Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Armenia 1 | P a g e

UNICEF Working Paper, April 2018 Contents Acronyms ...... 3 Executive Summary ...... 5 1.1 Main Findings ...... 5 1.2 Key Points ...... 5 1.3 Additional points of concern ...... 7 CEE and migration ...... 7 Environmental education ...... 7 Inclusion of child-sensitive design in CEE investments ...... 7 Children’s voices are not being heard with regard to CEE issues ...... 7 1.4 Recommendations (see Recommendations for full description) ...... 7 1.5 Sector-specific recommendations ...... 8 2 The climate, environment and energy situation in the country ...... 10 2.1 The current climate, including variability ...... 10 2.2 Climate related threats and disasters ...... 10 2.3 Observed changes in climate ...... 11 2.4 Projected changes in climate ...... 12 2.5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 12 2.6 Other relevant environmental issues ...... 13 2.7 CEE relevant disease distribution ...... 14 2.8 Energy situation and access ...... 15 3 Government responses to/priorities on CEE ...... 19 3.1 CEE-related policies and strategies ...... 19 3.2 Ratification of international laws and treaties ...... 19 3.3 Recent and on-going initiatives on CEE ...... 20 3.4 Main CEE actors ...... 20 3.5 Coordination Mechanisms ...... 22 3.6 CEE-focus Development Partners ...... 22 4 The impact of climate, environment and energy issues on children ...... 24 4.1 Poverty and CCE ...... 24 4.2 Education and ECD, and CEE ...... 26 4.3 Child labour and child protection, and CEE ...... 28 4.4 Nutrition and CEE ...... 28 4.5 Social Protection and CEE ...... 28 4.6 Health and CEE ...... 30 5 Do children benefit from CEE investments and programs? ...... 32 6 The UNICEF Country Programme and linkages to CEE ...... 33 6.1 Recent and current CEE-relevant activities ...... 33 6.2 Opportunities for expansion of engagement with CEE partners ...... 34 7 Greening UNICEF ...... 34 8 Recommendations ...... 35 8.1 Sector-specific recommendations ...... 36 Annex 1 ...... 41 Annex 2 ...... 46 Annex 3 ...... 47 Annex 4 ...... 53 Annex 5 UNICEF Armenia CPD 2016-2020 CEE-related threats ...... 62 Annex 6 Resources ...... 64

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List of CEE contacts in Armenia ...... 64 Climate and Environment online tools and resources...... 67

Author: Nicholas Molyneux

Disclaimer The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies of views of UNICEF. The text has not been edited to official publication standards and UNICEF accepts no responsibility for errors. The designations in this publication do not imply an opinion on legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities, or the delimitation of frontiers.

Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank ADS Armenian Development Strategy APES Alternative Preschool Education Services ARI Acute Respiratory Infections AUA American University of Armenia CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCM Climate Change Mitigation CEE Climate, environment and energy CEEFP Climate Environment and Energy Focal Point CENS Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia CLAC Climate Landscape Analysis for Children CO UNICEF Country Office COP Convention of Parties CP UNICEF Country Programme CSF The Child Friendly Schools Initiative DIPECHO Disaster Preparedness Programme of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations DRR Disaster Risk Reduction ECD Early Childhood Development ECHO Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations EE Energy Efficient EEN Environmental Education Network EEP Energy Efficient Project ERRA Electronic Regional Risk Atlas GCF Green Climate Fund GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Greenhouse Gas GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit HHMP Hazardous hydro-meteorological phenomenon IAP Indoor Air Pollution IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development ISS Integrated Social Services

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NC National Communication to the UNFCCC MAC Maximum Allowable Concentrations MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys MoES Ministry of Education and Science MoHMI Ministry of Healthcare NAP National Adaptation Plan R2E2 Renewable Resource and Energy Efficiency Fund RAED Rural Areas Economic Development Programme RE Renewable Energy SBDRR School Based Disaster Risk Reduction SDP Sustainable Development Program SHPP Small Hydro-Power Plants SP Social Protection SS Soil Standards SSSIP School Seismic Safety Improvement Program TNC Third National Communication to the UNFCCC UNIDO United Nations Industrial development Organisation UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNDP United Nations Development Programme WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WFP World Food Programme WHO World Health Organisation

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Executive Summary Climate change and environmental degradation undermine children’s rights around the world. In UNICEF’s mid-term review of the strategic plan in 2015, climate change emerged as one area to step up in the lead- up to the next strategic plan (2018-2021). Therefore, the UNICEF Executive Director issued an Executive Directive “Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Children” in March 2016, instructing all UNICEF Country Offices (COs) to incorporate climate change and related issues in their Country Programmes (CPs) by 2020. Climate and environment issues have also been integrated in one of the five main outcome areas of the draft of the new Strategic Plan. This decision has been solidified by the Executive Board members in February 2017 by their adoption of the roadmap for the new Strategy Plan which uses the SDGs as a long-term framework.

In response to these developments and the Executive Directive, UNICEF Armenia together with UNICEF Headquarters (Division for Data Research and Policy) have prepared this “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC)” report. It provides the essential baseline information on climate, environment and energy (CEE) issues affecting children and provides recommendations to the CO on stepping up their work on the most important issues and opportunities in this area. Below follows a brief overview of the main findings (key messages) and recommendations.

1.1 Main Findings

Climate change, environment degradation and access to clean, affordable energy (CEE) threaten children’s wellbeing, survival and access to quality essential services across Armenia. Already many children in Armenia are exposed to CEE conditions that impact their basic rights to safe and sufficient food, a clean and healthy living environment, care and protection, and a quality education, all of which undermine the country’s progress towards meeting its own national development ambitions as well as the 2015-2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the linkages between CEE-threats and health, nutrition, poverty, education and child protection are therefore essential for protecting development gains and achieving development goals as set out in the SDGs, and are in line with; the Armenia UNDAF 2016-2020; UNICEF Armenia’s Country Program Document 2016-2020; and the UNICEF Strategic Framework on Environmental Sustainability for Children 2016 – 2017

1.2 Key Points

1) Climate change is expected to exacerbate many of the conditions that already lead to children being deprived of their rights. In Armenia, more frequent and stronger extreme weather events, including drought, storms and flooding; higher average and extreme temperatures; reduced and more variable rainfall; desertification, landslides, and mudslides, are expected to result in increased hardship for households and communities, and damage the country’s economy. Making matters worse, it is already the most deprived, least wealthy households without the means to protect themselves from shocks that are also the most vulnerable to climate impacts in Armenia, making action on CEE an equity as well as a rights issue.

2) Climate change and environmental degradation are impacting rural communities livelihoods and food security. Being more exposed to the physical and economic shocks of extreme weather events, it is

5 | P a g e the 36% rural agriculturally-dependent population that will be the most strongly impacted by climate change and environmental degradation in Armenia. Agriculture, an activity that almost all rural households rely on for income and food security is expected to be most seriously impacted by climate change, predominantly through reduced average rainfall, higher temperatures and longer and more frequent drought1. For similar reasons, access to water will also be affected and again it is the children of the rural poor, in hard-to-reach areas that already experience poorer water and sanitation service delivery that will be worst affected.

It follows that where climate change and environmental degradation: worsen prospects for agricultural livelihoods; reduce household food security; place greater stresses on essential services; and increase disparities between those with- and those without- the means to cope or adapt to climate change, child deprivations will worsen and inequalities will grow.

Despite the Government identifying agriculture and rural development as a priority area within Armenia’s 2014-2025 Development Strategy, and recognition of rural poverty and food security as being contingent on agricultural productivity, neither climate change nor environmental degradation’s impact on rural agricultural communities have been fully considered as potential drivers of worsening poverty or increasing child deprivations, or barriers to meeting national development targets.

3) Air pollution and associated heavy metal contamination threatens children’s health in a number of hotspots across the country. Largely due to threats from the mining and metal smelting industry, air pollution and heavy metal contamination of air, water, land and food in Armenia present a substantial, but as yet under-studied and unquantified threat to human health in Armenia.

Serious concerns for the safety of downwind and downstream populations from smelting and extraction sites, as well as the wider population due to the uptake of contaminants into the food chain are justified by scientific studies undertaken by scientific and academic institutions (Inc. AUA, CENS) that have identified the existence of heavy metals at concentration far above national standards and international recommended safe levels.

Due to the increased vulnerabilities of children, mothers and foetuses to health impacts, including low birth weight, impaired cognitive development, immune system impairment, and cancers, greater emphasis needs to be placed on understanding the threats to their health specifically.

Identifying the risks to human health and resolving the outstanding questions as to the source of the high concentrations of heavy metals in the environment in is in line with the Armenian Mining Code (III), and the recommendations outlined in the World Bank’s Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment. Achieving it will require increased disclosure of spatially disaggregated environmental-health data, and greater coordination and collaboration between and within Government ministries, research institutions and partners working in the health, mining and environmental sectors.

Instruments available to support greater availability of data include Armenia’s membership and obligations to Aarhus Convention and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

4) Indoor air pollution in the home and in schools presents a serious risk to children’s health. The risk of indoor air pollution (IAP) due to the burning of solid fuels in homes and schools is high throughout Armenia. Middle and low income households are of particular concern, especially in rural areas where the use of biomass is more prevalent, and in high-altitude locations where longer colder winters drive higher household fuel consumption.

IAP is strongly associate with risks to human health through increases in respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases, and in children is connected with low birth weight, preterm birth, still births, impaired cognitive development and long-term reductions in lung function2.

Currently, despite substantial Government and donor targeting of increased energy efficiency in buildings and promotion of renewable and clean energy technologies, very little is known about the existing baseline

6 | P a g e risk of indoor air pollution in Armenia or its impacts on children’s health. Without better knowledge of the current situation it will be difficult for CEE investments to target funding and efforts towards reducing risk to children’s health, or to measure improvements above the baseline.

1.3 Additional points of concern

CEE and migration • Marzes with a high agriculturally dependent workforce tend to be the least wealthy. This, together with the already high rates of rural out-migration indicates that any negative CEE impacts on agriculture may drive worsening poverty; result in higher economic migration; and lead to fewer children attending rural schools and even higher rates of female-headed households.

Environmental education • While substantial effort has been made to include an environmental focus within the national curriculum, progress in improving environmental learning remains low. Learning outcomes may be being jeopardized by outdated teaching practices and funding shortfalls that do not allow for immersive learning. The situation might be improved through inclusion of, for example, community based “green” projects, school gardens, and field-trips.

Inclusion of child-sensitive design in CEE investments • While tens of millions of USD have been invested over the past two decades in developing CEE- focused strategies, programs and projects, almost none of them have been designed in a child- sensitive manner. Without looking at development investments through a child-lens, the Government, donors and implementing agencies are missing opportunities to both improve the situation for children, and to measure any contribution to improving children’s wellbeing they may already be making.

Children’s voices are not being heard with regard to CEE issues • Through the desk and interview-based research carried out for this assessment no evidence was found of the participation of children within the development, design or implementation of CEE projects, policies or strategies. Without including children’s opinions and fostering their engagement within activities that are likely to affect them, opportunities are being missed to increase the efficacy of investments and to capitalize on children as first-adopters of new technologies and concepts in the short-term, and to build their capacities to take over as leaders and drivers of sustainable development in the medium- and long-term.

1.4 Recommendations (see Recommendations for full description)

As a first step in building its own capacity to fully understand the CEE-child nexus, and subsequently influence government and CEE partners, UNICEF Armenia is advised to make a number of in-house commitments to: solidifying its engagement with CEE; strengthening internal mechanisms for CEE learning and sharing, and; using its existing experience and comparative advantage as a child-rights focused organisation to raise the profile of children as an important stakeholder in the CEE-sphere.

