United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2005-2009

	English version of the UN Armenia UNDAF 2005-2009 Armenian version of the UN Armenia UNDAF 2005-2009

This first United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Armenia is aimed at establishing a common framework for all UN Agencies operating in the country. The UNDAF defines the areas where the UN's collective, coherent and integrated interventions will make a significant and strategic contribution towards addressing the economic, social, governance and environmental challenges facing the country. To support the national goals embodied in Armenia's poverty reduction strategy (PRSP), the United Nations has developed an assistance framework for the five-year period from 2005 to 2009. The main aim of the United Nations in its UNDAF is to reduce economic, social and political inequality.

Recognising the threat that inequality poses to Armenian society, and embracing the vision of a dignified life embodied in the Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals, the UN is committed to:

• Reducing the levels of poverty and income inequality;

• Improving the quality and accessibility of basic social services;

• Improving the transparency and accountability of Government institutions; and

• Promoting environmentally sound technologies and effective management of natural resources.

UN Joint initiatives in 2006 / 2007

1. Joint Programme "Support to People Living with HIV/AIDS and their Families - Improving Quality of Life" Led by UNDP, it supports UNDAF programme clusters a) Support to the Government's National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention, in particular, programmes aimed at implementing the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, is provided; and b) Awareness of NGOs, CBOs and at-risk groups on STI and HIV/AIDS prevention is improved and capacities to participate in the development of STI and HIV/AIDS policies are strengthened. Specifically it deals with the UNDAF Outcomes 2.4 and 2.16. It will eventually have an impact on responses to HIV/AIDS and increase of public awareness and involvement of at-risk population into prevention initiatives.
   
   

2. Joint Programme "Capacity Building in HIV/AIDS Prevention, Phase II" led by UNFPA will be finalised in 2007. It supports UNDAF programme clusters a) Support to the Government's National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention, in particular, programmes aimed at implementing the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, is provided; and b) Awareness of NGOs, CBOs and at-risk groups on STI and HIV/AIDS prevention is improved and capacities to participate in the development of STI and HIV/AIDS policies are strengthened.
   
   Specifically it deals with the UNDAF Outcomes 2.4 and 2.16. It will eventually have an impact on increase of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services and increase participation of youth and at-risk people in community based prevention programmes.
   
   

3. Joint Programme "Youth Awareness Program: Survey on Tolerance in the Provinces of Armenia" led by UNDP will be finalised in December 2006. It supports UNDAF programme cluster Support to the Government's human rights strategy, in particular, programmes aimed at implementing the National Human Rights Action Plan and National Plan of Action for Children, strengthening the Public Defender's Office, promoting refugee integration and combating human and drug trafficking. Specifically it deals with the UNDAF Outcome 3.7. The project impact can be assessed vis-a-vis its work targeted at developing of tools for effective promotion of the issues of human rights, gender equality, peace-building and tolerance in the provinces of Armenia. Tthe project will directly address the promotion of the culture of peace, tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the region.
   
   Drawing on the results of the work in 2007, the Group has come up with a concept and result oriented strategy aimed at promoting the concept Tolerance among youth in Armenia. It was genuine collective effort by the UN agencies, particularly UNHCR, UNFP, UNAIDs and UNDP, to address the issue in the context of their respective mandates and come up with a joint program.
   
   In contrast with the previous year the Group worked with enthusiasm and outside of their silos. Its work benefited a lot from a through analysis on the subject and "outside the group" consultations led by UNDP.
   
   One of innovative approaches used by the Group was the organization of a Strategic Workshop on Tolerance. The Workshop was conducted by UNDP using Open Space Technology (OST) method. The results of OST meeting will be used to shape future strategy for promoting tolerance in the country based on vision and plans of organizations for their future work, and for identifying capacity development needs for project stakeholders also based on outlined existing potential and needs for capacity development as per submitted LOIs.
   
   The OST workshop will also be used to initiate a creation of country wide Network of organizations promoting tolerance. In order to increase visibility of the event and to build capacity of local media organizations, selected media outlets, both central and from regions of Armenia will be invited to participate in the OST meeting.
   
   Another initiative within this increase awareness of the UN-Armenia staff and build capacity of UN Agencies for incorporating tolerance promotion through programs and projects. UN-Armenia will conduct a short survey, needs assessment for tolerance promotion among its staff members. Based on this the Group will organize a joint UN staff retreat on Tolerance. The goal of this exercise will be initiating a discourse among UN-Armenia staff on tolerance related issues. At the end of the event, the participants will be equipped with a better understanding on how to recognize and address intolerance, how to design and deliver better programs and projects which will take into account possible conflicts and promote tolerance. The Retreat is expected to suggest a set of program guidelines, selection criteria and programmatic indicators, which may be incorporated in the future work of UN-Armenia agencies. Each UN-Armenia agency will decide on further use of suggested guidelines for their program policies and procedures.
   
   

4. Joint Programme "Enhance Capacity of Government Partners in Adapting and Using DevInfo for Monitoring and reporting Progress on the MDGs and PRSP" led by UNICEF will be finalised in 2007. It supports UNDAF programme cluster Support to the Government's PRSP, in particular, programmes aimed at preparing regional and community development strategies and strengthening the National Social Monitoring System. Specifically it deals with the UNDAF Outcomes 1.2. and 1.16 It will eventually have an impact on Government's capacity to track and monitor the progress against PRSP and MDG indicators. Furthermore, if successful the database can be developed as a national data collection and analysis system network, thus helping communities to better monitor progress towards implementation of various Government's policies.
   
   

5. "Support to Government's Efforts to Respond to Avian Influenza and Prepare for a Potential Influenza Pandemic" led by UNDP will be finalised in 2007. The programme supports Government's efforts towards better coordination of the Avian Influenza Pandemic. It supported WHO and UNICEF with some of their avian flu initiatives such as communication campaign (UNICEF) and making available to the government best practice/standards (WHO).
   
   

6. UNDP-FAO initiative CDP Activity 8 led by FAO was being implemented during January-December 2006. The main objective of the programme is to strengthen the coordination of the agriculture sector in the country among stakeholders, policy makers, NGOs, etc, to lead the Agriculture Thematic group, to assess the potential of organic farming in Armenia and develop a recommendation package, to support the Ministry of Agriculture to draft a Law in Organic Agriculture to develop that sector, to support the establishment of an organic demonstration Farm to provide vital practical education to farmers. The Component has led the Agriculture Theme Group Meetings, exchanged information on organic agriculture in Armenia, drafted a Low on Organic Agriculture, established an Organic Demonstration Farm in Ararat marz, supported the preparation of Community Development Plans for 2 rural communities in Syunik marz.
   
   

7. Database on refugees, through supporting a pilot survey in Syunik region aimed at obtaining estimates of MDG indicators. Led by UNHCR, it contributed to achievement of the UNDAF programme clusters a) Support to the Government's human rights strategy, in particular, programmes aimed at implementing the National Human Rights Action Plan and National Plan of Action for Children, strengthening the Public Defender's Office, promoting refugee integration and combating human and drug trafficking; and b) Support to the Government's PRSP, in particular, programmes aimed at preparing regional and community development strategies and strengthening the National Social Monitoring System. Specifically it deals with the UNDAF Outcomes 3.7 and 1.2.