What we do

The pathway to environmental sustainability and resilience involves mainstreaming environmental and nature protection issues into national and regional development processes. This transition will foster a low-carbon, resource-efficient, resilient and socially inclusive green economy capable of adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, while also ensuring adequate financing for biodiversity conservation efforts. UNDP interventions are geared towards identifying, piloting and scaling up data-driven and tech-based smart policies and solutions that are environmentally and climate-friendly, nature-responsive, risk-informed and long lasting.

UNDP works on:

(a) improving the institutional and regulatory frameworks governing the environmental sector, climate and disaster risk management;

(b) providing capacity building and financial support to empower communities for active participation in co-management and monitoring processes, thereby increasing local ownership, improving livelihoods and reducing poverty; and

(c) mainstreaming resource-efficient and ecosystem-based approaches into sectoral policymaking, community development and landscape restoration.

UNDP advocates for a new social contract, turning people, particularly women and youth, and businesses to become active partners in sustainable development. This will require a whole-of-society engagement, environmental education, behavioral changes, new types of economic and fiscal instruments and public-private partnerships including targeted tools and guidance to enhance financing strategies.

To foster Armenia's green, resilient, and inclusive recovery, UNDP, in collaboration with the EU, WB and the Armenian government, initiated the “Green Recovery” Platform. This high-level policy dialogue Platform promotes knowledge sharing and provides practical recommendations, including innovative financing solutions to accelerate this green transformation.

UNDP addresses energy poverty and insecurity by increasing awareness, fostering partnership and unlocking retrofit markets for energy-efficient and renewable technologies. It also facilitates access to international climate financing mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation, including through climate budgeting frameworks.

UNDP's BioFin initiative supports Armenia's biodiversity conservation commitments, filling critical financing gaps and strengthening climate resilience, advancing SDGs, and enhancing international standing and partnerships.

In light of the compound crisis, a green and resilient recovery is boosted by promoting sustainable city concepts through low-emission and circular-economy models; helping to design and translate nationally determined contributions under Paris Agreement; and including climate adaptation into sectoral strategies and local action plans.

Stimulus packages are developed to protect and promote nature-based/green jobs and livelihood opportunities in communities, specifically for women, youth and other vulnerable groups.

National capacities for resilience-building are strengthened and gender-responsive public and private investments in disaster risk management are stimulated.

UNDP pays particular attention to the environment-health nexus by mainstreaming a ‘one-health approach’ financing. This encompasses reducing risks to human health through sound management of waste, chemicals, air and water pollution and green transformation of urban mobility and industry.

Some results so far

Cooperation with the Government of Armenia resulted in adopting: 

• National Determined Contribution (2021-2030) under the Paris Agreement 
• Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Strategy (2050)
• National Action Program of Adaptation and List of Measures for 2021-2025 (2021), 
• Water Sector Adaptation Plan (2022-2026)
• Program on Energy Saving and Renewable Energy for 2022-2030

Cooperation at the local level resulted in:

• Building a resilient energy future through developing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) for Yerevan, Alaverdi, Vanadzor, Spitak, Stepanavan communities. 
• Addressing energy security gaps for host populations and refugees in Armenia by installing solar thermal and photovoltaic systems; providing biomass briquette fuel; as well as deploying hybrid solar mobile systems with an autonomous operation during crisis/emergency situations.
• Investing USD 7.6 million to energy-efficient retrofits for 59 public buildings (including 45 kindergartens and schools) and 157 residential buildings across Armenia. These upgrades have positively impacted over 50,000 people in 20 communities, with women and girls making up more than half of the beneficiaries.
• Supporting the implementation of a comprehensive Energy Management Information System (EMIS) for precise data collection on energy savings, as a powerful tool for evidence-based decision-making, advancing the country’s energy efficiency goals through robust monitoring, reporting, and verification systems.
• Introducing international best practices in energy efficiency, fostering a skilled pool of over 2,000 Armenian professionals; raising awareness among 1.85 million Armenians by promoting an energy-saving culture and driving demand for sustainable practices.
• Promoting climate-smart land and water management practices by implementing innovative, low-cost technologies and approaches to expand irrigated lands and enhance local livelihoods.
• Empowering youth with low-carbon technology skills and knowledge through learning a new specialization at established educational centers, leading to the creation of green jobs for young people.