Overview
Established in 1966 and recognized as specialized agency in 1985, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is mandated to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to improve the quality of life and reduce poverty through achieving sustainable industrial development and supporting private sector. It also encourages production processes that will neither harm the environment nor place a heavy burden on country’s limited energy resources.
UNIDO Desk in Armenia, the only one opened in the Eastern Europe and CIS region, was established in May 2005, in the framework of the UNIDO/UNDP Cooperation Agreement to address priority development issues in the country. Expanding UNIDO's field presence the UNIDO/UNDP joint programme of cooperation on private sector development unifies knowledge, experience, information and technologies to promote industrial employment opportunities, economic competitiveness and sustainable environmental development in the country.
Current Activities
The cooperation with the RA Government through the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia, has started much earlier, within the scope of which assistance projects have been implemented aimed at strengthening national capacities in trade, investment promotion, environmentally sound technology transfer. UNDIO has been among first UN Agencies to arrive in Armenia in 1991-92 to support the newly independent RA Government to tackle the horrifying outcomes of the earthquake.
UNIDO current programmes are designed to promote foreign trade competitiveness, SMEs development, organic food processing and sustainable agricultural practices, accessible alternative sources of energy in rural and remote settlements, ecologically clean technology and cleaner production efforts in Armenia.
Establishment and Operation of National Cleaner Production Programme in Armenia
The project aims at enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of industry in the Republic of Armenia, by promoting sustained social advance in a way compatible with environmental protection. It is designed to enhance the diffusion of quality and productivity of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), by providing the national industries with necessary tools to become competitive in the national and regional markets with environmentally sound products and improving the ability of national enterprises to successfully negotiate their position in the global market. Based on the experience that UNIDO has gained in establishing NCPCs and NCPPs in more than 30 countries worldwide, UNIDO National Cleaner Production Programme in Armenia follows a strong sectoral approach, concentrating mainly on the food and chemical sectors.
The Programme plays an important role in coordinating all national CP efforts and promotes partnership links between public and private institutions at national and regional levels and enhances capacity building for a more effective market access. In this manner the proposed project is responding to goal 7, Ensure environmental sustainability, and goal 8, Develop a global partnership for development, of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The support is planned for a period of 24 months (Phase I of the Programme), during which the Programme mainly focuses on the capacity building of the national experts and the implementation of CP demonstration projects in companies from the selected priority sectors.
Needs Assessment of Gegharkunik Region
The project aims to undertake needs assessment of the present industrial capacity in the region in the national context and identify which projects and programmes in the UNIDO field of competence (agro-businesses, rural energy, SME’s cluster, tourism, etc.) can be promoted at the follow up stage.. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the Gegharkunik marzpetaran. And Viennese Viennese Municipality
Partners
National Counterparts:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Ministry of Nature Protection, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Territorial Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Urban Development, Regional Administrations, National Center for SME, PRSP Steering Committee, Commission of Public Services.
NGOs and Private Sector, including SMEs
Local NGOs and CBOs working in the areas of SME support, environment, energy efficiency, consumer's rights, sustainable development, sustainable community development, organic food processing and sustainable agricultural practices, Research and Development Institutes (R&D)
International Organizations:
EU, FAO, SIDA, USAID, WB, Austrian development Agency
Diaspora:
Cafesjyan Fund, Armenia2020, FruitFull Armenia
Contact
Ms. Anahit Simonyan, Head of UNIDO Operations
Address: United Nations House, 14 Petros Adamyan Street, Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel: (37410) 56 60 73 ext.205
Fax: (39410) 54 38 11
E-mail: a.simonyan@unido.org, office.armenia@unido.org
Links
Global – www.unido.org
