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United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
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Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
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From Upgraded Vocational Skills to Decent Employment
Yerevan, 21 April 2010 – Today Ms. Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident
Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia and Mr. Mkhitar
Mnatsakanyan, RoA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs signed a Letter
of Agreement on organization and conduct of large-scale vocational
re-trainings with further job placement for registered unemployed
focusing on youth unemployment in the regions of Armenia.
UNDP "Vocational Education and Training (VET) System" Project,
together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, organized last
year 2-3 month training programs for unemployed to retrain them in
vocational specialties demanded by the labor market. At the peak of
crisis, this initiative was aimed to address the growing level of
unemployment in Armenia. The first series of vocational re-trainings
with further job placement requirement were initiated in August 2009
and proved to be very successful: 170 unemployed participated in the
program and 75% of them are already placed at different jobs across
the country.
In light of this, UNDP in Armenia came forward to continue the support
to the employment sector and initiated the second phase of the project
with a total budget of USD 140,000 for 2010. The retraining programs
have a strong practical component and are seen as a part of active
labor market (ALM) policy, which is one of the remedies along with
existing social safety instruments like public works, family benefits,
expansion of unemployment benefits, to support the most vulnerable
layers of the Armenian society. The project will allow to upgrade the
skills of more than 400 unemployed people in different sectors of
vocational occupations (artisan, services, agriculture, IT,
construction, etc.) currently demanded in the domestic labor market to
boost employment and income generation.
"This is yet another example of successful partnership between the
UNDP in Armenia and the national counterparts when targeted, rapid and
flexible response provides the necessary remedies to development
challenges, such as the impact of the global financial and economic
crisis on the most vulnerable layers of the society. Poverty reduction
and ensuring access to basic social and economic services for the most
vulnerable layers of the society are the priority areas of the UNDP
activities in the country. Developing national capacities is one of
the most effective ways of fostering human development," said
Ms. Gercheva, UN RC/UNDP RR.
"I am sure that this type of projects representing ALM instruments
will have positive impact and will mitigate the consequences of
economic crisis in employment sector," stressed Minister Mnatsakanyan
in his speech.
A strong tripartite partnership is already in place between UNDP VET
Project, State Employment Service Agency and vocational training
providers, which is a strong prerequisite for the successful
implementation of the project’s second phase. This time UNDP
assistance has tripled addressing almost all the regions of Armenia
with the special focus on youth from remote communities. The duration
of the professional trainings will vary from 2 up to 4 months based on
the core content of the VET state curricula to be introduced and
delivered.
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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and
connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries,
working with them on their own solutions to global and national
development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on
the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. UNDP in Armenia was
established in 1993 and supports the Government of Armenia to reach
its own development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals by
2015.