishment of certified grapevine nurseries and the effective rollout of the Vineyard Register System (VRS) - a national digital platform designed to enhance vineyard oversight, certification, and planning.This activity was initiated by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu after his visit to Armenia in 2024, during which he highlighted the importance of regional knowledge-sharing and scientific cooperation among countries with shared agricultural assets.This visit built on years of groundwork laid by FAO to support Armenia’s viticulture sector. In 2017, a demonstration vineyard was established in the Armavir region with FAO support and later transferred to the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia. Today, the site continues to serve as a national resource for research, training, and promotion of sustainable vineyard practices.Currently, FAO continues to support the Foundation in one of its strategic priorities - developing a unified electronic information system to ensure full traceability and quality control throughout the wine production process. This innovative system will enable precise tracking of vineyard data, grape production volumes, and varietal origins, leading to enhanced transparency and higher sector standards.FAO Regional Programme Leader for Europe and Central Asia, and FAO Representative in Armenia and Georgia, Raimund Jehle, referred to this opportunity for knowledge and information exchange as a valuable platform for fostering regional collaboration, enhancing capacity, and promoting sustainable agricultural development across both countries. “This study tour highlights the power of regional cooperation in driving agricultural innovation. By sharing knowledge and practical solutions, Armenia and Georgia are laying the foundation for more resilient, modern, and inclusive agrifood systems that can benefit rural communities and strengthen their wine sectors for the future” Jehle said.The study tour to Georgia, held in Tbilisi and the Kakheti region - widely recognized as the heart of Georgian winemaking - brought together a diverse group of Armenian experts and officials. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Economy’s Departments of Plant Breeding and Agro-processing, senior staff from the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, and a senior economist from FAO. Over two days, the delegation engaged in targeted meetings and field visits with leading Georgian public and private institutions. The programme offered an in-depth look at successful models for certified grapevine nursery development, advanced digital vineyard register system, and innovative practices for climate-resilient grapevine cultivation - highlighting practical solutions that could support Armenia’s ongoing reforms in the viticulture sector. A guided winery tour offered an inside look at production methods and the philosophy driving Georgian winemaking excellence.Equally valuable was the opportunity to exchange experiences on data collection and digital monitoring systems. At the National Wine Agency of Georgia, participants gained in-depth understanding of the country’s certification processes and the rigorous controls applied to planting materials. A detailed demonstration of the digital vineyard register system illustrated how real-time vineyard mapping and systematic data management are seamlessly integrated into national inspection and certification frameworks.Reflecting on the experience, Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, stated that “On the threshold of digitalization of the viticulture and winemaking sectors in Armenia, it was interesting to get acquainted with Georgia’s experience in using digital tools and certified nurseries. It shows that a systematic approach can ensure quality control, starting from the vineyards to the wine market. In addition, the visit to Georgia also provided an opportunity to study the experience of effective cooperation between the public and private sectors.”This regional exchange represents a key step toward modernizing Armenia’s grape value chain. With continued support from FAO and knowledge gained from Georgia’s experience, Armenia is advancing toward a viticulture sector that is resilient, competitive, and built on a base of certified planting materials and smart digital solutions. 

 Despite notable progress in increasing preschool enrollment across Armenia - particularly among children aged 3–5, where gross enrollment rose from 63.6 to 68.6 per cent in 2023–2024 - significant disparities remain. A major bottleneck is the limited number of preschool facilities, especially in rural and underserved areas, which continues to hinder the realization of inclusive and universal early learning for all children in Armenia.To address this gap, in 2024, UNICEF - with funding from Education Cannot Wait Foundation - embarked on supporting target communities across Kotayk, Armavir, Ararat and Vayots Dzor that had welcomed refugee families to establish and equip new learning spaces, including water and sanitation facilities. As a result, 13 new learning spaces were set up in eight kindergartens, allowing  350 children, including 180 refugee children, to participate in preschool education.To ensure effective functioning of these new learning spaces, 230 educators and caregivers were trained in inclusive pedagogy, positive parenting, psychological first aid, and emergency preparedness. The training modules were based on the Nurturing Care Framework, launched by WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, which emphasizes health, nutrition, safety, early learning, and responsive caregiving. Age-appropriate educational materials were also provided for children attending the new learning spaces as well as other preschool groups, benefitting a total of 5,000 children.“This initiative goes beyond infrastructure - it’s about inclusion and giving every child the opportunity to access early learning,” said Silvia Mestroni, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Armenia. “Research shows that children who attend preschool are more likely to perform better academically and socially later on. Early childhood education is a right that should be guaranteed for every child. Investing in it benefits children, families, and society as a whole.”Deputy Mayor of Artashat Suren Mkrtchyan expressed: “I am very happy that this kindergarten will now be able to welcome over 50 new children. Thanks to this collaboration, many children in Artashat and other communities are benefiting greatly - and that is what I am most proud of.” UNICEF Armenia’s National Ambassador and the Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Sergey Smbatyan also joined to mark the occasion. “We must join forces and rally around ideas that help improve the quality of life for children and provide them with better development opportunities. Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive - and today, we saw that vision in action. I’m honoured to be part of this journey,” shared Mr. Smbatyan, inviting members of the Orchestra to perform well-loved cartoon themes for children, emphasizing the role of music in early development.

