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23 March 2023
UNHCR organized this year’s first meeting of the Working Group on Statelessness
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23 March 2023
Strengthening education in Goris with the support of Argentina
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21 March 2023
FAO assists seed system management in four countries of Southern Europe and Central Asia
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The Sustainable Development Goals 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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13 March 2023
AraratBank marks the 1st anniversary of joining the UN Global Compact, reaffirming commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
On 3 March 2023, an event dedicated to the 1st anniversary of AraratBank joining the United Nations Global Compact international initiative was held in the banquet hall of the “Zargatsum” branch of AraratBank.
Chairman of the Board, AraratBank, Mr. Grigor Hovhannissian, and UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Nils Scott, made opening remarks. The event was attended by the representatives of the UN and the public sector, international financial institutions’ Yerevan branch and foreign offices, local and international organizations that are members of the UN Women Empowerment Program.
By joining the UN Global Compact international initiative in 2022, AraratBank has expressed its willingness to incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into its business practices and act in accordance therewith.
The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
“We are committed to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations of our company and to being involved in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals,” stated the Chairman of the Board, AraratBank, Mr. Grigor Hovhannissian.
“Providing a universal framework for corporate responsibility, the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, sets principles to guide responsible business management. By joining the UN family through the UN GLOBAL Compact, a global movement of more than 12,000 businesses and 3,000 non-business stakeholders across 160 countries, AraratBank has a unique commitment to strengthen the cooperative, mutually supportive environment in Armenia for a more sustainable and inclusive future”, noted the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Mr. Niels Scott.
A number of the world's leading banks, such as Raiffeisen Bank International AG, Bank of America, British Business Bank, National Bank of Greece S.A., TBC Bank, Korea Development Bank, China Development Bank, Deutsche Bank AG.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.
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01 February 2023
FAO continues to support households displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone
The Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) continues to provide emergency assistance to those in Armenia affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This time, based on the results of an earlier conducted needs assessment, FAO supported 22 households displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to Syunik region of Armenia in August and September of 2022. As part of its emergency assistance project, FAO provided 8,700 kg of cattle feed to 5 households and 6,200 kg of poultry feed to 17 households.
“The project is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy of Armenia and the Food Safety Inspection Body to provide rapid response to the critical gaps in support to Government’s interventions,” said Gayane Nasoyan, Assistant FAO Representative in Armenia. “Similar projects provide much needed rapid help, however, more support is needed for these families in a longer run.”
The emergency assistance project was launched in January 2021 to help population displaced as a result of 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to create, protect and reconstitute the means of existence in a fragile environment. In total, 369 households benefited from the project in Syunik and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia.
The project beneficiaries were provided with agricultural inputs such as feed for animals, equipment and materials for building temporary shelter for displaced farming livestock, which the beneficiaries said were of vital importance for their families. In addition, the project included provision of veterinary services and training courses on good animal husbandry practices such as feeding, housing and health care.
Since the launch of the project, two types of assistance packages have been provided to its beneficiaries:
Package I: 94 households who managed to move their agricultural assets to Armenia and at the time of needs assessment owned up to five cattle were provided in total with 168,620 kg of combined animal feed for cattle.
Package II: 275 Households who didn't manage to move their agricultural assets to Armenia received 5,503 live chicken and 90,180 kg of combined feed for chicken.
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18 January 2023
Armenia signs the Intergovernmental declaration on children, youth, and climate action
Armenia is the thirty-eighth country and the first in the Caucasus region to sign the Declaration. By signing the declaration Armenia has pledged to ensure that priorities for children and youth are included in climate action.
"Today, climate change has become a priority not only for Armenia, but for the whole world, and children and young people are, in fact, the most vulnerable target to climate change. The declaration signed in collaboration with UNICEF, will become the foundation for significant changes in terms of expanding access to knowledge and information about climate change. Today’s work will bring more awareness and inclusion to future generations. In addition, we expect young people to actively offer their own solutions regarding climate change," noted Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan.
