20/03/2009 With the support of the Government of Japan and the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security in New York, assistance totalling USD 2,484,900.00 has been extended to the United Nations Agencies in Armenia i.e. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – the lead co-ordination agency of the project, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the realisation of ‘Sustainable Livelihood for Socially Vulnerable Refugees, Internally Displaced and Local Families’ project in Armenia. The objective of the above project, which was initiated and submitted to UNTFHS for funding by UNHCR, is to assist, through a UN system wide effort, vulnerable families in the identified communities in Gegharkunik and Kotayk marzes in reducing poverty by providing social housing, increasing their self-sustainability through income generation by supporting farming activities and start-up businesses and access to energy services. The UNTFHS project will contribute to the enhancing of living conditions, accessibility of quality health care services, improving educational opportunities as well as building the capacity of direct beneficiaries and self-government bodies.
As the financial agreements of the project have already been signed with all UNTFHS project participating Agencies, the implementation of this project will start on 1 April 2009 to be completed in two years to secure the livelihoods and dignity in the lives of vulnerable communities in Armenia – crucial, particularly in the current financial crisis. | 
