UNDP Country Office in Armenia was established in 1993. The first Programme of Cooperation of UNDP with the Government of Armenia was approved in 1997 for three years. The second Programme of Cooperation constituted the basis for UNDP cooperation with the Government for the period 2000-2004. Since 2005, UNDP operates in Armenia based on the Country Programme Document for 2005-2009. The total volume of UNDP programme in Armenia for 1993-2007 amounted to US$ 40.4 million, which included UNDP core resources and donor cost-sharing.
The main focus of the socio-economic governance portfolio activities are focused on the local self- government bodies and economic development at regional level, which offer the best possibilities to address regional poverty reduction and disparities, improve civil engagement and participation and, overall, achieve human development.
Sustainable local development: A comprehensive programme of local development systematizes the interventions at the local level, based on a comprehensive analyses of community profiles, as well as on the assessments of several key criteria, such as the vulnerability and economic viability of communities. The availability of comprehensive and well-structured information on municipalities is the necessary basis for making policy decisions, as well as for developing effective, relevant and targeted programmes and projects. The community typology, UNDP supported to develop, makes government and donor support to communities more effective and targeted. It also supports the development of strategy and reforms on new administrative divisions and facilitates the fiscal decentralization process.
The introduction of performance budgeting at the municipality level has provided an effective entry point and mechanism for enhancing the planning and monitoring capacities of elected authorities and for ensuring transparency and accountability in public service delivery. The programme generates community-based prioritization of community development needs, and creates partnership-based implementation structures to convert plans into investment realities, focusing on social infrastructure, economic development priorities and income generation in the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in Armenia.
Innovative Employment Schemes through the increased knowledge and enhanced skills of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). Promotion of vocational education and training, introduction of innovative programmes for youth and young professionals, and supporting the establishment of new financial schemes to support newly established SMEs with special attention to rural regions are other major areas of activity. .
Strategic Policy Advice: Regional and intra-regional disparities are addressed through the development of local Millennium Development Goals (MDG) frameworks, as well as through support for the adoption of the government Poverty Reduction Strategy -2 and its action plan.
The Global Compact, within the framework of public-private partnership, has created new opportunities for and facilitated the establishment of strategic partnerships with the private sector. Already five public-private partnership projects are being implemented, and several initiatives are in the pipeline.
