On 3 October 2016, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a project cooperation agreement for the project “Support to Migration and Border Management in Armenia” (MIBMA) in Yerevan. The project is fully funded by the European Union and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with UNDP.

Integrated border management is vital for the expansion of Armenia’s economic, trade, and cultural ties with the countries of the region, but also to manage and control the flow of travellers efficiently with full protection of their rights,” stated senior representatives of the EU, ICMPD, and UNDP who took part at the signing ceremony of the project cooperation agreement.

The overall objective of the project, which is financed by the European Union and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with UNDP, is to improve the approximation of migration and border management in Armenia to the European standards of governance in order to increase security and facilitate trade. UNDP will also support the government in preparation for the modernisation of the southern border crossing with Iran.

“ICMPD and UNDP have vast experience in the integrated border management sector and contributed greatly to adopting and implementing integrated border management concepts and principles in Armenia, such as the Border Security and State Border Integrated Management Strategy and Action Plan. UNDP has also worked extensively on infrastructure upgrades, on sharing knowledge and expertise in transparency, accountability and integrity, as well as in trade facilitation. Together with our partners, we will build on these results and continue supporting Armenia’s efforts in this area,” said Mr. Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

Ambassador Świtalski, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, shared that: “Expanding and improving regional connectivity is a global priority for the EU, which is manifested in large investments in economic and infrastructure development in the European Neighbourhood Region. I am very pleased with and proud of the strong EU support to increasing Armenia’s trade, economic cooperation and wider relations with Iran through the MIBMA project. This represents an enormous current-day development potential for Armenia while re-establishing an important historic cultural and economic corridor that has influenced Armenia, Europe and Asia for centuries”.

“Although ICMPD has established a permanent presence in Armenia in April of this year, we have been working with the Government of Armenia on improvement of border management at a technical level since 2010. Throughout, ICMPD’s activities in this area have been implemented in partnership with UNDP, thus, we are happy that the EU has granted us the financial means to continue and build on the success of this partnership,” said Mr. Carel Hofstra, Team Leader of the MIBMA project.

The EU is financing the 3-year MIBMA project with a grant of close to EUR 4.000.000. As a project partner UNDP will lead the implementation of the border management component with a price tag of EUR 880,000 to be spent before the end of 2017.