Nora Alanakyan, Deputy Head of the Office of the Austrian Development Cooperation in Armenia welcomed the signing of the Declaration and pointed out that this document demonstrates Armenia’s commitment to acknowledge and consider the needs, rights, and perspectives of children and young people when it comes to climate change policies at all levels.
“Climate change has and will continue to cause higher temperatures, more dramatic weather events, more crop failures and increased water scarcity, and children are always the most vulnerable to these threats. In the recent years, we have seen more and more children and young people unite in a call for action. UNICEF was pleased to support two young people from Armenia to attend COP27 to join those efforts. I am now very happy to see that the Government of Armenia acknowledges the importance of including children and youth in climate action,” noted UNICEF Representative in Armenia Christine Weigand.
One of the aims of the Declaration is to expand participation by children and youth in the climate change mitigation and adaptation processes through more education about climate change and the environment, as well as acquisition of knowledge and skills required to protect themselves and contribute to a safe and sustainable future.
The signing ceremony was attended by the two young delegates from Armenia to COP27 Narek Ohanyan and Yerazik Hoveyan who also served as the high-level youth climate champion from Europe and Central Asia.
“The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, and water insecurity is a child rights crisis. It is no secret that human action around the planet has led to what we have to experience today, so the solution also starts with each and every one of us. Let’s change ourselves and not the climate. However, to do this, we need to ensure comprehensive and universal climate change education and climate literacy for all and adequate funding for it. Our call to the Government is to do what it takes to empower people of all ages with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to address climate change,” said Narek and Yerazik.
With support of the Austrian Development Cooperation, UNICEF will continue to work with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and other partners to continue training schoolteachers on climate change and environmental issues, enhance school curricula and develop learning materials that will effectively engage students in taking actions to mitigate climate change in collaboration with local authorities and the community at large.
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30 December 2022
WHO supports Armenia through surge in rehabilitation needs caused by pandemic and conflict
WHO/Europe is supporting Armenia with the development of a national strategic action plan on rehabilitation and assistive technology (AT). The need for rehabilitation services has drastically increased in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Often supported by AT, rehabilitation is cost-effective and helps achieve and maintain the best treatment outcome for a patient.
More than 40% of people in the country currently live with a health condition that requires rehabilitation care, according to the latest WHO/Europe report. When a person experiences limitations in everyday physical, mental, and social functioning due to ageing or a health condition, they may benefit from rehabilitation. Rehabilitation services support optimal functioning, improve quality of life, increase productivity, and maximize the effectiveness and impact of other health interventions.
For the last 2 years WHO has been supporting Armenia’s efforts to strengthen all aspects of rehabilitation services and AT. Working closely with the Ministry of Health, WHO provided technical support to help assess the rehabilitation situation in the country, including the capacity to respond to unmet need as well as emergency situations.
National strategic action plan
“Ensuring access to health care also includes access to rehabilitation services,” said Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Health, Armen Nazaryan. “The current rehabilitation system in Armenia is quite competitive and has potential for development. The Ministry of Health is working to provide access to rehabilitation services at the regional level within the country as well. We appreciate WHO's commitment to support the state programs for the development of rehabilitation services and regional accessibility in Armenia.”
A team of WHO experts recently visited the country to assess the rehabilitation situation using a WHO system-level tool, the Systematic Assessment of Rehabilitation Situation (STARS). The team visited health care facilities providing rehabilitative services and assistive products and held meetings and focus group discussions with the government, professional associations, educational institutions, international partners, and service users.
The preliminary findings and recommendations were reviewed in detail with the Ministry of Health and presented at a multi-stakeholder workshop. The comprehensive needs assessment results will be used to further strengthen the country’s rehabilitation and AT sectors and serve as a foundation for the new national strategic action plan.
Background
Armenia is one of 6 countries in the WHO European Region currently supported by a 5-year USAID project on rehabilitation and AT. The project aims to create effective rehabilitation networks and advocacy, increase policy-relevant rehabilitation information, expand the provision of quality rehabilitation services, and strengthen Ministry of Health leadership and planning with a focus on workforce empowerment.