The three-day consultation focused on introducing Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems that contribute towards an enhanced national capacity to improve the use of international databases to identify, detect, and intercept known and suspected terrorists and criminals.  The consultations were held under the auspices of IOM Armenia, in the framework of the United Kingdom-funded project, “Enhancing the Capacities of Armenian Authorities in Border Security and Crime Prevention.”The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in partnership with IOM Armenia facilitated the national consultations to identify specific capacity-building support and technical assistance needs based on the national counter-terrorism architecture, priorities and the assessment of the Armenia’s existing level of API and PNR implementation at the legal, operational, and technical levels.During the opening remarks UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob stated “It is an important milestone in Armenia’s efforts to enhance border security, counter terrorism, and uphold international commitments. Armenia’s formal request for support under the Programme is a clear demonstration of its commitment to meeting international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2396, and 2482. I therefore commend the Government for convening a truly multisectoral dialogue that brings together all relevant national stakeholders, including from aviation, security, justice, and data protection authorities. This whole-of-government approach is essential to ensuring that Armenia’s system is effective, interoperable, and aligned with global standards—particularly those related to data privacy and personal freedoms. I would also like to acknowledge the pivotal role played by the IOM Office in Armenia in supporting the organization of this workshop, and to thank our colleagues from UNOCT, CTED, UNODC, ICAO, UNOICT, INTERPOL, and IOM as well as OSCE for their technical expertise and commitment to this joint effort.”“The UK is pleased to support Armenia as it begins to introduce Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems. These tools will help to strengthen Armenia’s border security, tackle serious cross-border crime and make international travel safer. This work is part of the UK’s wider support to help Armenia build a modern border security system that meets international standards. We are proud to work with IOM and Armenian authorities on this important step towards a safer and more secure region,” said Paul Morris, Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy in Yerevan. Over three dozen representatives from national agencies of Armenia responsible for border management and passenger processing participated including: the National Security Service (NSS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS), State Revenue Committee (Customs), Police of the Republic of Armenia, Ministry of Justice, General Department of Civil Aviation/Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), Zvartnots International Airport Authority, Ministry of High-Tech Industry, Airlines operating in Armenia,  Agency for the Protection of Personal Data (under the Ministry of Justice), Human Rights Defender of Armenia (national ombudsman), INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Armenia, Financial Investigation Unit.Participants mapped existing national border management capabilities and discussed next steps to establish a national system to collect and process passenger data, in accordance with international standards and recommended practices and human rights principles. “We look forward to collaborating with UNOCT as well as all the relevant UN specialized agencies and partner organizations to implement the API/PNR systems in Armenia”, - mentioned Arman Hovhannisyan, Head of the department of international security.   “At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and evolving security risks, enhancing Armenia’s ability to collect, process, and analyze passenger data is not only timely—it is vital. Situated at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia, Armenia’s proactive approach in advancing its border security architecture will contribute to regional stability, global security, and the protection of its citizens and visitors alike. The growing number of border crossings in Armenia indicates that the introduction of the API/PNR systems is very timely and critical. Thus, I want to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Service for their leadership, as well as UK government for supporting this initiative and all other partners”, - stated Ilona Ter Minasyan, IOM Armenia’s Head of Office.UNOCT CT Travel Programme Management Officer Mr. Motaz Al-Rababah highlighted the importance of the discussions and noted, "The introduction of the systems will mark the next milestone in Armenia’s border management journey. By enabling predeparture risk assessment, API and PNR will sharpen the ability to detect high risk travelers and uphold the integrity of international civil aviation. CTED and the CT Travel Programme stand ready to sustain this partnership, offering ongoing guidance and assistance in support of Armenia’s objectives."As a next step, the CT Travel Programme will finalize a comprehensive roadmap with recommendations to guide implementation in Armenia via a phased approach. Once the roadmap is formalized, the CT Travel Programme will work with national partners to provide technical assistance to enhance Armenia’s legal framework, operational capabilities, support with transport industry engagement, and technical infrastructure including the planned deployment of the United Nations’ owned ‘goTravel’ software solution. This full support will empower the country to further enhance its national security, comply with international counter-terrorism obligations, and modernize its immigration and border management processes.  Within the framework of the CT Travel Programme, UNOCT and IOM are working together to develop and strengthen Member States’ API and PNR capabilities. This includes joint efforts to support interoperability between the UN ‘goTravel’ system. This initiative is expected to provide front-line border control officers with enriched passenger data, enabling facilitation of legitimate travelers, and allowing the Government to allocate resources towards those who pose a risk to national security.For more information about the CT Travel Programme, click here.For further information, please contact:Nune Asatryan, IOM Armenia, Project Coordinator, nasatryan@iom.int Antoine Andary, Associate Public Information and Communications Officer, UNOCT at antoine.andary@un.org