Yerevan, 13 October 2021 – Today, UNDP and partners launched the Tech2Life initiative to support the development of an enabling environment for assistive technology in Armenia for people with disabilities to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, and to participate in education, the labour market and civic life.

The initiative is implemented in the framework of the UNDP and UNICEF joint “Stronger Services for Equal Participation and Inclusive Development” project, financed by the Russian Federation, and implemented in close partnership with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and other ministries. It aims to strengthen the basic service provision system in Armenia through a life-cycle approach and provision of continuous care and support to children and adults with disabilities.

Mr. Narek Mkrtchyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, Ms. Natalya Viktorova, Third Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Armenia, welcomed the participants of the event, which included key stakeholders from public and private sectors, investors, donors, as well as representatives of various NGOs. They discussed the challenges and opportunities for the development of assistive technology sector in Armenia.

“Across the globe, many people who need assistive technology do not have access to it, and very few countries have a national assistive technology policy or programme. With generous funding of the Russian Federation and, in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, we will establish and develop an assistive technology ecosystem in Armenia that can be later replicated in other countries, targeting not only people with disabilities, but any person who might need assistive technology, including elderly people,” said Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

During the event, Armenian startups specialized in assistive technology presented their products and were given opportunity to pitch their ideas to potential investors.

Assistive technology is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services. Without assistive technology, people are often excluded, isolated, and locked into poverty, which thereby increases the impact of disease and disability on a person, their family, and society.

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