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30 December 2022
Switzerland supports WFP for resilience and economic recovery of border communities in Armenia
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$ 1 million contribution from the Government of Switzerland to improve resilience and provide a long-term economic support to the border communities of Armenia. Through the aid approved by the Swiss Development Agency (SDC), WFP will directly target 3,000 people from 15 borderline settlements․
“The past two years have been particularly difficult for the people living in border communities of Armenia. The contribution received from the Government of Switzerland is critical to support thousands of people affected by the military escalations in September 2022”, said WFP Deputy Country Director and Officer-in-Charge in Armenia, Nanna Skau.” WFP will continue working with partners and the Government of Armenia to reach more people ensuring no one is left behind.”
Many displaced families living in border areas faced significant hardships to meet their food and other essential needs in recent years. Most people still heavily rely on some type of social assistance to make ends meet.
The donation received from Switzerland will help WFP provide humanitarian support to both conflict-affected and most vulnerable populations in Syunik, Gegharkunik, and Vayots Dzor regions. To support people in need, WFP and partners will provide psycho-social services, cash assistance, as well as support to longer-term economic recovery to help overcome the difficulties caused by the recent conflicts and shocks.
“Switzerland has a longstanding tradition of humanitarian assistance to Armenia in time of need, which started with the Spitak earthquake of 1988,” said the Ambassador of Switzerland to Armenia, H.E. Lukas Rosenkranz, during the official project signing ceremony between the SDC and the WFP.
During the past two years, Armenia faced significant challenges to carry out its socioeconomic reform. Several serious shocks such as COVID-19, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the recent military escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan increased poverty and pushed thousands of people into food insecurity.
WFP will continue to closely collaborate with different ministries to develop a strong social protection system by improving communities’ readiness and preparedness to respond to various potential shocks and crises.
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27 March 2023
UNHCR organized this year’s first meeting of the Working Group on Statelessness
On 23 March 2023, UNHCR Armenia organized this year’s first meeting of the Working Group (WG) on Statelessness composed of representatives of state authorities, civil society, legal experts and academia, cooperating in the framework of UNHCR’s #IBELONG campaign to end statelessness.
In her opening remarks, the newly appointed Representative in Armenia, Ms. Kavita Belani, greeted the participants wishing all a productive discussion and acknowledged their joint efforts aimed at prevention and reduction of statelessness in Armenia. She particularly appreciated their endeavour to assume legislative initiatives enabling to address statelessness in Armenia in an effective and efficient manner.
Referring to the global #IBELONG campaign, Ms. Belani highlighted the importance of people’s right to a nationality saying:
“UNHCR under its mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness, works in partnership with states and communities to build a world where everyone can say “I belong!”.”
Welcoming the UNHCR Representative and the WG members, the Deputy Head of the Passport and Visa Department of the newly created Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Mariam Gevorgyan, provided an update about the current state of the draft Law on Foreigners and Stateless Persons, as well as on statelessness statistics, followed by active discussions and brainstorming.
During the meeting, the UNHCR Armenia National Protection Officer, Ms. Susanna Grigoryan, presented to the WG UNHCR’s 2023-2024 Action Plan on Statelessness, the major achievements recorded in the past years and Armenia’s best practices in preventing statelessness highly welcomed by other countries. Ms. Grigoryan also updated the group on the possibilities of trainings on statelessness, including the Statelessness online course of the Sanremo International Institute of Humanitarian Law already undertaken by several partner agencies’ lawyers with the support of UNHCR, and other opportunities available for the state authorities, NGOs, legal experts and academia.
The Vice President of UNHCR’s partner Mission Armenia NGO, Ms. Alla Harutyunyan, briefed the WG members on the past years’ achievements in tackling statelessness in Armenia and the next milestones assumed with the guidance of and in partnership with UNHCR. Ms. Harutyunyan also briefed the participants about the ongoing “US Embassy – Julia Taft Fund” project related to statelessness successfully implemented by the Mission Armenia NGO.