1) Establishment of a CEE Focal Point Triangle responsible for engaging in adaptation and mitigation dialogue, and communicating and coordinating UNICEF’s CEE work and messages both within and outside of the organization (i.e. with Government, donors and implementing partners and the wider public).

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2) Development of a stakeholder engagement strategy including producing information and advocacy materials to build greater understanding and demand for the inclusion of child-sensitive planning and policy within CEE activities

3) Establish a Children and CEE Roundtable, building on the momentum achieved during the CLAC mission, ACO should consider formalizing a roundtable to bringing together government agencies, donors, NGOs and other potential partners in both the child and CEE sphere.

4) Allocate time to continued learning about CEE within each CO section/ division, coupled with developing a formal internal mechanism for improved coordination between sectors to identify joint actions for CEE – sharing of experience and lessons learned in different activities, across the organization.

5) Raising children’s voices in the climate sphere, and advocacy for greater inclusion of inputs from children into the design process and participation of children in the implementation of CEE initiatives (advocacy with donors and implementing agencies).

6) Greening external operations. Building on the Country Office’s exemplary actions in internal, office greening, UNICEF CO should consider directing a stronger focus on external greening outside of the office, within program activities

1.5 Sector-specific recommendations

Health

o Support further investigation into the linkages between observed concentrations of heavy metals recorded in Armenian kindergartens soil, foods and air, and implications for children’s health. o Build evidence for engaging with the Government based on global examples/ case studies of hazards to human health at similar heavy metal concentrations and exposure. o Support the Government and its various institutions and partners, including AUA, in achieving consensus and formulating evidence-driven policy to address potential risks to children’s health from soil, air and water heavy metal contamination, using the precautionary principle as a foundation for action. o Foster partnerships with CEE and health focused implementing agencies to better understand the household and school indoor air pollution risk to children. o Collaborate with partners on opportunities to improve measurements of outdoor air pollution in Yerevan city.

Nutrition

o Explore opportunities to influence agriculture and livelihood development initiatives for inclusion of children’s nutritional requirements in crop selection and training, with specific focus on female headed households.

Education

o Evaluate the impacts of CEE as a driver of poverty/rural out-migration on falling numbers of students in school sizes; include as a factor for identifying future locations for “small schools” initiative development.

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o Ensure experiences from partnership with UNDP and others on renewable energy facilities in pre- schools are recorded and developed into lessons-learned to be used in the roll-out of further Alternative Preschool Education Services (APES) activities and integrated into the “small schools design” work currently being developed. o Assist the Health section in better identifying indoor air pollution threats to children’s education, and advocating for a stronger focus of energy efficient (EE) funding towards schools and communities likely to be at high IAP risk. o Advocate for a greater focus on more immersive teaching methods for CEE subjects, and a stronger importance given to field trips, community-based environmental activities, and similar extra-curricula activities.

Water and Sanitation

o Collaborate with partners on WASH investment activities to increase inclusion of child benefits within project monitoring and evaluation design.

Social Protection

o Investigate opportunities to increase the visibility of both poor and non-poor households’ CEE- vulnerability within social protection assessments. o Identify appropriate social protection benefits for CEE-vulnerable households, to reduce the risk of worsening child deprivations in the event of CEE-shocks. o Investigate efficacy of emergency benefits to poor and non-poor households in reducing deprivations and preventing transient poverty. o Advocate for the Inclusion of IAP relevant assessment with the Family Social Needs Assessment File.

Disaster Risk Reduction

o Investigate opportunities to strengthen the inclusion of climate change and energy vulnerabilities (including IAP exposure) and improvements within School Safety Assessment methodologies.

o With Social Protection, investigate the potential for strengthening emergency benefit distributions within existing/adjusted social protection and payment mechanisms, in order to better address household needs and reduce disparities affecting children during and after harmful climate events (such as drought, hail, and flooding).

Please see Sector-specific recommendations for a full description of sector-specific recommendations.

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2 The climate, environment and and avalanches. While there are no available energy situation in the country analyses on the direct impacts to children from these threats, extreme events have been 2.1 The current climate, including calculated to cost the agricultural sector US$15- 20m per year5. variability

Flooding Armenia’s relatively dry continental climate is Flooding accounts for 43% of all disaster characterised by hot summer temperatures at low occurrences. According to some estimates to mid-level altitudes, and long cold winters at flooding impacts an average of approximately higher elevations down the country’s mountainous 40,000 people annually and has led to damages central spine. of over $100m6. Past flooding events have been associated with heavy rainfall, swollen rivers, and Spatially average annual temperatures range from the concentration of runoff in valleys. Damage to around 14°C in the hottest lowland regions such houses, infrastructure and crops have been as the Ararat Valley to sub-zero in many upland reported7. Recently (2017) concerns over flooding central regions: temporally (seasonal) average risk in Yerevan were raised by environmentalists temperatures range from -6.7°C in winter to 25°C and members of parliament citing climate change in summer3. and antiquated water infrastructure systems as likely causes of future, potentially serious, flooding The average annual rainfall across the country is events8. 524mm. The lowest, driest locations receive as little as 200-250mm/y, while higher elevations can Drought receive up to 1000mm/y. Seasonal rainfall Drought, together with extreme temperatures patterns across the country follow a slightly account for 29% of disaster occurrences in bimodal cycle (two peaks of rainfall per year) with Armenia, and half of all disaster related economic springtime (April-June) being the wettest period, issues9. In 2000 drought seriously affected and a small secondary peak in autumn. Both Armenia’s food security situation10, with upland winter and summertime are dry in most places with rural households in central and northern areas average rainfall being just 34mm in summer being most vulnerable due to their reliance on months in low elevation areas4. livestock and rainfed agriculture production11. In 2012, low rainfall during the crucial spring growing This highly varied Armenian climate is a result of season resulted in the release of irrigation waters a diverse topography, its landlocked central from Lake Sevan two months earlier than normal, continental position, and widely varying and in amounts far above the agreed sustainable elevations. Three quarters of the country is above extraction quantity12. In 2006, drought and forest 1000m and two fifths is above 2500m; the fires cost the agricultural sector US$9 million in maximum elevation range is 400m-4095m. economic losses13. Hence, despite being a small country, the variety of elevations and environments results in a wide Landslides and mudslides range of microclimates and the presence of Landslides present one of the major natural diverse ecosystems. disaster risks to populations in Armenia, with 8- 15% of the country and almost half a million people at risk14. Landslides commonly occur above 1000m and within 100m of rivers15, and are 2.2 Climate related threats and disasters associated with heavy and prolonged rainfall events and river erosion; degraded, denuded, and sloping landscapes; and fragile soil types. Past Observed impacts of current climate conditions events have resulted in damage to road include drought, heat waves, flooding, landslides, infrastructure and vehicles, interruptions to hailstorms, frost, rock falls, flash floods, mudflows, transport and travel routes, and human death16.

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losses due to extreme weather, though this figure In 2004, landslides caused $43 million in likely includes losses due to hail, which is already damages. Between 2004 and 2007, mudflows accounted for above. In 2016 high winds of 24m/s damaged 200 settlements and 600 sites on Range Increase Overall degrees increase main transportation routes. In 2009, there C per since 1935 were damages of $11.5 to $13 million from year landslides and $5.7 to $7.1 million from 1935 – 1996 - 0.007° 0.4°C mudslides. USAID 2017 1997 – 2007 = 0.04° 0.8°C 2008 – 2012 = 0.045° 1.04°C Mudslides in neighbouring Georgia have been reportedly caused substantial damage to known to disrupt crucial gas supply lines to infrastructure in populated areas, including within 17 Armenia, affecting energy security. the capital Yerevan20.

Hailstorms 2.3 Observed changes in climate Between 12 to 17 May 2013, a devastating hailstorm damaged almost all agricultural Temperature: temperature trends show an productivity in more than half of the communities accelerating increase in yearly average in Armenia's Armavir region. The disaster affected temperatures since 1935. According to the 46 communities, 12,800 households and over Armenian Third National Communication on 5,000 hectares of agricultural lands in the region. Climate Change to the UNFCCC, since 1935 More than 7,100 households lost 100 per cent of temperatures have increased by 0.4°C to 1996; their farms' crops, as well as incurring substantial 0.85°C to 2007, and by 1.03°C to 2012. damage to the following year’s agricultural productivity potential18. Figure 1 Temperature changes since 1935. TNC 2015

Frost

Frost damage is known to impact fruit crops in The most marked increase appears to be since Armenia. In 2014, 80-90% of the apricot crop was 1996, where the increase in temperature has more affected by springtime frost, with an estimated than doubled compared to the previous 60 years. $29m USD in damages - Ararat and Armavir Most of the increase is felt during the summer marzs were most strongly affected19. months, with recent (2012) average annual

temperatures being 1.1°C higher than in 1935, Storms/ high wind while winter averages are 0.4°C higher21. While storms and high winds do occur in Armenia, their impact on populations and infrastructure is Rainfall: Observed rainfall changes show a poorly documented. Estimates of damage due to national 10% decrease in annual averages 1935 - storms and high winds is ~30% of all economic

Figure 2 Deviations of average annual air temperature in the territory of Armenia from the average values for 1961-1990. TNC 2015

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2012, with 4% of that decrease occurring in the 16 Towards the middle of the century summers will years between 1996 and 2012. Reflecting the be significantly (3-10%) drier than today, with the previously mentioned spatial diversity, rainfall has number of consecutive dry days increasing by 7- not changed evenly across the country; the 11%27. Extreme rainfall events are expected to northeast and central Ararat Valley areas have become more common, with a 22-32% increase in experienced a drying trend, while the northwest frequency by 205028. and southern regions have seen a slight increase in rainfall. Under a high emission (A2) climate change scenario, reduction in rainfall will result in annual Extreme weather: The frequency and intensity of average river flow throughout Armenia declining hazardous hydro-meteorological phenomenon by 12% to 2030 and by nearly 40% to 2100. By (HHMP) in Armenia has increased in recent 2030 the inflow to Lake Sevan is expected to be decades. Between 1980 and 2012 the average 6% less than the 1961-1990 baseline29. number of extreme events increased from ~150 to ~180 per year, or by approximately 20%22. “A 24 percent reduction in river flow is HHMPs, or extreme weather events include: hail, projected to result in a 15 to 34 percent frost, strong winds, heavy rainfall, floods, reduction in the productivity of irrigated droughts, and heat waves. Much of the cropland, with an average estimated precipitation and wind related increases are reduction of 24 percent”. SEI/UNDP 2009 believed to be due to the greater number of cyclones reaching Armenia, and associated high winds and heavy rainfall. Hot days and warm In summary, the entire country will almost certainly nights have increased in the dry desert zone, while become warmer, with only a few high altitude cold days and frost events have decreased. areas maintaining an average sub-zero annual Similarly the length of heat waves has significantly temperature status. Summers are almost certainly increased over the last 30 years, going to become drier in all areas with concomitant while cold periods duration has decreased23. reduction in river flows; there is less certainty about autumn, winter, and spring rainfall. Extreme Cyclonic activity, associated with increased cloud events have been occurring more frequently in cover, thunderstorms and more intense winds (up recent years and this increase is likely to continue to 25-30m/s), increased across the Armenian with projections for longer droughts and higher territory by 24% between 1948 and 200824. temperatures interspersed with more intense and more frequent rainstorms. In terms of financial impacts due to extreme weather events, total losses between 2009-2013 In terms of projected economic and food security have been estimated at approximately $177 impacts, wheat production in the Ararat Valley, for million USD25. example, is projected to decline by 6 to 8 per cent due to rising temperatures and increasing water stress towards the middle of this century30. Crop 2.4 Projected changes in climate loses due to flooding, landslides and pests are also likely to worsen. By the middle of this century average annual temperatures are expected to be 2.6-3.2°C higher than the baseline average annual temperature of 2.5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 5.5°C; the average baseline summer temperature Total GHG emissions in 2012 amounted to 9,829 of 15.7°C is expected to rise between 3 and 4°C Gt СО2eq, or 0.017% of global GHG emissions. by 205526. Armenia’s current emissions are considerably

lower than during pre-independence, but have Summer rainfall is expected to decrease in the seen a 37% increase since 200031. Annual per near future (2011-2040) by between 10-23%, capita emissions were 2.14t CO2eq in 2010. though overall rainfall change (all seasons) may increase or decrease slightly (5% either way). Production/conversion of energy accounts for

