Combating poverty in Armenia takes more than private remittances and fiscal transfers. The United Nations Development Program seems to think so.
The agency has pointed out in its 2010-2015 program document that the country needs to address regional economic disparities; unemployment, which affects one-fifth of the labor force; and deficiencies in the business environment, which hinder the growth of small and medium-sized firms.
Under its poverty reduction initiative, UNDP plans to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the regions through capacity building and introduction of innovative business support mechanisms, a UNDP official told Devex.
The agency will also assist in advancing decentralization policies, community development through income generation and infrastructure rehabilitation, and modernization of vocational education, he said.
The UNDP executive board has approved the new country program in June 2009. Implementation will begin in January 2010.
Aside from poverty reduction, the agency also supports efforts in environment and sustainable development, crisis prevention and recovery, and democratic governance.
