PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information, Yerevan Office
14 Petros Adamyan str., First Floor
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Armine Halajyan, UN DPI Information Assistant
Tel.: (374 1) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 1) 561 406

United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) project to be
implemented in Armenia

20 March 2009

With the support of the Government of Japan and the United Nations Trust
Fund for Human Security in New York, assistance totalling USD 2,484,900.00
has been extended to the United Nations Agencies in Armenia i.e. United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – the lead co-ordination
agency of the project, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
and
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the
realization of `Sustainable Livelihood for Socially Vulnerable Refugees,
Internally Displaced and Local Families’ project in Armenia.

The objective of the above project, which was initiated and submitted to
UNTFHS for funding by UNHCR, is to assist, through a UN system wide effort,
vulnerable families in the identified communities in Gegharkunik and Kotayk
marzes in reducing poverty by providing social housing, increasing their
self-sustainability through income generation by supporting farming
activities and start-up businesses and access to energy services. The UNTFHS
project will contribute to the enhancing of living conditions, accessibility
of quality health care services, improving educational opportunities as well
as building the capacity of direct beneficiaries and self-government bodies.

As the financial agreements of the project have already been signed with all
UNTFHS project participating Agencies, the implementation of this project
will start on 1 April 2009 to be completed in two years to secure the
livelihoods and dignity in the lives of vulnerable communities in Armenia
–
crucial, particularly in the current financial crisis.