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70% of Armenia’s GHG emissions, with land-use attributed just 400 deaths per year to IAP38. change (deforestation, conversion to agriculture) However, these assumptions likely focus only on making up the majority of the remainder. cooking fuels and neglect the risk presented by Approximately 75% of energy consumed in wood burning for heating in homes and schools Armenia is from fossil fuels (natural gas and oil) and were compiled prior to the more recent, better and biomass32, both of which are GHG producing understanding of the human health risks sources. associated with IAP. As of 2012, approximately 35% of the population39, and 19.1% schools40 The main consumers of energy in Armenia are the utilized wood fuel for household heating which industry, transport, construction, residential, and may present an important threat to children’s agriculture sectors. Without additional measures health that as yet remains unmeasured. being taken to curb GHG emissions, projections see a doubling of the total by 2030, predominantly Forests: Forest cover, estimated at 11% of the from increases in energy-related emissions33. total area of Armenia, is under threat from unsustainable logging as well as the more subtle In line with its obligations to the UNFCCC COP21 slow onset pressures of higher temperatures, (2015 Paris Agreement on curbing GHG creeping desertification and declining summer emissions), Armenia delivered its Intended rainfall, which together are leading to shifting Nationally Determined Contributions submission forestry zones, declining growth rates, increased to the UNFCCC Secretariat, identifying an forest fires and greater susceptibility of trees to ecosystem neutral GHG emissions target of 2.07 pests and diseases41. Reduced forest cover is tons CO2e/per capita annual by 205034. associated with lower water infiltration into groundwater stores, essential for most of 2.6 Other relevant environmental issues Armenia’s water supply.

Outdoor air pollution: The transport sector is the leading source of outdoor air pollution in Armenia Aquatic Environment: Between 1926 and 2000 contributing 52% of the total, with emissions from Lake Sevan, the major water body in the country, energy production, mining and quarrying providing and an essential storage of water for hydropower much of the remaining 48%35. Other sources electrical generation, irrigation, and drinking include industrial emissions from chemical, tire water, decreased in depth and volume by almost and vehicle manufacturing, food processing, the 20m and 43%, respectively. The reductions were microelectronics industry, and burning of waste. due to Soviet-era unsustainable extraction of Chemicals released into the air, especially from water for irrigation, and in order to power 6 smelting, increase the toxic effects of air pollution downstream hydroelectric power stations. Since and contribute to harmful effects on human health, policy changes were implemented in the 1980’s especially for pregnant women and children. the water level has been rising slowly, though still remains more than 10m below its original depth. Outdoor air pollution has been calculated to be High concentrations of organic substances, responsible for 2700 premature deaths per year36, associated eutrophication, and a loss of fish and while comprehensive legislation is in place to stocks are also causes for concern for the lake’s measure, regulate and ultimately reduce biodiversity and ecosystem services. emissions, particularly from the mining industry, low penalties and poor enforcement result in weak Armenia’s rivers are threatened by mine tailing incentives for private companies to invest in clean ponds (waste water and contaminants from mining technologies or otherwise comply with operations), metal processing industries, legislation37. agricultural run-off (fertilizers and pesticides) and laissez-faire sewage disposal practices. The Indoor air pollution (IAP): a relatively situation of pollution in Armenia’s watercourses understudied area in Armenia- has been assumed has resulted in measurable decreases in to be of relatively low risk to human health, largely biodiversity4243. due to the almost universal use of natural gas or electricity for indoor cooking; in 2008 the WHO Desertification and erosion: Semi-desert zones

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(including sandy deserts and saltmarshes) pollutants associated with emissions from the naturally dominate the lower elevation areas in mining industry are present in, for example, central western Armenia. However, between kindergartens at levels above national Soil 2009-2013, the coverage of the semi-desert zone Standards (SS)48 and internationally increased in altitude by 50m as both desertification recommended Maximum Acceptable and worsening soil erosion took hold of higher Concentrations49. grounds; in total ~75% of the land in Armenia is believed to already be- or at risk of becoming- desertified44. while erosion is believed to impact 2.7 CEE relevant disease distribution about 30%45. Diarrhea/ gastrointestinal infections While climate-related drivers such as higher Globally diarrheal disease is most common in temperatures and changes in rainfall volume and warm locations where access to improved water distribution are certainly contributing to Armenia’s supply and improved sanitation facilities are poor, increasing desertification and erosion problem, and low knowledge and practice of adequate livestock intensification, widespread poor land hygiene standards persists. management practices (incl. logging), and unsustainable extraction of ground water also At 3.8%, the prevalence of diarrhea (occurring in contribute strongly to the declining soil and the 2 weeks prior to study) is low in Armenia, and ecosystem health. at 5.4%, the prevalence in rural locations is just over double that of urban locations (2.6%)50. Projections of changes to the vertical distribution Aragatsotn, Shirak, and Armavir marzes (8.8%, of agro-climatic zones across the country see an 8.4% & 6.4%) have the highest prevalence, while upwards shift of 100m by 2030 and up to 400m by at 0.4%, Yerevan has the lowest. 2100, meaning that arid and semi-arid zones will increase in area, at the expense of alpine and sub- In rural Armenia approximately 50% of alpine zones at higher-altitudes46. households use unimproved sanitation facilities51, and many hard-to-reach locations throughout the Mining: The Government of Armenia has country have improved but limited access to water prioritized the mining sector for expansion, with a (meaning potable water in many locations is not view to bolstering economic growth. As of 2015, always available)52. Under future climate change several hundred mining licenses had been and land degradation conditions temperatures will granted to private companies, without long-term be higher; rainfall will be less reliable; access to sustainability, appropriate tax legislation, or water in some rural locations is likely to worsen; environmental protection plans being in place47. flooding may increase the likelihood of contamination of water supplies; and drought may Between 2010 and 2013, the area of land undermine effective hygiene practices, all of which occupied by the mining sector increased by 16%, may increase the likelihood of diarrhoeal infection to approximately 34,900 hectares, predominantly in children. in– Lori and Syunik marzs. Cholera Outbreaks According to Armenia’s 5th National Biodiversity Cholera is not believed to present a serious threat Strategy and Action Plan, the main threats to the to public health in Armenia. However, as with environment posed by the mining sector are water general diarrheal diseases discussed above, course pollution as a result of tailing ponds, and higher temperatures, reduced rainfall and the accumulation of wastes that pose a threat to continued low access to improved sanitation biodiversity. facilities in rural areas may increase the risk of outbreaks over the coming decades. In terms of implications for human health, a number of studies by the Armenian Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies and the American University of Armenia have identified that Air pollution related diseases

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Air pollution poses a major threat to human health The south of the country, due to its more arid and is responsible for respiratory infections, climate may be more susceptible to dust-based including pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis. The heavy metal air pollution. 2015-2016 Demographic Health Survey studied the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) Armenia’s Center for Ecological-Noosphere in Under-5s, identifying the nationally 1.4% of U5s Studies has shown that soils in some had symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infection kindergartens in Yerevan City contain heavy metal (ARI). The incidence of ARI in rural areas at 2.3% concentrations above national legal levels, is over three times higher that of urban areas indicating a potential threat to children’s health 0.7%. Ararat Marz is a clear outlier in terms of high and justifying remedial action to eliminate or ARI incidence at 9.6%, some distance above the reduce the risk. Other studies by the Center have second highest location of Tavush Marz, with identified vegetables, berries and fruits produced 2.6%. Yerevan and a number of other locations for sale and consumption to contain heavy metal recorded zero incidence of ARI. While it is concentrations above maximum allowable limits, currently not possible to identify causal links sometimes 10s-100s of times over. between air pollution and ARI in Armenia, it is known that poorer households are more likely to use dirty, polluting fuels than wealthier 2.8 Energy situation and access households, which may partially explain why Ararat -the lowest ranking region in terms of While access to electricity is reportedly universal wealth quintiles- suffers from the highest rate of in Armenia, a heavy (90%) reliance on imported under-5 ARI. fuels as well as on old and under-maintained transmission lines places populations at risk of Heavy metal soil/ air and vegetation pollution supply interruptions, price fluctuations, and While direct linkages between human health outages. Total electricity production in 2012 was concerns and heavy metal pollution in Armenia 8,036GWh (42% generated by fossil fuels, 29% remain unknown, serious heavy metal nuclear and 29% hydropower). contamination of soils in both agricultural and inhabited areas have been reported in Kajaran Natural gas accounts for approximately half of town, Alaverdi, Akhtala, and Agarak. Armenia’s 3.5 GW installed energy producing capacity, while hydroelectric and nuclear energy According to the World Bank’s Strategic Mineral make up most of the remainder. Wind and solar Sector Sustainability Assessment (2016), possible energy production remains very low, with sources sources of elevated heavy metal levels include contributing just 0.01% of the total consumed dust and waste deriving from mining and energy54. processing, as well as from emissions smelting activities. Concern for human health focusing on Access lowered fertility among women, increased risks for Although access to electricity in Armenia is cancer, and other ailments in mining affected universal, household expenditures on gas and areas are commonly raised. electricity are considered to be restrictively high, resulting in energy poverty (where expenditure is Pollution deriving from the Alaverdi copper smelter >10% of household budgets) for 30% of the have been registered by the Environmental population – a situation that is likely to worsen as Monitoring Centre: levels of sulphur dioxide above much needed energy infrastructure investments maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) are precipitate the need to raise tariffs. High costs of evident in extensive areas affected by downfall energy (~15% of disposable income for poor from the smelter. In Akhtala (another mining town) families) results in families: reducing expenditures children’s blood lead levels have been found to be on other items, including food; reducing higher than in other communities53.. consumption of electricity through reducing heating and lighting usage; and burning rubbish including plastics, crop residues, and manure- in 2007 it was estimated that due to financial

