The UN Armenia Resident Coordinator Francoise Jacob’s Opening Remarks at FAO Country Programme Strategy Consultations

Let me thank FAO for convening this dialogue and the Government of Armenia for its continued leadership and partnership. I also warmly welcome development partners, civil society organizations, and UN colleagues. Your presence reflects a shared recognition that agriculture and food systems remain central to Armenia’s development.

These consultations take place at an important moment. Armenia has recently adopted a new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which defines our collective priorities for the coming years. FAO’s Country Programme Strategy is well positioned to align with this framework and with national priorities - particularly on inclusive growth, resilience, climate action, and human capital.

Agriculture and food systems continue to play a significant role in Armenia’s economy. They contribute meaningfully to GDP, employ a large share of the labor force, and sustain rural livelihoods. They also face structural constraints that no single actor can address alone. The average farm size of just 0.8 hectares limits productivity, irrigation systems lead to the loss of nearly 67 percent of water, around 50 percent of arable land is degraded, directly undermining long-term food security. Rural poverty remains higher than the national average at 26 percent, women own only about 20 percent of agricultural land. These realities call for urgent, coordinated action and a shift from fragmented interventions toward integrated, system-wide solutions.

At the heart of this effort are people and livelihoods. The strategy provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between traditional, low-income agricultural activities in rural areas and more capital-intensive, export-oriented investments, such as greenhouse production. Youth, women, and refugees will be important stakeholders in ensuring that transformation is inclusive.

The strategy is centered on the concept of sustainable food systems, offering a framework to address productivity, incomes, nutrition, climate resilience, and environmental protection together, rather than in isolation. Sustainable - and increasingly nature-positive - food systems can help unlock a greener and more prosperous Armenia, while safeguarding natural capital and social inclusion. FAO’s focus on productivity, resilience, natural resource management, and value chain development is therefore highly relevant.

Looking ahead, emerging opportunities will require careful preparation. Progress on peace, including the potential opening of borders and expansion of regional trade, could reshape Armenia’s agri-food sector. These developments can create new markets and investment opportunities, but only if small farmers, cooperatives, and rural enterprises are equipped to compete and meet standards.

Another important opportunity is Armenia’s forthcoming role as host of CBD COP17. This provides a platform to accelerate awareness and action on innovative food system approaches - such as biodiversity restoration, sustainable pasture management, and agroforestry - that link livelihoods with ecosystem health. FAO’s global expertise will be key to translating these approaches into scalable solutions, along with other UN partners.

Finally, today’s consultations are not about finalizing a document, but about shaping a shared direction. The strength of FAO’s Country Programme Strategy will depend on how well it reflects national priorities, leverages partnerships and financing - around USD 30 million over five years - and remains responsive to the needs of farmers, communities, and institutions.

I look forward to a constructive discussion and to the insights that will emerge today.

Thank you.