In the consolidated communities of Syunik region, the geopolitical, socio-economic and environmental challenges are transforming development approaches. UNDP has introduced a transformative vision for regional and community planning there, which integrates multi-sectoral, prevention-oriented solutions, with the well-being of local citizens as the cornerstone of all interventions. 

This innovative approach represents more than a shift from traditional planning; with concrete formulations towards building inclusive, participatory systems that empower communities to thrive. Why does this matter? Because this isn’t just about policies—it’s about shaping a future where every individual feels safe, valued, and capacitated for self-realization and contribution to more resilient Armenia.

For Mrs. Gohar Mirzoyan, a dedicated teacher in Darpas village of Sisian community every day is a balancing act. Her classroom is filled with eager students, but the remoteness of the school and outdated educational solutions makes teaching a constant struggle. She dreams of a community where education isn’t an afterthought but a cornerstone of development. What if the local community development plans could prioritize schools as hubs of opportunity and for recruiting the citizens of future? What if funding was available for modern equipment and technologies, so that the science could be more interesting to the students. Being far from politics,  the human security is not a policy, but rather a promise and hope, that education will enable to fix the root causes of insecurities, embrace the local potential and bring tangible benefits for the local population. 

For Mrs. Irina Yolyan, the deputy mayor of Goris community, the weight of responsibility is very high. Every day she participates in decision making about urban planning, disaster risk management, public utilities and social services, while grappling with limited resources.  She envisions a community where each policy is part of a bigger picture—a place where improving public transit also boosts local businesses, where risk informed urban development and land use planning can enhance resilience, expand green spaces and boost local tourism and public health, where youth programs inspire innovation that may ripple nationally. By aligning community needs with national priorities, she also sees a pathway to attract the funding needed to make these changes more sustainable. For her the public service is not about managing responsibilities; it’s about turning them into opportunities that build a more resilient future for everyone.

Elsewhere, Mrs. Anna Sargsyan, an employee of the Kapan municipality, is rethinking community development strategies after geopolitical shifts, which will enable maintaining the pace of community development, and even promote new, strategic changes. Speaking about the Human Security Approach, she describes it as a planning process that goes beyond generic solutions and reflects a community's unique content and competitive advantages.

The human security approach thus offers more than a planning framework; it is a powerful tool for long-term reforms, fundamental freedoms and a dignified life. With its preventive nature, the human security in Syunik is seen as the conflict that did not escalate, natural phenomena that did not turn into a disaster, the disease that did not spread, the job that was not cut, the voice, which was not silenced and the socio-economic opportunities that were not lost. 

By introducing human security approaches, UNDP and ILO support policy makers, local governments and citizens of target communities in Syunik region to create tangible benefits in different areas of daily life through more comprehensive, people-centered, context specific and prevention-oriented planning.