15 | P a g e necessity, half of the population regularly used biomass for cooking and heating energy, while Solar thermal energy: the use of solar water- more recent studies (2012) place it at heating systems in Armenia has developed rapidly approximately a third55. Total biomass in recent years through both private and charitable consumption in 2015 was equivalent to 200,000 sector endeavors. Private sector activities are tonnes of oil, a figure higher than that of involved in importing and assembling systems for hydropower, diesel and gasoline. sale to households and businesses, while the charitable sector has installed systems on Renewable Energy nurseries, residential homes, and medical Renewable energy sources, make up facilities. Solar energy promotion and provision is approximately one third of electricity production in included in a number of national strategies Armenia, with the vast majority being attributed to described in Section 3. small and medium sized hydro-power installations56. PV and solar thermal sources have Energy Efficiency recently gained more attention, as planned Energy efficiency (EE) in buildings in Armenia has through R2E2’s more inclusive 2011 Renewable been shown to be low, leading to efficiency Energy Road Map for Armenia57, which includes a improvements being identified as a priority area for national target of 4.9% for non-hydro renewable improvement in the Third National Communication energy contribution by 2020, and the 2014 to the UNFCCC (2015). Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program that prioritizes investment into geothermal heat According to National Energy Efficiency Action pumping, solar thermal and utility-scale solar PV Plan 2010, almost all Armenian houses were exploration. constructed during the Soviet period, with little regard for energy efficiency. Many of these Current hydropower development initiatives buildings are now 35- 60 years old, in dilapidated include the larger, joint Armenian-Iranian $400m condition and do not provide the minimum living USD Meghri hydro-power facility on the conditions in terms of hygienie and comfort58; Aras/Araks River- an initiative with the intention of almost half of all families residing in apartment providing an equally shared 260MW of renewable buildings live in temperatures considered to be hydroelectricity between the two countries. below the established international standards for human occupancy. Energy use per square meter Reductions in rainfall under climate change is almost 3-5 times higher than in the EU and conditions (resulting in a likely 10-20% decrease varies between 320 and 690 kWh/m² per year . in river flow) may undermine hydroelectricity production potential, and are likely causes for “In a survey of educational, municipal, and concern in terms of the long-term economic healthcare buildings, 35% of those surveyed viability of the sector. admitted that electricity bills amount to 11- 20% of their total annual spending. Electricity Solar photovoltaic: Armenia has significant solar costs were particularly high for educational energy potential. The average annual amount of buildings, where 38% of respondents reported solar energy flow per square meter of horizontal their electricity bills at 11-20% of the total surface is about 1720 kWh (1.7 times higher than annual spending, whereas 27% of the European average). Armenia’s first solar respondents reported the share of electricity power plant was connected to the grid in 2017; it costs above 20%. Many schools close down has a capacity of 0.5 megawatts and cost in winter, because they cannot provide approximately $0.5m USD in private investment. adequate space heating. When they do Ten more solar power plants have been granted operate, they often maintain indoor air licenses for construction and are planned to be in temperatures way below adequate levels.” operation by 2019. Financial incentives have been Schools often operate at less than 8 ºC. developed and rolled out by the government to Source: R2E2 report assist entrepreneurs in importing and manufacturing solar PV materials.

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However energy inefficiency is by no means In response, energy usage in buildings -which constrained to apartment buildings in urban areas; accounts for 24% of CO2 emissions in Armenia- in addition to inefficient building design and has been targeted for EE improvements focusing standards throughout the country60, many of on improvements in insulation usage and design Armenia’s rural population, who spend ~15% of in public and residential buildings, aiming to see a their disposable income on energy, rely on 50% overall reduction in associated energy inefficient solid fuel burners to burn affordable but consumption59. In addition to reducing CO2 dirty fuels (including dung) to stay warm during emissions and reducing energy-related spending winter. from strained public budgets, EE investments in Other than some small disparate initiatives, little is homes will help to improve conditions for children being done in rural areas to address the low and their families associated with poor health, energy-efficiency and high energy-poverty while also reducing household energy situation, nor the associated threats to human expenditure. health.

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Stressors Impact Location

Drought Livestock losses, rainfed Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Aragatsotn and Gegharkunik (affected by agriculture losses, year 2000 event) Highest Risk = associated food security lowland regions and household income Ararat is by far the highest consumer of water (predominantly for (Ararat, Tavush, and impact. Potatoes – a irrigation) and one of the lowest recipients of rainfall. Lori) See Figure 4 staple in poorer upland areas are highly affected Hrazdan; Metsamor; Syunik; Voghji and Meghri river basins are by drought. Long-term projected to suffer from increased water scarcity and quality impact of livestock losses issues61. decreases household wealth Flood Flooding, associated with Ararat and Shirak valleys, some areas of Tavush, Vayots Dzor and high rainfall events, Syunik marzes (districts). Highest risk= swollen rivers, and Gegharkunik saturated groundwater From 1994 to 2007 the marzes with the highest cumulative See Figure 5 stores. Crop losses, incidence of floods were: Gegharkunik (159 floods); Lori (85); infrastructure damage, Shirak (72); and water and sewage system Aragatsotn (71)62. damage, contamination. Heat Stress Hazardous to health, Vayots Dzor is recognized by the TNC as the most at-risk marz with Highest Risk = impact on crops and water regard to temperature variation. Vayots Dzor, Ararat availability Valley Low land areas are already hottest and therefore most at risk of See Figure 6 reaching dangerous levels as national temperatures increase, i.e. Ararat Valley and other low lying areas Storms/High winds Damage to infrastructure Known events - Aragatsotn (59), Kotayk (3), Syunik (28), Vayots Highest risk = – electricity distribution Dzor (39), Tavush (2) Lori (7), Shirak 16), Ararat (1), Aragatsotn grid. Crop damage. Ghegharkunik (10), Yeravan (1)63 Damage to houses. Higher locations down the central mountainous spine see the strongest average wind speeds64 Landslides Damage to infrastructure, Sloping land and higher elevations in north-eastern, central south Highest Risk = farm lands and and southern areas are most at risk Tavosh/ Vayots households, risk to human i) More than 2,500 landslides prone areas have been identified with Dzor See Figure 7 life and health a total surface of 1,221 km2 (4.1% of the national territory), especially affecting Vajots Dzor, Tavush, Lori, Gegharkunik, and Syunik marzes65; Outdoor Air Potentially hazardous Hazardous emissions from Industry: Pollution/ Heavy atmospheric environment • Lori Marz - 51,231t (Alaverdi City and Vanadzor City) metal exposure/ - respiratory diseases, • Kotayk Marz – 24,084t water pollution cardio vascular diseases, • Tavush Marz – 20,110t low birth weight etc • Yerevan City – 17,004t Highest Risk Kajaran city in Syunik – mercury, cadmium and arsenic Highest Risk = Lori accumulation in humans and Syunik River and Lake water ecosystems in Lake Sevan and Debed River catchment basins are known to be exposed to heavy metal pollution, with potential for human health impacts Highest Risk IAP = Indoor Air Pollution - No • rural areas, cold (elevated) locations and poor communities rural areas, data on indoor air pollution likely to have higher prevalence of solid fuel heating systems especially higher despite prolific use of • 19.1% of schools burn solid fuels, mainly in Lori, Syunik and elevation area biomass for heating Ghegharkunik marzs Desertification Poor soil health impacts Ararat valley, low land areas prone to drought and high on agriculture productivity temperatures Highest Risk = and biodiversity, more Ararat susceptible to erosion, See Figure 8 mudslides and landslides, as well as dust pollution

Table 1 Climate related stresses, impacts and the locations in which they are most prevalent or damaging.

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3 Government responses The Sustainable Development Programme (SDP) to/priorities on CEE 2008, the predecessor to the ADP, was a poverty reduction-based programme with strong focus on Following independence in 1991, the Government reducing regional inequalities within the state, but of Armenia took a number of important legislative again without solid analysis or inclusion of steps towards addressing many of the issues environmental or climate change trends and identified in Section 2 and safeguarding and threats to sustainable socio-economic restoring the country’s natural resources and development. environment. A number of sector-specific strategies, relevant to In addition Armenia has ratified a number of and impacted by CEE issues have also been international agreements focused on biodiversity; developed, including: climate change adaptation and mitigation; desertification; and international trans-boundary • The National Program on Energy Saving water agreements. In terms of implementing and Renewable Energy activities and providing a coordinated national • The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan response, Armenia has developed regular 2010 national action plans and strategies that identify • National Environmental Action Plan short, medium and long-term CEE goals and guide (NEAP-2) (2008-2012); the design and implementation of activities and • The Strategy of Sustainable Agricultural investments towards achieving them. Development for 2010-2020 • The National Strategy and Action Plan on The most prominent CEE-focused legal Disaster Risk Reduction - 2017. instruments within Armenian law can be found here Annex 2. Armenia is yet to develop its National Action Plan for Climate Change, though is currently receiving assistance from the EU through the Clima East 3.1 CEE-related policies and strategies initiative to define, inter alia, the NAP vision, mandate, entry points and beneficiaries.

Armenia’s overarching national development Armenia is also currently developing its Fourth strategy is the Armenian Development Strategy National Communication on Climate Change to 2012-2025, or ADS. Built on top of the 2008 the UNFCCC, with assistance from UNDP. Sustainable Development Programme, the ADS sets out the priorities for the social development Please see Annex 3 for a CEE-child analysis of and economic growth of Armenia, defines its goals each program/ strategy. and indicators, describes the main barriers and constraints to success of the SDP, and identifies the necessary key reforms and policy instruments 3.2 Ratification of international laws and needed to overcome them. treaties

First and foremost the ADS is an economic- In addition to promulgating CEE relevant national development focused programme, designed to laws and developing associated strategies, the support the creation of jobs and to ensure the Government of Armenia has also become a realization of economic growth above 6% up to signatory to a number of international climate and 2025. While it does recognize the importance of environmental agreements including: the environmental protection and the need for UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol; the Aarhus sustainable management of natural resources in Convention; the Convention on Biological order to achieve its goals, it does not take into Diversity; the Convention to Combat consideration the likely impact of climate change Desertification; Vienna Convention and Montreal on essential natural resources and ecosystem Protocol on Ozone-Depleting Substances; the services. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and Agenda 21

19 | P a g e under the Commission on Sustainable • Construction of 2 centralized heat-supply Development; in accordance Armenia has systems with combined heat and power submitted its First, Second and Third National energy units with total installed capacity Communication on Climate Change to the 6.0MW and thermal capacity of 6.54 MW. UNFCCC and the National Biodiversity Strategic • Installation of 458 energy-efficient Action Plan to the CBD. Please see Annex 2 for a autonomous heating systems in public full list of international CEE agreements. buildings67.

3.3 Recent and on-going initiatives on CEE 3.4 Main CEE actors

The Government of Armenia, together with Government international partners has developed and adopted a number of projects focused on: climate change The key government institutions responsible for adaptation and mitigation; renewable energy and developing and implementing CEE-related energy efficiency; and environmental protection strategies and projects are: and restoration measures; that may be important to UNICEF as it embarks on CCREED-focused Ministry of Nature Protection programing. Responsible for all matters related to environmental protection and the sustainable use In addition to implementing and partnering on CEE of natural resources. The MoNP Is responsible for projects, the Government has also developed RE monitoring pollution as well as administering incentivizing policies have been designed to penalties to polluting industries. The MoNP hosts stimulate investments in RE and EE. For example, the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment import taxes for solar energy systems have been Facility focal points suspended, while the development of small hydro- power plants, wind turbines and biogas units are The Hazardous Substances and Wastes Policy being subsidized. In order to stimulate investment Division, a structural subdivision of the Ministry of and provide an attractive economic climate for the Nature Protection is responsible for regulates and private sector’s investment in renewable energy, addressing issues related to polluting chemicals in 2017 the Government exempted photovoltaic and wastes. Activities include: equipment and raw materials from customs duties. • Developing concepts and strategy, as well as Armenia's first factory manufacturing solar panels programs aimed at managing chemicals and used for power generation was also opened in wastes; 2017. • Developing legislation on chemicals and waste management; For ongoing activities (for full list please see Annex • Carry out inventories of wastes generated in 4) the territory of the Republic of Armenia; • Analyzing the degree of risks of chemical and Completed investments waste production presented by activities and Over 50 million dollars in financial loans and industrial accidents; technical assistance from a number of • Coordinate activities dealing with chemicals government partners (inc EBRD, WB, IFC and and wastes management, as well as KfW) has been provided specifically for renewable classification of chemicals produced and energy initiatives, including: used and wastes; • Providing expertise of Safety Passports for • Construction of 66 new SHPPs with total hazardous industrial entities. generating capacity of 519.8 MW.66 • Installment of solar water heaters with total It is also the focal point for a number of capacity of 250 kW, 250 kW heat pumps, and international waste and pollution agreements such 20 kW photovoltaic systems. as the Basel Convention on the Control of • Construction of a biogas plant with capacity Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes of 0.8 MW. and their Disposal; and Stockholm Convention on

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Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); and response activities; formation and organization coordinates Minamata Convention related and coordination of emergency prevention and activities. response activities; and management of state mobilization resources. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources The MoENR oversees the management and The National Crisis Management Center, under exploitation of Armenia’s natural resources and the MoES, coordinates the national early warning ensuring national energy security through system, effective for all hazards. promoting energy use efficiency, efficient MoES work directly related to climate-driven extraction of available internal resources (mainly issues include, for example, its responsibility for hydropower) and development of additional the implementation of landslide disaster energy sources, including nuclear, wind and solar measures, as described within the Government’s options. 2013 “Landslide Disaster Management Concept”.

