UNITED WITH THE HEARTBEAT OF ARMENIA
A Conversation with Consuelo Vidal
Consuelo Vidal is the United Nations’ Resident Coordinator as well
as the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) in Armenia. On the job since 2005, she is in charge
of administering the UN Development Assistance Framework for the
years 2005 through 2009, comprising a host of projects that foster
economic growth, sustainable community development, environmental
protection, and democracy-building across the Armenian republic.
Vidal works closely with the Government of Armenia, particularly
in the contexts of the UN Millennium Development Goals and the
Armenian Poverty Reduction Strategy. Her initiatives have also
garnered the unflinching support of Armenian civil society, from
the business sector to the far-flung communities of the country’s
regions. Today Vidal’s mission is marked by the twin advantages of
the outsider’s objective eye and the local field worker’s
compassion and sensitivity. To say that she loves her work is
tantamount to stating that she believes in the untapped potential
and future of the Armenian people.
Interview by Sona Hamalian
SONA HAMALIAN: What would you say is the most underrated aspect of
Armenia?
CONSUELO VIDIAL: I think Armenians themselves are not fully aware of
their own human resources. In terms of development work, we see that
there is an extraordinary level of human capital in Armenia, a
wonderful social fabric poised for progress, something that Armenian
society as a whole has yet to fully acknowledge and tap into, for
Armenia’s development.
Contrast this with the outstanding professional and entrepreneurial
successes of Armenians abroad. Why is it that a similar rate of success
eludes Armenians in the homeland? I believe it is due in part to the
legacy of the Soviet system, which did not welcome initiatives,
entrepreneurship, did not allow creativity to flow freely. This is how I
explain some of the difference between Armenian citizens and their
compatriots in the Diaspora. People here still wait for instructions and
solutions to problems to come from above. Transforming this mindset will
take some time.
SH: The UN operations in Armenia are based on the UN Development
Assistance Framework for the years 2005 through 2009. What are the main
goals of the Framework?
CV: The UN in Armenia supports the achievement of social, economic,
democratic and environmental governance, our two overarching goals are:
1) to address social and economic inequality, and 2) to encourage
citizen engagement and participation in democratic processes.
Against all odds, Armenia’s economic performance has been phenomenally
positive in recent years. Yet it’s also true that growth has been
limited mostly to Yerevan. Outside the capital, throughout the regions
but especially in rural communities, socio-economic disparities and
poverty are still major challenges. It is crucial that people living in
the regions become included in the economy generated by Yerevan. On the
other hand, I believe we should make it easier and more productive for
citizens to create and pursue economic opportunities at the local level.
To this end, citizens must become far more rigorously engaged in the
civic life, economic and democratic institutions of their communities.
Civic engagement and economic growth must and do go hand in hand.
SH: The Government of Armenia adopted a Poverty Reduction Strategy
Paper in 2003, in accordance with the UN’s Millennium Development
Goals, which comprise a wide range of reform and economic-development
objectives. Do you believe that eradicating mass poverty and improving
living standards within the next decade are realistic prospects?
CV: I think they are. Overall poverty in Armenia has been reduced
drastically in the last 10 years. This is a remarkable achievement. But
the continued development of Armenia hinges considerably on addressing
issues of socio-economic disparity in the regions. Provided there’s a
concerted effort with this regard, in Yerevan but particularly in the
regions, I think the eradication of extreme poverty within the next
decade is quite feasible. After having worked in seven countries, I am
very optimistic about Armenia.
SH: The UNDP works closely with the Government of Armenia to
implement its projects. What has been your experience with the
government as a partner and facilitator?
CV: In fact, all of the UN agencies operating in Armenia work
closely with the Government of Armenia. Remember, the United Nations
is an intergovernmental body, so its biggest asset is that Armenia is
itself part of the UN. That means we sit on the same side of the
table. We are partners, and all local UN projects are agreed upon by
the Government of Armenia. The same goes for the UN framework for
collaborating with civil society – a framework which is fully approved
and encouraged by the government. So I would say our partnership with
the Armenian leadership is quite healthy and productive.
SH: Do you think UNDP initiatives in Armenia would benefit from a
strategic partnership with the Armenian Diaspora?
CV: We are already benefiting tremendously from a strategic
partnership with the Diaspora. As a development agency, we identify
development needs and implement concrete projects and the Diaspora
joins us in funding some of them. Both the government of Armenia and
the Diaspora support our priorities.
SH: What are some of the specific conduits through which the
Diaspora could contribute to the success of UNDP projects?
CV: The UN has a symbiotic relationship with the Diaspora. As a
development agency, we know the situation on the ground, we understand
the needs, we can identify the actions to be taken. As the Diaspora is
very much interested in assisting Armenia, collaboration with the UN
becomes all the more natural and smooth. We have joined our respective
resources, knowledge, and experience. We at the UN also take into
consideration the Diaspora’s views suggestions in terms of prioritizing
projects.
Specific conduits through which the Diaspora can help include:
addressing socio-economic inequality and supporting education, health,
rural development, local self-governance, and environmental protection.
Far-reaching projects in all of these programmatic areas are currently
being implemented in Armenia through various UN agencies such as WHO,
UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNFPA, and UNAIDS.
