PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: hovhannes.sarajyan@undp.org<mailto:hovhannes.sa rajyan@undp.org>
Web site:

UNDP Reinforces State Capacities in Disaster Risk Reduction in Armenia

Yerevan, 27 April 2010 – In response to the interest expressed by the
Government of Armenia, UNDP in Armenia and the Ministry of Emergency
Situations (MoES) engaged UNDP experts to work with the MoES to design
and facilitate a capacity development process for the national
disaster risk reduction (DRR) system in Armenia. In consultation with
the Ministry, the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building
the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters was selected as
a basic document for designing capacity self-assessment tool and
indicators to measure the current baseline and identify the desired
level of capacity for the DRR system.

The capacity self-assessment report presented today with the
participation of Ms. Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia and Mr. Armen Yeritsyan, RoA
Minister of Emergency Situations has a primary objective to provide a
roadmap to the MoES describing the actions that the institution can
take to implement institutional reform of the DRR system and to
develop capacities to achieve agreed outcomes, guided by the
priorities outlined in the HFA. Secondly this report can provide a
rationale and guidance for the support provided by partners and
stakeholders to strengthen the capacity of DRR system in Armenia.

Welcoming the participants of the event, Ms. Dafina Gercheva, UN
RC/UNDP RR said, "Developing national capacities is one of the most
effective ways of fostering human development. UNDP has a proven track
record in accelerating human development through reinforcing state
capacity and promoting the culture of disaster risk reduction. The
methodology and tools developed for the DRR system in Armenia are a
valuable resource that can be adapted and replicated in other sectors
and public institutions in Armenia and in other countries."

The MoES was identified as a key government counterpart in this
process due to its critical role as a coordinating agency in the
effective response to and prevention of natural disasters.

"Today there is no more need for us to look back. Today we need to
move forward together with the rest of the world to meet modern
challenges. Our commitments and political will are further
strengthened and enriched by international experience and by the fact
that we move forward together with our partners – and first of all
with the United Nations. I would like to assure that the MoES will do
everything to make this project successful, to unite all the efforts
and international organizations of the country, to establish a
National Platform and to coordinate the development process of
disaster risk reduction system in Armenia", said Minister Armen
Yeritsyan.

DRR capacity development process in Armenia has been an innovative
exercise for a number of reasons. It adapted the UNDP capacity
development methodology for DRR – the first time in the region, and
directly engaged six key DRR organizations and other stakeholders at
national and local levels. Based on the results of the DRR capacity
development process, an action plan has been recommended focusing on
three capacity areas, such as core organizational capacities,
technical capacities and community engagement and cooperation. As a
result, a national strategy for DRR will be devised, including a shift
towards more effective engagement of communities and schools,
establishment of a new system of monitoring and evaluation to support
coordination and information management, as well as unification of
databases for DRR institutions.

###
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.