The Renewable Resources and Energy Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Efficiency Fund (R2E2) is a quasi-independent The Social Security Service of the Ministry of Government established in 2005 and funded Labor and Social Affairs is a public body, which in organization tasked with a mandate to facilitate accordance with the legislation of the Republic of investments in energy efficiency and renewable Armenia provides services in the field of social energy in Armenia, in line with “Law on Energy security. From the CEE perspective, MoLSA is on Efficiency and Renewable Energy”. The Fund is the Governing Board of the RA Disaster Risk an advocate for sustainable energy development Management National Strategy, as well as being in Armenia and provides assistance to renewable responsible for fuel subsidies as well as providing energy and energy efficiency project developers, Three month Emergency Assistance cash investors, banks, condominiums, researchers, transfers under its “Poverty Benefits” programme, including the GCF, GEF and WB projects. through the Department for Social Assistance.

The Fund also operates a loan mechanism that National Statistic Service of RA finances energy efficiency and renewable energy The NSS has compiled a number of data sets projects through banks or credit organizations, relating to the country’s environmental, natural including credit systems developed for resource and energy situation. There is currently entrepreneurs to establish PV production facilities. no rainfall, temperature or climate information Armenia. available within the database.

The Head of Board of Trustees is the Minister of Ministry of Education and Science together with Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources. the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development and the Ministry of Emergency Ministry of Health Situations have partnered with UNICEF and the The Ministry of Health’s Department of EU in implementing the Armenia’s DIPECHO Environmental Health actively engages with programme. The project oversees disaster issues associated with mining-derived pollutant preparedness – focused on earthquakes, but risk to public health. including climate related disaster.

Ministry of Emergency Situations Center of Ecological Noosphere Studies of the National Academy of Sciences The MoES is responsible for managing the state The center has undertaken a number of scientific policy on protection of the population and studies on the presence and threat of soil, coordination of implementation in emergency vegetation and water contaminants across situations. Other responsibilities include locations associated with mining and high risk coordination of rescue, emergency rescue, urgent, groups, including children. accident-recovery works and studying the causes of disasters. MoES provides organization and coordination of emergency prevention and

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Armenian Territorial Development Fund – The Association of America and University of Armenia implementing agency for the Seismic Safety on the development of the “sustainable design and Improvement Program (disaster related). a low-carbon footprint” Avedisian School.

UNDP has also provided solar energy installments 3.5 Coordination Mechanisms in hard-to-reach pre-schools targeted by UNICEF, through the UNDP/ GEF Armenia Small Grant The Ministry of Natural Resources, as the leading Programme. ministry on climate change and environmental issues, and host of both the Global Environment ADB - assisted the Government of Armenia in a Facility and the Green Climate Fund government number of CEE relevant activities, including: focal points, is the natural center for climate end environment coordination between government Supporting the Government’s School ministries and institutions, donors, implementing Strengthening and Renovation Program (SSRP) partners and NGOs. While the Deputy Minister for with the School Seismic Safety Improvement Nature Protection chairs the Inter Agency Program - Results Based Lending Program. The Coordination Council on Climate Change program will support the implementation of the (established by the Prime Minister Decree No. National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by 955-A in 2012), the platform is currently inactive. (i) improving school seismic safety to reduce casualties and damages in schools during Without active coordination avenues, climate earthquakes, and (ii) enabling better use of school change coordination capacity within and between buildings as shelters for the general public and as government ministries can be considered to be focal points for emergency response after weak. The Ministry for Nature Protection has earthquakes. Retro-fitting of schools will also expressed intent towards supporting the consider improved energy efficiency design and reestablishment an inter-ministerial committee for materials. improved climate coordination. There is also no functioning climate partner/ donor roundtable. ADB is also currently concluding the Government- led Drinking Water Project and establishing a

follow-on Second Water and Sanitation Supply

3.6 CEE-focus Development Partners Project in 4 regions focusing on improved energy

efficiency in water delivery through gravity fed

systems. UNDP - one of the most active organizations in

Armenia in terms of climate change and energy, ADB is also working with the Government to land degradation, and biodiversity focused improve the Yerevan Road Network and traffic projects, having programmed over $20m of Global situation, including improving the city’s air quality Environment Facility (GEF) and Special Climate monitoring capacity to be able to better Change Fund (SCCF) finance since 1995. understand the impact of the transport sector on

human health. UNDP is currently implementing 4 GEF funded activities, including the Development of Armenia’s World Bank – heavily involved in energy Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC efficiency projects. In 2012 The World Bank and Second Biennial Report, as well as granted $10.66M to Armenia for energy efficiency developing the “De-Risking and Scaling-Up investments in public facilities, allowing for EE investments in Energy Efficient Building Retrofits” retrofits in 44 public facilities, with average energy project - A 20m USD project funded through the savings of up to 50% during the 2013-2015 winter Green Climate Fund (GCF), targeting improved season. energy efficiency in residential and public buildings. In 2014 The World Bank conducted a ‘Readiness

for Investment in Sustainable Energy’ (RISE) In addition to GEF and GCF funding, UNDP has assessment identifying the strength of the partnered with the Armenian Missionary

22 | P a g e country’s policies in promoting enabling environments and its readiness for attracting American University of Armenia private sector participation and investment in The AUA, through its Centre for Responsible energy efficiency. Mining has conducted a number of studies focusing on the extent and implications of WB has also been involved in undertaking contamination of soils and drinking water in and vulnerability assessments utilized by the around kindergartens in at-risk locations IFAD/RAED water infrastructure focused project. nationwide.

USAID – Instrumental in funding and designing the The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment National Program on Energy Saving and (AUA ACE), promotes the protection and Renewable Energy of Republic of Armenia 2007. restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. UNIDO AUA ACE’s focus areas include sustainable The United Nations Industrial Development natural resource management, biodiversity and Organization is the implementing agency for a conservation, greening the built environment, number of GEF funded projects addressing clean energy, and energy efficiency, as well as industrial pollutants including Persistent Organic information technology and the environment. Pollutant (POPs) and mercury contamination, including Minamata Convention Initial EEN- Environmental Education Network – a Assessment (MIA) in the Republic of Armenia Norwegian Embassy, EU, UNDP GEF SGP, UNICEF, GIZ, WWF and OSCE supported GIZ network whose main goal is to contribute towards GIZ funded and implemented the 2009-2017 efforts in promoting and ensuring environmental “Transboundary water management in Central education at all school levels and communities in Asia”. The project focused on shared water Armenia. resources (with Turkey) and the need for regional cooperation due to water scarcity issues that arise from over-exploitation of water resources and climate change pressures.

GIZ is also working with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Territorial Administration on the Integration of environmental education into the secondary school system.

Aarhus Centre Armenia Armenia hosts a network of fifteen Aarhus Centres working on environmental issues throughout the country. The first Aarhus Centre was established in the city of Yerevan in 2002. The other Aarhus Centres are distributed throughout the country’s marzs.

The Aarhus Centres of Armenia works on all three pillars of the Aarhus Convention including promoting public participation in decision making processes and raising public awareness regarding environmental issues and their rights. They deal with various environmental hotspots, disaster risk reduction, environmental legislation and other issues68

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4 The impact of climate, environment and between rural and urban settings is far higher than energy issues on children the above consumption poverty measures indicate. For example, 86.3 % of children in rural areas are deprived in utilities (a measure of 4.1 Poverty and CCE combined poor access to water and heating), Addressing the relationships between climate compared to just 26.6% in urban areas72. change and poverty is in line with SDG Goal 1.2: “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of Measures of Rural Urban men, women and children of all ages living in poverty/wealth poverty in all its dimensions according to national Consumption- 30.4% 29.4% Based Poverty definitions.”, the Armenian UNDAF Pillars 1 and 2 (household)73 on “sustainable economic opportunities” and Multi-Dimensional ~68% ~50% “environmental sustainability”, and across all Poverty -2 or more poverty affected Outcome Areas of UNICEF disparities (child)74 Armenia’s 2016-2020 CP. Wealth - lowest 2 81.9% 10.8% WQs (household)75 In Armenia the poverty rate sits at approximately Table 2. Comparisons of poverty measurements 29.4%1, or 900,000 people, of which across rural and urban populations. approximately 1 in 4 are very poor and 1 in 15 are extremely poor69. Although the poverty gap has According to the Armenia Poverty Profile 2008- marginally reduced since 2008, the share of poor 2016, in 2016 children deprived in two and more and extremely poor people has slightly increased. dimensions mostly lived in rural areas in 76 Child poverty (0-17 year olds), at ~34.2% is higher households where the heads work in agriculture , than in any other age group70. Geographical with the figures again show a far higher rural-to- disparities are high, with every second child urban disparity than measuring consumption 77 (50.1%) in Shirak region living in poverty. poverty alone (~68% rural to 50% urban) .

Globally, linkages between climate change, While many of the deprivation measures used in environmental degradation and poverty largely assessing multi-dimensional poverty in children focus on disruptions to household productivity; are addressed in other sections of this report damage to infrastructure, assets and ecosystem (Health, WASH, Education, Nutrition) it is valuable services; displacement; impacts to health; and to note here that where child poverty is considered other barriers that prevent people from being as multi-dimensional, the case for focusing on productive or that undermine their access to rural areas -where many of the impacts of CCE will services and social safety nets. As such, in be most strongly felt- is strengthened. Armenia while both urban and rural communities are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, it is the 36.3% rural, agriculturally dependent Wealth communities that are most likely to bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change71. To get a more rounded understanding of the poverty situation in Armenia it is important to Multi-Dimensional Poverty highlight the steep wealth disparity between urban and rural households, indicated by their According to UNICEF’s 2016 Child Poverty in representation within Armenia’s wealth quintiles Armenia: National Multiple Overlapping (WQs). See Figure 3. Deprivation Analysis, the child poverty disparity

1 It is important to note that these statistics reflect dimensional poverty or wealth. When multi- poverty as measured by “consumption”, including dimensional poverty and wealth quintiles (WQs) consumption of home produced food (~40% of are explored, the picture looks quite different (see total production in rural households is self- Table 1) consumed1) as opposed to measuring multi-

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Figure 3 Rural vs Urban WQ distribution. Source marzes where agricultural livelihoods are DHS 2016 (p17). prominent (see Table 3).

90 Difficult conditions for agriculture are also 80 experienced at high elevations where long winters 70 and steep slopes inhibit crop productivity, drive 60 greater expenditure on heating energy, and tend 50 40 to result in higher poverty rates in mountainous 30 urban areas. Poverty also tends to be inversely 20 correlated with community population size, rural 10 meaning households within smaller villages tend 0 to be poorer than those from larger conurbations78.