SH: Last year the UNDP launched its Global Compact Armenia project,
which promotes corporate social responsibility. Recently the Compact
once again yielded tangible results when VivaCell, a top Armenian
corporation, joined the UNDP to fund the Arts and Crafts Center for the
Disabled, with branches in Yerevan and Gyumri. What role could the
Armenian business sector play in the advancement of countrywide reforms?
CV: Armenia’s business sector can play a fundamental role in
promoting economic vitality at the grass roots. This is about
corporate social responsibility. It’s about community give-back,
something that’s exemplified by a corporation like VivaCell. But
beyond specific companies, we’re striving to actively engage the
business sector as a whole. For instance, we have a great partnership
with the Union of Merchants and Businessmen of Armenia, which is a
member of our Global Compact and a major stakeholder in our
economic-development goals. Two months ago, within the framework of
our efforts to foster professional growth and job creation at the
grass roots, we launched our Youth Career Trail, a project that
provides self-marketing training and matches young professional
candidates with prospective employers. The initiative, which is
jointly implemented by UNDP, the American University of Armenia (AUA),
and the private sector, brought together 26 businesses which agreed to
train on-the-job young university graduates. Sixty students were
selected from throughout the country, and the UNDP provided them with
stipends for the duration of the training. The AUA taught the students
how to write resumes and market themselves to prospective
employers. Six of these youths have already been offered jobs by the
participating companies and the rest can start looking for jobs more
confidently, having gained concrete working experience.
SH: The UNDP has a vigorous program to support the development of
small and medium enterprises in Armenia, particularly in the
regions. Do you plan on expanding this initiative?
CV: Yes. This is a top priority for us, because our goal of fostering
economic development in the regions requires, among other, promoting and
supporting entrepreneurship at the local level. Our program provides
technical support to budding entrepreneurs for developing their business
concepts. They also receive technical support while implementing, and
collateral for accessing credit in the banking system. Later on they
will return the collateral so that others can benefit from the system.
This is critical for economic development. We have been working on this
with the Ministry of Trade because it’s part of a national program which
we co-fund.
SH: Another critical assistance area in the UNDP’s portfolio is
sustainable community development, which comprises a host of municipal,
civil society, and economic reforms, especially in Armenia’s poorest
communities. In your experience, and generally speaking, are Armenian
stakeholders resistant to systemic change, or do they embrace it?
CV: They embrace it. When we go to communities in the regions,
people are delighted to participate in programs because we start
things off with discussions of how they envision the development of
their communities. I often hear them make comments such as `We’re glad
somebody is asking…’. I think inclusiveness is key to our approach
to sustainable community development. Citizens throughout the regions
have some wonderful ideas for their own progress, and we’re only too
willing to listen and take note.
SH: Bureaucratic corruption in Armenia is a deeply entrenched social
issue. What do you think it would take to address it effectively, if not
eradicate it? What are the roles of civil society and the media in
helping combat corruption?
CV: They all have a critical role to play in this area. The way to
combat corruption is to have a very clear government commitment to
fight against it, and to adopt a zero-tolerance approach by all citizens.
SH: The UNDP is committed to environmental protection and
environmentally sustainable economic growth. In this context, what are
your main challenges in Armenia?
CV: As the cost of environmental degradation has not been factored
into the economy, people often don’t see the point of environmental
protection, so it’s very difficult to make the case for ecological
accountability. I think pollution and deforestation are among the main
environmental challenges Armenia faces today, and hopefully immediate
steps will be taken to make environmental protection a core issue in
decision-making.
SH: You are also committed to the protection of human rights –
particularly those of women, the poor, and disabled. What is the UNDP
strategy in promoting change in this field?
CV: We have a two-pronged strategy:
1) To work on educating the public. To work with children, civil
servants, municipal servants. The idea is to create capacity at all
societal levels for understanding that human rights is something that
matters to all, that we are all responsible for it. This is not the
responsibility of the government and of the international organizations,
it is the responsibility of the people.
2) To strengthen the capacity of the ombudsperson’s office. We strive to
bolster the ombudsperson’s position, his role, and make him more
accessible to the people. We seek to do this because the ombudsperson is
the one entrusted by society to be the ultimate monitor who takes
appropriate action when citizens’ rights are violated.
SH: Do you believe that, after experiencing so many tribulations in
the past two decades, Armenian society is ready to shift from aid
dependence to genuine self-reliance?
CV: Of course. It is already doing so. There was a time when there
was dependence on humanitarian aid, for entirely legitimate reasons.
Whenever there was an emergency, we all came to Armenia’s support. But
now our work has shifted to development, poverty reduction, and
fostering civic participation.
SH: What is it that you like the most about Armenia and what is it
that you dislike the most?
CV: I will answer the first question as a Latin American. I like
the close-knit families, the values and the way Armenians come
together on festive occasions, sharing great food and the warmth that
emanates from these get-togethers.
As for the second part of the question: I dislike the traffic in
Armenia. I don’t understand why people drive so aggressively, why the
pedestrian does not have the right of way. This is the ugly face of
Armenian society, something I didn’t expect to find here.
—
Sona Hamalian is a development consultant and public relations
specialist based in Yerevan.
—
The UNDP can be reached at:
United Nations Development Program
14 Petros Adamyan St.
Yerevan
Tel: +37410 56 60 73
Contact: Sona Hamalian
E-mail: [email protected]