USAID BRIDGE COMPLETED 40 PROJECTS TOTALING $2.9 MILLION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.03.2010 14:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The USAID Bridge Public Works Program marked the
completion of its 5-year activities in Armenia by highlighting
the program’s successes and the importance of public works in
fostering Armenia’s labor market. Head of State Employment Agency
Sona Harutyunyan and Social Sector advisor of the USAID/Armenia Social
Reform Office Volodimir Yatsenko opened the conference. The event was
attended by representatives of partner organizations, including the
Anoushavan Abrahamyan Educational Fund, the State Employment Services
Agency and World Vision among others.

The objective of the conference was to present the results to the
public, partners and donor organizations. Through its three components
of community mobilization, vocational training and public works, the
Bridge program aimed to assist vulnerable communities in achieving
greater self-sufficiency by providing them with vocational training
in construction skills as well as with employment opportunities on
public works projects that rehabilitated infrastructure items chosen
by the community.

Bridge worked in 20 towns in Tavush, Aragatsotn, Lori, Shirak,
Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes. Specifically, the program
completed 40 projects totaling $2.9 million, generated more than 87
000 person days of employment, provided 1 240 people with short-term
labor opportunities, leveraged 16% matching contribution over the life
of the program, conducted 54 training in 5 different construction
trades, trained 734 unemployed persons, 70% of whom found jobs in
construction after the program completion and developed training
curricula for Riling, Wood Flooring, Painting and Plastering, Concrete
and Stone Masonry.