In summary it is the rural, remote villages in either dry or mountainous landscapes that are likely to be most strongly economically impacted by

increases in extreme events, and greater Most tellingly, over 4/5th of rural households sit variability and overall decreases in rainfall. On the within the bottom two WQs, compared to just one- positive side, warming temperatures may begin to in-ten urban households, indicating that those slightly reduce heating requirements across the households most susceptible to CEE hazards are country, and with the right support, benefit some likely already also the poorest. agricultural activities at higher elevations

Locations susceptible to worsening poverty CEE and migration with CEE The relationships described above indicates that Drought and desertification threatens lowland where CEE threats worsen, it is the already agriculturally-productive areas the most, meaning poorest areas that will likely be affected the most. CEE will likely affect Ararat – the lowest ranking When considered with OECD’s 2017 study on region in terms of wealth quintiles- the most migration that identified that the majority of strongly. Armenian emigrants leave poorly paid jobs in agriculture and construction79, it becomes clear Table 3 Comparison of marzes by wealth quintile that increases in rural poverty are also likely to be ranking and proportion of workforce engaged in agricultural livelihoods. DHS 2015-2016 shadowed by increases in migration for work (especially by men) and increases in rates of

Marz % Women Men% 2 WQ % Lowest Combined 2 WQ Rank Lowest female-headed households (34.3% as of 201680). Most young people (78%) already desire to leave 81 Armenia .

Implications for children

Armavir 52.9 37.8 70.4 3 Where climate change and environmental Gegharkunik 59.6 26.3 53.3 4 degradation worsen productivity for rural farmers, Aragatsotn 31.6 26.3 71.1 2 increases in household poverty are likely to follow. Ararat 27.3 23.0 73.4 1 For Armenian children, higher rates of household Tavush 25.7 18.6 58.1 5 poverty are associated with: All others <20 <10 >50 6+ • Higher rates of institutionalization82, Addressing potentially higher rates of Analysis of the DHS 2015-2016 identifies that the institutionalisation of vulnerable children due to five least-wealthy marzes have the highest CEE is in line with the CRC’s concerns that percentages of the total workforce engaged in increasing numbers of children are being placed in agricultural activities, indicating that distribution of institutional care, particularly those from families in wealth in Armenia is strongly skewed away from vulnerable situations with at least one parent

25 | P a g e alive83. Higher risk of child poverty is also While primary education rates are high (as associated with increasing rates of female-headed measured by attendance rates – 96%), a number households, and households with no employed of causes for concern remain that may be adults84, both of which are linked with worsening exacerbated by CEE threats, particularly in rural CEE conditions. areas with declining populations; for early childhood development; and in secondary schools • Higher rates of acute respiratory (where attendance is just 56%). infections Poorer families are more likely to purchase or collect cheaper forms of cooking and heating fuel than those more well off85, increasing the risk of “…smaller schools in low population indoor air pollution related disease. density areas are at a disadvantage in covering teacher and administrative costs, • Higher rates of malnutrition forcing principals to minimize spending on While a number of factors are involved in maintenance costs, such as electricity and determining malnutrition, children from poorer households tend to be at higher risk from both heating. Government informants noted wasting and stunting86. that sometimes as little as 1% of the total school allocation is dedicated to 4.2 Education and ECD, and CEE maintenance, which includes utilities (including electricity, heating and water) Globally, children’s ability to learn is recognized as and supplies. a product of a number of inter-related issues, many of which are closely linked to CEE-related Source: Save The Children, Operation and threats, including: child health; nutrition; ability to Maintenance Financing for School WASH physically go to school; having time to go to Facilities in Armenia, 2016 school; access to electricity at school (and at home); availability of clean water and improved sanitation infrastructure (especially for adolescent With reference to the Arabkir88 report on health girls); and, continuity of school during or shortly behaviour in school aged children, Save the after disasters87. Children’s 2016 WinS Report89, and the 2017 OECD report on migration in Armenia90, a number “The Armenia State Education of barriers to children’s capacity to learn in Armenia have been identified, which may worsen Development Program Plan 2011-2015 under a deteriorating CEE situation, See Table 4. highlights the need for better logistics, Potential impacts of poverty on learning outcomes renovation and strengthening activities for below. school infrastructure, including for the water supply, sewerage and heating in 956 From the environmental education perspective, (66%) schools”. although opportunities to improve CEE-focused learning have been identified in a number of laws, Source: Save The Children, Operation concepts and strategies, and environmental and Maintenance Financing for School WASH lessons are being included within curricula, the Facilities in Armenia, 2016 methods of teaching remain insufficient to ensure student’s are immersed in the subject, with many In Armenia the main CEE-threats to learning are teachers continuing to implement out-dated, learn- likely to stem from worsening access to water by-rote and text-book-only pedagogical affecting WASH in schools, clean and affordable techniques91. energy availability, and general poverty exacerbation leading to migration and its impact on school budgets, household wealth, and food security.

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Barrier to Current situation CEE threat Potential Impact Outcome learning Poor diets and In 2013/2014 only 51% of Drought, hail, Reduction in rural Lower learning outcomes eating practices 15 year olds regularly ate frost, flooding households food availability breakfast92, with and income further inhibiting associated potential for consumption of sufficient interfering with cognition food for productive learning and learning abilities

Insufficient 14% and 8% of schools Drought, Worsening WASH situation Increased risk of WASH facilities nationwide already have landslides, in schools disease, higher rates of inadequate sanitation and flooding adolescent girls dropping water facilities, out and lower attendance respectively93

Parent Emigration (and return All rural poverty Higher numbers of parents More children living in migration migration) seems to be related CEE migrating for work due to single parent families, negatively associated with threats: reduced viability of more children living school attendance, by girls Drought, higher agriculture livelihoods without either parents, in particular94. As of 2016 temperatures, institutionalization, and over one third of climate associated lower households were female variability learning outcomes headed (34.3%95).

Declining rural Rural locations have All rural poverty Poor allocation of funds to Higher numbers of populations insufficient student related CEE small schools results in poor families leaving already and student numbers to maintain larger threats: learning environment, poor declining communities numbers, and schools. Schools are Drought, higher maintenance/ no budget for the need for poorly equipped and temperatures, improving schools, exclusion better smaller maintained due to related climate from renovation/ seismic school designs small budgets, likely to variability safety improvements close down. Children from small, declining communities do not have the same resources allocations as those from larger communities Indoor air Rural schools (and Long term Worsening rural poverty, Lower education pollution households) burning solid decrease in higher energy prices (due to outcomes due to poor fuels for heating. While rainfall, poor reductions in national health. Schools either under studied, emissions Energy hydropower potential) force closing down during cold from the indoor burning of Efficiency in schools to continue to use winter months, or solid fuels for household schools and solid fuels for heating burning more solid fuels and school heating are homes, low likely to have important awareness of negative implications for the risks of IAP children’s’ education and to health and health in Armenia education

Table 4. Potential impacts of poverty on learning outcomes

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4.3 Child labour and child protection, and In terms of understanding the potential impacts of CEE worsening CEE conditions it is important to note that agricultural households in Armenia consume ~40% of the food they produce, which at once Approximately 11.5% of children in Armenia are safeguards them against extreme poverty99 and involved in some form of employment activity96, bolsters their resilience to economic shocks and can be considered to be “working children”. Of (access), but also makes them more vulnerable to them, 82.6%, (or 9% of all children) are involved in losses in production during climate shocks child labour. (availability). Wasting is more prevalent in Aragatsotn -23%, Ararat -13%, and Gegharkunik - The conditions that lead to the existence of 11%, which are three of the poorest and most working children in Armenia again tend to be agriculturally dependent regions. poverty and location related: children from lower income and rural households tend to engage more Rural households also expend a greater in employment; 91% of working children are rural proportion of their budgets on food100 compared to based and employed within the agriculture urban households, meaning that CEE impacts to sector97. their income can have a strong and direct influence on children’s access to a diverse Globally, climate change pressures on agriculture (purchased) diet during and after extreme weather are expected to result in a worsening economic events (stability). Children’s utilization of foods in situation for farming households, especially in Armenia may be affected where access to clean locations where rainfall is expected to decrease water and air are compromised by CEE and extreme weather events are expected to associated WASH and IAP stresses. Shirak and increase, as is the projected situation for Armenia. Aragsoton marzes, for example have by far the In this case, agriculture-dependent households highest rates of stunting (19.5 and 18.1%) and are can expect to see a reduction in income, which also by far the country’s two most diarrhoea-prone may lead to more children from poor households marzes (potential linkages with nutrient entering into child labour, though this assumption utilization). requires deeper country-level based analysis. In terms of national food security, forecasts predict 4.4 Nutrition and CEE an 10-14% reduction in overall agriculture Child nutrition -recognised as a priority area within productivity by 2050. potentially leading to the Health Section of The National Development increasing food prices for consumers. Strategy 2014-2025- can be strongly impacted by Ramifications of weakened sovereign food climate change and environmental degradation security (and therefore greater need for importing through their affects on all 4 pillars of food and food) and higher prices of nutritious foods for nutrition security: children living in the most vulnerable households (in combination with reduced household food • Access ( i.e. affordability - through rising production and income) need to be explored. poverty levels) • Availability (impacting production of food) 4.5 Social Protection and CEE • Utilization (worsening disease and access to Climate Environment and Energy (CEE) threats improved water) are likely to increase deprivations in many already • Stability (weather variability) poor households, as well as in those that depend on CEE-vulnerable livelihoods to remain above In 2016, under-nutrition as measured by stunting the poverty line. affected 9.4% of under-5s, while wasting affected 4.2% of under-5s; rural locations had The implications of CEE threats for social approximately twice the prevalence of under- protection in Armenia are therefore most likely to nutrition as urban areas98. relate to whether or not the Government’s social protection system, particularly the Integrated Social Services and cash benefits, system, is able to capture and manage CEE threats to household

28 | P a g e income (likely largely be due to impacts on most susceptible to worsening deprivations (i.e. agricultural livelihoods). un-registered but highly agriculturally-reliant households). Since 2010, the Government of Armenia, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has Further, because non-poor households are initiated a social protection sector reform, moving outside of the social protection system (non- in the direction of integrated social services (ISS). registered), when they are impacted, they are Many important changes have been required to go through a lengthy (1month+) operationalized to deliver better social services to registration and evaluation process before they Armenia’s most vulnerable groups, including can receive emergency social assistance, and children. The focus is on ensuring provision of consequently may not be adequately protected social services to the most vulnerable families and from falling further into poverty, i.e. from transient groups of the population through case poverty into permanent poverty, due to CEE management, local planning, closer cooperation impacts. among social services, and measures to strengthen the autonomy, self-reliance and coping According to the recent Cash Preparedness capacities of the population served. Assessment: Armenia Pilot Report 2017 commissioned by UNICEF, while the “Three However despite the ISS improving vulnerable month Emergency Assistance” element of groups’ visibility and individuals’ realization of MoLSA’s Poverty Benefit programme can be used social protection rights, (through providing needs- to provide support during a covariate crisis (a crisis based and individualized social protection that impacts at the community rather than services via case management and benefit household or individual level), it is generally schemes) the system does not contain the interpreted as being designed to address capacity to evaluate, or make allowances for a ‘household level’ emergencies102; it follows household’s vulnerability to CEE threats, and therefore that where a covariate crisis occurs (and therefore its risk of becoming poorer due to many households are affected), the impact and drought for example. scale of the crisis may be too large to be adequately addressed, in terms of availability of Currently, according to the Law on Social institutional and budgetary capacity. Assistance ‘families in difficult life circumstances and emergency situations’ are eligible for Though, there are existing mechanisms to speed assistance – but guidance regarding what up the vulnerability assessment process and constitutes an ‘emergency’ is missing101. increase budgets in emergency situations, for Additionally the ISS/SP system captures and example in the case of one-off emergency evaluates only an existing snapshot situation assistance benefit payments as happened after within already poor households registered in the the hail event in 2013, they are regulated by ad vulnerability assessment database. but does not hoc and individual event-based Government contain the capacity to make speculative Decrees. In both situations the design of the assessments of a poor households’ risk of falling current system may fail to adequately protect into worsening poverty, and nor does it evaluate children living in climate vulnerable households non-poor (non-registered) households’ risk of from increased deprivations. falling into transient poverty when hail, frost or drought, for example, seriously impact their In addition to social benefits assessments being livelihoods. unable to adequately capture and address potential CEE-related poverty threats, the As household vulnerability to CEE-shocks is not payments for the hardships they currently identify evaluated, provision of pre-emptive or targeted are often insufficient to adequately address CEE/disaster preparedness, reduction and existing threats, indicating that even where resilience mechanisms is not possible. This emergency benefits are provided, they may be means that addressing the impacts of CEE ineffective at preventing households from (drought for example) can only be retrospective, experiencing increasing deprivations. For and in addition may not capture those households example, despite fuel subsidies being available for

