What we do

The pathway to democratic governance in Armenia is centered on building trust in governance systems and strengthening the capacity for effective service delivery. UNDP works alongside the Government of Armenia to support democratic, accountable institutions that are capable of upholding human rights, promoting the rule of law, preventing violence and discrimination, and fostering equitable public service delivery.

At the heart of our efforts is the focus on improving the transparency and accountability of decision-making processes, combating corruption, ensuring access to justice, and advancing human rights. UNDP works to enhance the effectiveness of Armenia's legislative and electoral systems, strengthening the public administration's capacity to deliver quality services. Through our initiatives, we also promote the digital transformation of institutions to improve public service delivery and accountability, as well as encourage participatory governance that empowers citizens and builds social cohesion.

In partnership with Armenia’s government and parliament, UNDP plays a key role in designing and promoting open governance policies, ensuring that these policies are implemented and adapted through continuous oversight and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The Parliament of Armenia, as a critical platform for policymaking and citizen engagement, has benefited from UNDP's technical support, which has bolstered its law-making, scrutiny, and outreach functions.

Key Achievements

1. Electoral Support: UNDP's support has been instrumental in enhancing the electoral process in Armenia, contributing to high public confidence in elections and restored stability in the country. This was particularly evident in the snap parliamentary elections, where over 2 million eligible voters were supported to effectively exercise their rights. UNDP’s work has helped increase transparency and trust in the electoral system, ultimately reinforcing citizens' faith in the democratic process.
2. Human Rights & Rule of Law: UNDP has supported the Government of Armenia in its efforts to implement the Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan, contributing to significant improvements in the technical capacities of the Ministry of Justice, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, and other key stakeholders. UNDP’s facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogues has been crucial in developing the new iteration of Armenia’s Human Rights Action Plan, ensuring continued progress in protecting and promoting human rights across the country.
3. Institutional Capacity Building: In the realm of police reforms, UNDP has contributed to transformative changes within law enforcement, particularly through the creation of new police forces, the enhancement of training programs, and the introduction of human rights-centered policing practices. This has led to greater public trust and a stronger reputation for the police. Additionally, through tailored technical assistance, the Ministry of Interior has successfully launched new reforms in policing and migration.
4. Parliamentary Strengthening: UNDP has worked to strengthen the Armenian Parliament's capacity in law-making, scrutiny, and public outreach, leading to tangible improvements in legislative effectiveness. Public engagement with the National Assembly has grown significantly, with innovative mechanisms such as mobile sessions and public hearings ensuring broader participation in the legislative process. As a result, citizens’ trust in the Parliament has grown, with satisfaction rates for parliamentary performance rising steadily.
5. Digital Transformation of Governance: UNDP has supported the digitalization of parliamentary functions, introducing tools like e-Session Management, e-Learning, and e-Library systems to modernize the legislative framework and make parliamentary processes more accessible and transparent. These efforts have empowered citizens, enhanced the quality of policymaking, and helped make Armenia's governance system more agile and responsive.
6. Mine Action & Risk Education: As part of efforts to create a safer environment, UNDP has contributed to the development of Armenia's National Mine Action Strategy, focusing on explosive ordnance contamination in affected regions. UNDP has supported land clearance operations, significantly improving the safety of local communities, while also promoting explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and encourage safe behavior.
7. Public Sector Reform: UNDP's continuous support to the Government of Armenia has led to the adoption of a new public administration reform strategy, aiming to modernize the civil service and strengthen service delivery. This includes the establishment of a new Ministry of Interior to oversee and implement policing and migration reforms, contributing to more efficient and citizen-friendly public services.

Through these efforts, UNDP continues to help Armenia strengthen its governance systems, promote human rights, and support sustainable democratic practices that benefit all citizens.