The event included UNHCR colleague Anahit Hayrapetyan’s presentation on #IBELONG campaign to end statelessness and its online platform, combined by some interesting human-interest stories and video-photo materials. The participants were impressed by the photo-gallery illustrating the plight of the stateless people who, having gone through difficulties and desperation, had acquired nationality thanks to the WG’s genuine efforts and professionalism.
As expressed by a former refugee woman featured in one of the films, “After so many years of hardships, I now have a nationality and feel at home in my country Armenia where I belong to and live a dignified life”.
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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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23 March 2023
FAO assists seed system management in four countries of Southern Europe and Central Asia
Seed quality management, seed policy frameworks, and principles and elements for seed quality assurance and certification were the main topics during a four-day workshop just conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Yerevan, Armenia. Senior national specialists and policymakers from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia and Tajikistan attended the training, which concluded on 17 March.
All four countries face similar issues, including hampered seed production, distribution and quality assurance systems and bottlenecks caused by a lack of good seed policy on key issues.
“To address these issues, the project supports the improvement of countries’ seed system in a programmatic way by enhancing national capacities on planting material and seed certification systems, laboratory testing for quality control, and developing and adapting methodologies for testing new varieties and promoting cooperation and knowledge sharing between countries,” said Tania Santivanez, FAO Regional Agricultural Officer.
The training incorporated information on seed system management and related aspects, including legal frameworks and seed registration, certification and testing. It also included a practical seed testing laboratory and field visits to a breeding station in Gyumri and seed producing farms in the Gegharkunik region. The initiative was hosted by the Centre for Agricultural Research and Certification state non-commercial organization under the Ministry of Economy of Armenia.
FAO plays a leading role in strengthening the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture through policy assistance, technical support and the raising of awareness. This training was organized as part of FAO’s “Creating enabling environments for enhanced climate resilience in agriculture” project, which aims to enhance seed systems and build national seed management capacities in beneficiary countries. The project also aims to enhance the production and usage of high-quality and tolerant seeds to strengthen climate-resilient seed systems through strengthening the capacities of national professionals and producers. Reliable seed systems are necessary for ensuring food security and sustainable agrifood systems.
Since the start of this project in Armenia in the spring of 2020, the project has helped to:
conduct a legal review of Armenian seed systems;
conduct a seed system evaluation in collaboration with the National Seed Agency;
develop a data analysis report on the assessment of a national seed system, farm-based approaches and climate-resilient agricultural practices;
organize seed multiplication training courses in two regions; and
organize a study tour and set of trainings for selected experts on breeding and seed certification․
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22 March 2023
Kavita Belani handed over her letter of accreditation to the Foreign Ministry
On March 17, Kavita Belani, the newly appointed Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia, handed over the letter of accreditation to Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan.
Vahe Gevorgyan congratulated Ms. Belani on her appointment and expressed confidence that cooperation with the Representation will be further strengthened under her leadership.
The interlocutors touched upon the recent developments in the region, as well as the priorities of the Republic of Armenia on the issues concerning refugees, internally displaced persons, migration, as well as other related issues.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia highlighted the involvement of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in ensuring the return of displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the November 9, 2020 Trilateral Statement.
***
Official source: https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2023/03/17/dfmvg.UN/11928
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17 March 2023
Trilateral MoU signed to Cooperate in the Field of Demography
UNFPA Armenia, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia (MLSA), and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding in Laxenburg, Austria. The overall purpose of MoU is to assist the Government of Armenia, particularly MLSA, in advising on general demographic concerns currently existing in Armenia and how to successfully adapt to such trends over the coming decades.
Tsovinar Harutyunyan, UNFPA Armenia Head of Office, Narek Mkrtchyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, and Albert van Jaarsveld, IIASA Director General, signed the Memorandum.
Within the framework of this cooperation, support will be provided, inter alia, in terms of expert evaluation of Armenia's new demography strategy, as well as in the effective development of tools and best policy solutions, based on international best practices.
IIASA is one of the world's leading research centers that provides countries with advice and research support for policy development, in particular in the field of demography. It gathers together more than 400 researchers from 52 countries of the world.
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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.”
“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
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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