Within the “Mainstreaming Human Security in Policy Making to Support the Recovery of Syunik region” Project, in-dept assessment of the community development planning processes, and a detailed analysis of the local value chains and human security issues was conducted. The Project is being jointly implemented by UNDP and ILO with a purpose to strengthen community development planning processes with an integrated human security approach. 

We discussed the findings of the Project with Mr. Hovhannes Atabekyan, a Project partner from Civitta International who led the value chain analysis and Mr. Artak Voskanyan, who is leading the Human Security Project in Syunik to get a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by the population, measured through both quantitative and qualitative indicators.

Syunik region's human security challenges are deeply rooted in its socio-economic and geographical context, compounded by recent conflicts and ongoing environmental changes. Throughout all Project interventions, the number one security issue for the citizens was connected with the geopolitical tensions, that play a significant role in shaping the regional security landscape.

According to Mr. Atabekyan , the most important economic aspects are the unemployment rate that stands at 13% and a poverty rate of 4.3%. Although these figures, compared with similar data from other regions of Armenia, suggest moderate economic vulnerability, the qualitative data is further indicating, that rural areas are disproportionately affected by these insecurities, especially the groups with special needs, refugee groups and the female population. Remoteness from the capital Yerevan, and the status of a far, borderline communities contributes to economic and social marginalization. 

When asked about food security, Mr. Atabekyan pointed out that approximately 27% of the population is experiencing difficulties in accessing sufficient food. This has been exacerbated by the conflict in the region, disrupting agricultural land use and increasing the level of insecurity related to food supply, which got even worse after the subsequent refugee crisis of 2023. It remains as one of the most pressing concerns, with many farmers for example in Goris, Meghri and Sisian still relying on traditional agricultural methods that limit productivity and market access. Although these communities have significant potential in fruit/berry processing and dairy production, outdated infrastructure and insufficient market linkages exacerbate their vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. Likewise, the villages in Goris community face challenges with water management for agriculture, a critical factor for food security.

Regarding the health security, Mr. Atabekyan mentioned the identified low rate of attendance at primary health care institutions, recorded at just 3.5% per capita. The region’s healthcare facilities are outdated, lacking modern medical equipment, and there is a high prevalence of chronic diseases. Additionally, the limited transportation infrastructure, particularly in the winter months, makes access to medical facilities even more difficult, further exacerbating health vulnerabilities in the area.

Speaking about the environmental insecurity, Mr. Voskanyan highlighted the impacts of climate change and mining industry over the decades. The later, despite being the leading economic sector with critical importance in the region, may eventually pose risks to the region's natural resources and ecosystems in terms of pollutions, environmental degradation and diminished water resources and grazing lands. In this regard the region needs to introduce more sustainable practices, risk informed and prevention oriented regulations, advanced early warning and rapid response mechanisms for natural hazards and technological disasters. 

Reflecting to the Personal security dimension, Mr. Voskanyan described the general feeling of uncertainty among the population. “While there are no explicit deviations in the region regarding the protection of human rights and civil liberties, the political, environmental, economic and food insecurities have compounding effects on personal sense of security leading to growing distrust about the future and prospects for self-realization”.  

Similarly, community security is also influenced by the sense of instability within communities. Syunik is a predominantly unitary region, with no inter-communal tensions over the existing insecurities or scarce resources. However, the decades-long unemployment in rural and non-mining areas have led to increased out-migration as individuals and families seek employment opportunities elsewhere in the country or outside of Armenia, resulting in depletion of many bordering and remote villages, which is a matter of national security. 

The political security in Syunik stems from the uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical situation, with the local population facing concerns about future developments. As the region’s proximity to the border is contributing to a heightened stress virtually in all dimensions, the citizens are looking for geo-political solutions and hope for sustainable peace and prosperity. 

There are many Government led initiatives, including the consolidation and decentralization reforms, economic support programmes and subsidiary allocations by the Government of Armenia, as well as different projects implemented by the international organizations and local NGOs in Syunik region. It is crucial to acknowledge and leverage with the multi-sectorality between such interventions for increasing added value and impact for the local citizens and creating additional synergetic effects. Combined with some enhanced protection and empowerment mechanisms, robust environmental protection regulations, social protection and safety nets, these measures will gradually take away some of the immense pressure from Syunik region and enhance the human security in the communities.