29 | P a g e the poor and selected communities in cold Based on these indicators of existing poverty and locations, they remain insufficient to prevent two- susceptibility to declining wealth due to climate fifths of children from either having to use wood, change, available data suggests that Ararat, or live in homes with no heating at all103. In the Gegharkunik, Shirak, Lori and Tavush marzs may event that CEE-drivers create a situation where benefit most from a deeper analysis on the role the electricity becomes more expensive, or families social protection system can play in protecting the have less income with which to purchase clean most vulnerable households in the event of CEE fuels, the current system is therefore not shocks (see below). The situation in Syunik marz sufficiently expansive or comprehensive to -being the current highest recipient of emergency prevent increasing deprivations. benefits - also deserves further climate-focused analysis. Locations likely to require additional social protection under worsening CEE conditions Locations most likely to require greater social 4.6 Health and CEE protection in the event of a CEE-shocks are those that already have high poverty rates and a low wealth baseline, those that already experience Water access and related potential risks to shocks, and those that are at most susceptible to health future, worsening shocks (i.e. highly agriculturally dependent communities). At 98%, access to improved water sources in Armenia is high. Despite the observed and The poverty rates in Shirak, Lori, Kotayk, Tavush expected declines of rainfall (by up to 20% during and Armavir regions are higher than the country summer months), much of the country’s drinking average (29.4%). The highest poverty rate and water is expected to remain relatively secure; 96% greatest increase in extreme poverty has been of Armenia’s drinking water comes from observed in Shirak, where 45.5% of the population groundwater104, with centralised supply systems is below the poverty line, and extreme poverty sits providing water to the majority of the population. at 3.7%. However high losses (~80-84%) in the water The highest poverty rate in the country has been delivery system are a serious cause for 105,106 recorded in Shirak province, where 46% of the concern and likely the most pressing issue to population is below the poverty line. be addressed to ensure sufficient water is available under future, drier, climate change At 59.6% Gegharkunik has the highest conditions. proportion of women working in CEE vulnerable employment (agriculture), and is also ranked 1st CEE concerns do remain in rural areas. For (23.1%) in terms of households receiving a example, a significant number of small villages poverty related family benefit. (579) are not connected to the centralised and privatised water delivery systems described Syunik marz is ranked 1st in terms of emergency above, and rely only on local artisanal boreholes benefits, with 6.8% of households receiving cash and springs107. As these systems are smaller and benefits up to 4 times per year; Gegharkunik often rely on single, local extraction sources, their marz again scores highly at 2.8% (rank 2nd). risks of drying-up during low rainfall periods is Ararat, Tavush, and Lori marzes, are both highly higher; it is these locations that currently at risk from drought and highly dependent on experience water shortages, and these that will agriculture (>45% employment). Ararat is also likely bare the brunt of reduced water availability the worst ranked marz in terms of proportion of under a drier climate future. population in the lowest 2 wealth quintiles. Unfortunately access rates to improved sanitation Sources: DHS 2015-2016; TNC 2010; are not as positive, sitting at just 77.4% nationally. ARMSTAT 2017 Further, the degree of urban-rural sanitation disparity is very high; approximately half of rural

households use unimproved facilities, of which 108 ~90% are open pit latrines , known globally to be

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Prevalence of Access to Hand washing facilities diarrhoea (last 2 improved in home weeks) sanitation

Urban 2.6 96.1 97.2 Rural 5.4 48.6 94.5 Improved Toilet 3.2

Non-improved 5.9 Lowest 5.6 91.4

Second 4.2 97

Middle 4.7 97.4

Fourth 3.3 98.3 Quintile

Wealth Highest 1.7 97.4

Basic 6.5

Secondary 5

ucation Secondary 4.5 Mother’s

Ed Special

Higher 1.5

Table 5. Diarrhoeal rates are double in rural vs urban areas and three times higher in the poorest vs healthiest households, and for children of the least vs most-educated mothers. Hand washing in rural areas is significantly lower than in urban areas. Access to improved sanitation is twice the rate in urban vs rural areas, while prevalence of diarrhoea is half. Source: DHS 2015-16 susceptible to flooding threats with associated Under climate change projections identified for risks to human health. Armenia, the main water-based risks to children’s health are likely to stem from: The situation in urban areas is more encouraging with just 3.4% of households using unimproved • Drought - reducing the quantity of clean facilities. Urban areas are also better connected to water available for drinking and handwashing waste water disposal systems, while just 20% of in hard-to-reach locations rural conurbations benefit from some form of • Flooding risk to unimproved pit latrines and inadequate disposal of waste water in rural waste water disposal system areas leading to contamination of artisanal water supplies Impacts on health: Likely as a result of the • General decreases in wealth due to relatively available (at least 4 hours/day) and increasing rural poverty hindering contamination-free water supply in even the most households’ movement up the sanitation hard-to-reach locations109, as well as the high ladder. availability of hand washing facilities in households (96%) the prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases is low at just under 4% nationwide.

However, in Armenia, as with many middle income Non-water related health issues and developing countries, WASH remains an Air pollution, the world’s largest single equity issue, with children from rural locations and environmental-health risk110 presents a the poorest households having lower access to considerable threat to both rural and urban adequate WASH facilities and higher incidences children across Armenia. Factors contributing to of WASH-related diseases. See Table 5. health risks in urban areas (and some rural areas) include emission pollution from the manufacturing industry, cement production, transport and the

31 | P a g e mining industry. Substantial indoor air pollution goals, and therefore into their design, activities, (IAP) risk in Armenia result from the burning of indicators, outputs or outcomes. solid fuels in 30% of homes111 and 19% schools, and likely provides the single most serious In Armenia CEE funding and strategizing is firmly environmental risk to children’s health. directed towards reducing economic costs and GHG emissions through promoting improved As described in Section 2 and discussed in detail energy efficiency in buildings and industry, within UNICEF’s 2017 report on environmental investing in renewable energy options, increasing and climate change impacts to children, a number rural productivity, decreasing pollution and of health risks to children exist due to high deforestation, and increasing resilience to concentrations of heavy metals in soils, the food disaster. However despite children often being at- chain and some water sources. While there is once both the most populous and the most at-risk currently a lack of consensus within the Armenian group within beneficiary communities targeted by scientific and political spheres on the impact of these strategies, to-date the CEE investments heavy metal pollution on human health in Armenia, have not been designed to incorporate their a number of at-risk hotspots have been identified. specific needs. Lori and Syunk Marzes for example, due to the high presence of the mining sector within their Without considering children as a unique group territories are considered to be at particularly high (with specific vulnerability and adaptation needs) risk. One of the main barriers to a better or looking at project designs through a “child-lens”, understanding of the implications of pollutants on projects and strategies don’t internalise the need public health is the current lack of publically for child-sensitive indicators, and therefore cannot available health data, spatially disaggregated to a measure whether or not, or by how much children level useful for analysis by interested parties are benefiting from the millions of USD invested outside the Ministry of Healthcare. nationally in CEE each year.

In terms of addressing the issue of environmental Currently the strongest inclusion of child-sensitive contamination by the mining sector, the World design within activities associated with CEE is Bank’s 2016 report on sustainable mining in actually outside of the traditional “climate” sector, Armenia suggests that while many of the laws and but in the closely related sphere of “disaster risk regulations to address the issues are in place, they reduction”. The 2017 National Strategy and Action are not properly implemented, can be ambiguous, Plan on Disaster Risk Management, for example, and fines and consequences for not complying includes a number of objectives and activities with the law do not provide a sufficient deterrent to directly related to increasing children’s safety polluting112. (predominantly in the school setting) and even identifies the need for a child-centred approach to DRM.

However outside of DRR, acknowledgement of 5 Do children benefit from CEE the important role children can play in increasing investments and programs? resilience to climate change, or the need to design CEE policies, strategies and activities in order to Despite the clear linkages between CEE and address the specific needs of children, is virtually children’s health, education, nutrition, and absent. (See Annex 4) wellbeing, and the vast amounts of funding being allocated to CEE in Armenia, very little attention Nevertheless, there is one area in which almost all has being given to addressing or measuring the CEE strategies, investment plans and project needs of- or impacts on children within these designs do recognise the importance of inclusion investments. of child-focused activities, and that is education. Incorporating environmental education into the This trend is not unique to Armenia. Globally the school curriculum has been specifically targeted vast majority of CEE investments are not viewed by a number of CEE donors and is included in through a child-lens and so have not yet managed relevant national strategies. In addition many of to incorporate children’s specific needs into their the recent and current high profile and well-funded

32 | P a g e energy efficiency (EE)-related investments include environmental education at all school levels and school buildings within their scope. in communities o Supported the Akopian Center to carry out a Lastly, despite the successful integration of review of K-12 curriculum and national environmental education within various subjects education policies for inclusion of education and disciplines of the national curriculum at all for sustainable development levels, the teaching methods and approaches o Supported FPWC in developing and remain largely unsatisfactory. Teachers continue implementing the Green Schools Project in to use textbooks as the only source for teaching two schools (student-led recycling, waste and rely on traditional pedagogical approaches in management, and energy efficiency focused) which students are required to memorize the o Supported the development of the content rather than being exposed to immersive Alternative Preschool Educational learning. A lack of integrated teaching and Services, learning approaches leads to low levels of - focusing on hard-to-reach areas, UNICEF comprehension and hinder the development of a leveraged the support of the UNDP GEF Small positive outlook towards the environment and Grants Programme to decrease the sustainable development. Only few schools environmental, as well as financial burden of supported by local and international organizations three newly established alternative preschool are engaging their children in environmental services in one consolidated community in education extracurricular activities and those Armenia (with UNICEF support), through the initiatives reportedly fade with the withdrawal of installation of photovoltaic panels for electricity 113 external support . and heating, and development of environmental education materials adapted to the age group of Please see Annex 3 for a full list of projects and 3-6. This activity will both reduce education based their inclusion of child sensitive elements deprivations and increase student awareness of CEE issues in those communities where CEE- threats are most likely to impact learning. 6 The UNICEF Country Programme and linkages to CEE o Supported the Government in implementing the Environmental Education at Preschool UNICEF Armenia has been, and remains, Age”, “Educational Programme for 5-6 year engaged in a number of activities containing old children”, “Little Lover of Nature”, and components, activities, outcomes or goals that are “Behaviour”, programmes promoting influenced or undermined by CEE preschool environmental education. o Supporting the development of the small In addition some UNICEF activities or secondary school design for small size programmes that on the surface appear to be communities. unrelated to CEE, may contain entry points - again looking at small communities where through which UNICEF can begin to better population numbers are small and may decline address CEE threats to children and improve further due to CEE stresses and their impacts on children’s overall CEE resilience. agricultural viability, this initiative will help to ensure services are delivered to small 6.1 Recent and current CEE-relevant communities and costs are optimised. activities Disaster Risk Reduction UNICEF DRR unit has successfully supported the Education Government in undertaking a number of CEE and UNICEF Armenia’s Education sections has: DRR-relevant, education-focused activities including: o Supported the establishment of the Environmental Education Network (EEN) o Providing support to the Government to Created to contribute to the efforts of the develop the SBDRR- school disaster Government in promoting and ensuring

