Armenia: Nsrc Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin-Gyumri Road
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Due Diligence Report Document Stage: Final Project Number: 42145 August 2012 North-South Road Corridor Investment Program—Proposed Tranche 3 (TALIN-GYUMRI ROAD) Due Diligence Report on HIV/AIDS, Trafficking, and Gender Prepared by Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) for the Asian Development Bank This due diligence report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. ARMENIA: NSRC INVESTMENT PROGRAM TRANCHE 3: TALIN-GYUMRI ROAD Due Diligence Report HIV/AIDS, Trafficking and Gender Armenia: North-South Road Corridor Investment Program Tranche 3: Talin-Gyumri Road October 2011 ARMENIA: NSRC INVESTMENT PROGRAM TRANCHE 3: TALIN-GYUMRI ROAD TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 3 I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 6 II. METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 6 III. FINDINGS............................................................................................................... 8 A. ARMENIA BRIEF PROFILE.............................................................................. 8 1. General.............................................................................................................. 8 2. Project location ....................................................................................................... 9 3. Socio-political, Socio-Economic Status................................................................ 10 4. Village Profiles ..................................................................................................... 10 B. HIV/AIDS SITUATION.......................................................................................... 11 1. General Situation .................................................................................................. 11 2. Knowledge ............................................................................................................ 13 3. Practice.................................................................................................................. 13 4. Gender aspect........................................................................................................ 14 5. Geographical aspect.............................................................................................. 14 6. Risk factors and limitations for HIV prevention................................................... 14 7. Laws and Policies related to HIV/AIDS, National Responses to Combat AIDS . 15 8. Organizational Structure of Government.............................................................. 16 9. Role of NGOs in the country ................................................................................ 17 10. Project Area & Community Perceptions on HIV/AIDS Related Issues............. 18 C. HUMAN TRAFFICKING SITUATION................................................................. 30 1. General situation ................................................................................................... 22 2. National Responses to Trafficking and Migration................................................ 24 3. International Commitments .................................................................................. 25 4. Role of NGOs ....................................................................................................... 26 5. Project Area & Community Perceptions on Trafficking ...................................... 26 6. Vulnerability ......................................................................................................... 28 7. Impact of trafficking ............................................................................................. 28 8. Where to receive support by VOTs ...................................................................... 29 9. Impact of road on trafficking ................................................................................ 29 D. GENDER SITUATION ........................................................................................... 30 1. General Situation .................................................................................................. 30 2. Migration and Trafficking..................................................................................... 33 3. Gender Perceptions ............................................................................................... 34 4. Health and Family Planning.................................................................................. 35 5. Role of Government in Gender............................................................................. 35 6. International Commitments by Govt. ................................................................... 37 7. Role of NGOs in Gender....................................................................................... 37 8. Impact of Project on Gender................................................................................. 37 IV. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS ..................................... 39 V. MONITORING AND EVALUATION .................................................................... 40 Page 1 ARMENIA: NSRC INVESTMENT PROGRAM TRANCHE 3: TALIN-GYUMRI ROAD ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank AH Affected Households AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AP Affected Person APEC Armenian Public Health CCM Country Coordinating Commission CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Woman CSW Commercial Sex Worker DI Depth Interview EVYP Especially Vulnerable Young People FGD Focus Group Discussion GDP Gross Domestic Product GF Global Fund GFATM Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria GoA Government of Armenia HH Household Head HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IAC Inter-Agency commission IDUs Intravenous Drug Users ILCS Integrated Living Conditions Survey IOM International Organization for Migration LSGBs Local Self-Governing Bodies M&E Monitoring & Evaluation MARA Most At Risk Adolescents MDG Millennium Development Goals MOTC Ministry of Transport and Communications MSM Men Sex Men NCAP National Centre for AIDS Prevention NGO Non Government Organization NSS National Statistical Service OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PLHA People Living with HIV & AIDS PLHIV People Living with HIV PRA Participatory Rapid Appraisal RA Republic of Armenia TB Tuberculosis TIP Trafficking in Persons U.A.E. United Arab Emirates UMCOR The United Methodist Committee on Relief USER/ SERU Unit on Safeguard, Enviroment and Ressetlement UN United Nation UNDP United Nation Development Program UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNGASS United Nations General Assembly Special Session VCT Voluntary Counseling and Testing VoTs Victims of Trafficking Page 2 ARMENIA: NSRC INVESTMENT PROGRAM TRANCHE 3: TALIN-GYUMRI ROAD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ministry of Transport and Communication in the Republic of Armenia is in the process of up-grading the existing road between Talin and Gyumri. The Tranche 3 project road is located in the North-West of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia at an altitude between 1,400 and 1,800 m above mean sea level. It comprises upgrading to four-lane Dual Carriageway of the M1 between Talin and Gyumri, Km 71+500 to Km 116+700, which is part of the North-South Road Corridor. The total length of the project road is 45.20km which comprises reconstruction of the existing two-lane road and construction of a second carriageway alongside. The project will be financed mainly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) but some co-financing with other international bodies is possible. The overall objective of the HIV/AIDS, Trafficking Prevention and Awareness, and Gender Development Program is to support the Government policy to reduce vulnerability of communities in the project area. This report is a plan for HIV/AIDS and Trafficking Prevention and Gender Development for Tranche 3 which includes awareness raising for Contractors and construction workers for civil works. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia transited to a market economy, and changed its political system from socialistic to democratic. This transition was not simple; a resultant was transformation of all state social institutions and social security systems, disruption of trade and production, changes in living standards and a rise in poverty levels. HIV/AIDS: Armenia is a low prevalence country and till 2010, males constituted a major part in the total number of HIV cases. Nearly 1/3 rd of the HIV-infected individuals belonged to the age group of 25-39 years. It is estimated that about 2300 persons are possibly living with HIV in the country today. More than 34% of all the HIV registered cases have been diagnosed in the last two years. The main mode of HIV transmission changed from injecting drug-use in 2005 to heterosexual transmission in 2006. The maximum number of HIV cases was registered in Yerevan, followed by Shirak and Lori marzes. The most active governmental structure coordinating and implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities is the National Centre for AIDS Prevention (NCAP) of the Ministry of Health. UNAIDS is closely involved in the sector and collaborates with the governmental entities; e.g. currently they are