Resilience & Economic Recovery of Border Communities in Armenia REBCA

The positive results achieved in Armenia in recent years in reducing poverty and food insecurity have been fundamentally challenged recently by a number of negative factors such as COVID-19 and external economic shocks, particularly from the war in Ukraine.

In addition, Armenia faces fundamental security problems that also have an impact on the country's economy and food security. After the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) in 2020, Azerbaijan took control of several territories in NK, so that a number of settlements in the regions Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik now border Azerbaijan. Since May 2021, Azerbaijani troops repeatedly have entered Armenian territory in these regions. On 13 September 2022, Azerbaijan began a large-scale military intervention on the Armenian border in Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions, causing more than 200 casualties on the Armenian side, and Azerbaijani troops penetrated deeper into Armenian territory in the aforementioned border regions. This unstable and fragile security situation further contributes to the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in Armenia. The population in the border areas is directly affected and endangered by the military violence. Around 7600 people have fled their villages and lost their livelihoods. Indirectly 6 enlarged communities were affected in the mentioned regions totalling 133 settlements and 133,165 people. 

• Direct beneficiaries: 1040 households (4189 people) in 15 settlements of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik
• Indirect beneficiaries: 22,000 people of 15 settlements of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik

Outcome 1: Selected vulnerable targeted households in conflict-affected regions are able to meet essential needs in the form of food and to restore psycho-social conditions.

Outcome 2: Selected conflict-affected local municipalities have improved capacity and resources to implement effective socio-economic planning and operationalization.

Outcome 3: Selected households have improved capacity and opportunities to secure income and livelihoods through accessing agricultural income generation assets and funding models and driving (self-) employment.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• 3000 affected populations (750 households) are provided with cash assistance in at least 15 target settlements to address their food needs
• 90 vulnerable households in 15 target settlements are provided with comprehensive social work support based on their needs
• Municipalities are supported to develop and implement contextualized local social plans to strengthen community social protection response in shocks in 3 target enlarged communities of Vardenis, Jermuk and Sisian
• Capacity and resources of 200 farms in 5 target settlements are enhanced to keep and/or increase farm productive assets and income earning opportunities in the long-run

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

Since mid-September 2022, inter-agency needs assessment missions were conducted with the following results:

(a) immediate needs of the conflict-affected population, notably shelter, food, non-food items for winterization, access to factors of production, as well as psycho-social support.

Identified (b) long-term needs of communities include the rehabilitation of damaged, temporarily or permanently lost livelihood sources such as loss of pastures and/or cultivated lands; loss of water sources for irrigation or livestock rearing); damaged infrastructures (roads, ambulatories, houses, schools; water sources, gas pipes and electricity supply); and the delivery of security measures (building of shelters and humanitarian demining)

Altogether, 51 communities are conflict-affected being the home of 26’309 households (around 92,000 people). Out of them, 4435 households are considered to be most vulnerable or directly affected.

Linkages will be sought with SDC-supported interventions (SIGMA, LSG, LILA) and with other development partners.

Additional funding will be sought, incl. from development partners and from central, regional and local authorities. 

Phase 1 01.12.2022 - 31.07.2024   (Active)