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management guidelines and forms incorporates energy efficiency and the use of o Supported the Government in developing a alternative energy sources within its design. school safety methodology and undertaking

nationwide school safety assessments- a Health and Nutrition precursor to the School Strengthening and Renovation Program (SSRP) 2015-2030 o Supporting the Ministry of Health in o Assisting in the development of the “Concept establishing Parent Education Centers within for Disaster Risk Reduction Education of the hospitals and policlinics to provide trainings Population” - inclusion of disaster risk on healthy nutrition for children reduction issues in the educational and subject standards of the general education, Social Protection as well as in school curricula o Supported the National Center for Education o Support to the Integrated Social Services – Technologies (a MoED affiliated institution) to Social Services reform, including capacity develop a school safety database and map development of case managers – while not o Currently developing the “Enhancing CEE focused, individual vulnerability in Comprehensive School Safety” case study, general is being better addressed through within the “Ensuring Children’s Safety UNICEF support, and therefore household through Building Resilience of Communities resilience to CEE shocks should be and Education Institutions” project, including improved. using child-friendly hazard mapping and the o With the Regional Office, a Cash Electronic Regional Risk Atlas (ERRA) tool. preparedness assessment has been All of the above activities focus strongly on undertaken, focusing on the feasibility and earthquake-based disaster risk reduction, largely readiness of Armenia’s social protection through strengthening school building design and system to implement preparedness and construction standards and practices, and mitigation strategies supporting the use of improving awareness, knowledge and behaviour cash transfers in emergencies. of students and teachers.

While not specifically CEE related, many of the 6.2 Opportunities for expansion of above include or promote tools and best practices engagement with CEE partners that reduce risks to all types of disasters, including landslides and flooding for example, and promote CEE adaptation, i.e. through improved WASH and A number of potential partners for UNICEF ACO energy security conditions. are currently, or are in the planning stages of implementing important actions within the CEE o UNICEF is currently developing a proposal sphere. Please see focused on small-size community school designs. The proposal addresses the DRR needs of the 447 small schools that were excluded from the SSSIP, and incorporates additional small-community specific concerns, such as lack of pre-school facilities, health posts and psychological support centers.

This proposal is important from the CEE perspective for 2 reasons: firstly it addresses the needs of the most climate vulnerable communities, that due to CEE projections are likely to continue to experience declines in both wealth and population numbers; and secondly it

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Annex 4- partner actions in CEE – for a list of 8 Recommendations activities and opportunities for increased UNICEF-partner engagement. ACO has already taken important steps in inclusion of CEE issues within both its DRR and Education programming, though as a whole, ACO 7 Greening UNICEF still largely sits outside of the traditional CEE sphere.

In line with the 2016 Executive Directive on In order to strengthen its own CEE programming, Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on as well as to begin contributing to greater delivery Children’s fourth pillar on “Greening UNICEF”: and of CEE-financed development for children, a the UNICEF Strategic Framework on number of baseline actions are recommended: Environmental Sustainability for Children 2016 – 2017’s Priority 5 on “Incorporating environmental 1) Appointment of a CEE Focal Point sustainability management (ESM) in the responsible for engaging in adaptation and organization, UNICEF ACO has already taken a mitigation dialogue and communicating and number of important steps toward reducing its coordinating UNICEF’s CEE work and Environmental Footprint, including: messages both within and outside of the organization, with the Government, UN • Hiring two consultants to measure water and agencies, NGOs and donors. energy consumption of the UN agencies and UNICEF in particular. In order to manage workloads and capitalise on • Substituted all inefficient lighting with energy specialist staff skills, it is recommended that the efficient LED bulbs. CEE Focal Points are designed as a Focal Point • Installed an efficient, safe and reliable solar Triangle, where the base of the triangle is formed water heater, replacing the previous by DRR or WASH staff providing substantive inefficient electric water heaters. technical inputs, while the Communication section • Increasing water efficiency in the office toilets develops advocacy and communication materials. through investing in low flow toilets and These specialisms will then feed up to the UNICEF urinals. Representative or Deputy Representative at the • Purchasing new reduced fuel consumption top of the Triangle, who is responsible for and CO2 gas emissions vehicles. delivering messages to internal and external • The CO actively practices waste separation stakeholders. and recycling, and has installed relevant

waste and paper separation bins in the office. 2) Development of a stakeholder engagement • Renovations of the office included installation strategy including producing information and of an efficient air-distribution system and advocacy materials to build greater efficient electricity utilization, and space- understanding and demand for the inclusion of efficient design of the main conference room child-sensitive planning and policy within up- to also meet external seminars, workshops, coming CEE-focused strategies (NAP and 4th and trainings needs. Nat Com), and child-sensitive design, budgeting, implementation and evaluation in These actions are also in line with UNICEF’s new climate finance investments (i.e. UNDP, IFAD, Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022, which makes ADB projects), and to influence decision addressing environmental and energy efficiency makers in Government (GEF, GCF Focal issues an organizational priority. Points) to view CEE proposals through a child- However, there is still room for improvement, most rights lens prior to approval. importantly with regard to making environmental sustainability an integral part of programme 3) Establish a Children and CEE Roundtable, design and operations, outside of the office. building on the momentum achieved during the CLAC mission, ACO should consider formalizing a roundtable to bring together

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government agencies, donors, NGOs and sustainability, and foster a culture of CEE other potential partners in both the child and awareness in the next generation of resource CEE sphere. Invitees should include (see List users and decision makers. of CEE contacts in Armenia for contact details): • Ministry of Nature Protection 6) Greening external operations. Building on • Ministry of Healthcare the Country Office’s exemplary actions in internal, office greening, UNICEF CO should • Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources consider directing a stronger focus on external • National Statistical Service Ministry of greening outside of the office, within program Labor and Social Affairs activities. • Ministry of Health Care • Ministry of Emergency Situations UNICEF may want to consider directing greater • Ministry of Territorial Administration and focus toward ensuring procurement of products Development and services for its activities with Government and • Clima East (EU) (development of NAP) other implementing partners is undertaken in an • UNDP (development of 4th NC ++) environmentally and climate responsible way, for • ADB (rural water project) example purchasing “green” building materials • Save the Children (WASH in schools ++) procured as part of UNICEF’s Alternative pre- • IFAD/RAED school programme, and within the • Habitat for Humanity (RE in homes) recommendations under the new “small school • American University of Armenia design” initiative, coupled with identifying opportunities to raise partner’s awareness on the importance of reducing development activities’ Chaired by the UNICEF CEE Focal Point, the environmental footprints. CCEER roundtable will at once bring together

all relevant actors to allow greater visibility of activities, exchange of information, and 8.1 Sector-specific highlight opportunities related to children and recommendations CEE, and raise UNICEF’s profile as an active

and important partner across the CEE landscape. Health

4) Allocate time to continued learning about o Support further investigation into the linkages CEE within each CO section/ division, coupled between observed concentrations of heavy with developing a formal internal mechanism metals recorded in Armenian kindergartens for improved coordination between sectors to soil, the food chain and some outdoor air identify joint actions for CEE – sharing of pollution hotspots, and implications for experience and lessons learned in different children’s health. activities, across the organization. o Build evidence for engaging with the Government based on global evidence/ case 5) Raising children’s voices in the climate studies of hazards to human health at similar sphere, and advocacy for greater inclusion of heavy metal concentrations and exposures. inputs from children into the design process o Support the Government and its various and participation from children in the institutions and partners, including AUA, in implementation of CC initiatives (advocacy with achieving consensus and formulating donors and implementing agencies). evidence-driven policy to address potential mining industry risks to children’s health, Children in Armenia have not yet been adequately using the precautionary principle as a included within the design and implementation foundation for action. processes of CEE investment delivery. Helping o Identify partnerships with CEE and health children to be heard and increasing their focused implementing agencies to better participation in all phases of projects can have understand the household and school IAP beneficial impact on both projects’ outcomes and risk to children.

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o Collaborate with partners on opportunities to human health and safety, conditions of human life, improve measurements of outdoor air cultural sites and built structures, in as much as pollution in Yerevan city. they are or may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment…”114.

Pollution associated with emissions from mining and other industrial activities, and indoor air Indoor Air Pollution pollution due to schools and household solid fuel Based on international experience, the CLAC burning for heating (and cooking) are likely process has identified that while little is known strongly impacting children’s health in Armenia about the impacts of IAP on health in Armenia, the and require a greater degree of attention. risks to children’s respiratory health is likely very high. While the usage of solid fuels in both homes Heavy Metals and schools is well recognized in Armenia, the The CLAC process has identified a strong case for implications for children’s health is an a closer examination of the relationship between understudied area. It is recommended that heavy metal pollution and children’s health in UNICEF lend support to better understanding the Armenia, and already a number of institutions are risk to children through advocating for greater investigating and compiling evidence to support national awareness and providing international the case for stronger policy and enforcement to experience, case studies and solutions. UNICEF reduce the impacts of emissions from mining and as an global organization already has strong other industries on to children’s health. However, experience in addressing indoor air pollution in a the Government as a whole has yet to reach wide range of situations, that can be capitalized on consensus on linkages between heavy metals and by Armenia CO. human health in at-risk locations. The main counterparts for this recommendation It is recommended that UNICEF ACO begin to are the Ministry of Healthcare, Ministry of provide support for reaching consensus between Education and Science, and a number of researcher, health experts and policy makers, and development agencies focusing on household and subsequently to the development of an evidence- public building energy efficiency, including UNDP. based Government-led programme to comprehensively and conclusively address the Outdoor air pollution risks to children and their families. UNICEF’s comparative advantage as a child-rights ADB are currently designing a road traffic organisation should be utilised towards supporting orientated Yerevan Road Network project to the government in increasing its awareness of the improve traffic flow and associated socio- impacts of mining and heavy metals and air economic benefits. As part of the design ADB are pollution on children’s health, based on UNICEF’s planning on including air pollution monitoring knowledge of effective risk-reduction strategies, stations to measure the impacts of their activities, proven to mitigate impacts to children’s health in presenting an excellent opportunity for UNICEF to similar situations. provide input on how the project can be adapted to ensure benefits or risks to children are included Partnerships for these actions should be fostered and measurable. with the Ministry of Healthcare, the Armenian Centre for Ecological Noosphere Studies and the Education American University of Armenia’s Centre for o Evaluate and internalize the impacts of Responsible Mining. Legislative support in increasing CEE-driven poverty/rural out- accessing all relevant information and making it migration on the up-coming “small schools” available to the public is provided through programme design. Armenia’s legally binding ratification of the Aarhus o Ensure experiences from partnerships for Convention, which contains a definition of renewable energy facilities in pre-schools are “Environmental information” including any recorded and developed into lessons learned information in written, visual, aural, electronic or to be used in the roll-out of further Alternative any other material form on: (c) “The state of Preschool Eeducation Services activities and

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within the current ”small schools” designs recorded and captured for replication in future development process. APES activities and other initiatives as UNICEF o Assist the Health section in better identifying expands its RE programming, for example in the IAP threats to children’s education, and development of the “small schools design” advocating for stronger focus of EE-funding initiative. towards schools and communities likely to be at high IAP risk. Indoor Air Pollution o Advocate for a greater focus on more As described under the Health recommendations, immersive teaching methods for CEE IAP in Armenia is an understudied potential risk to subjects, and a stronger importance given to children’s health and education. In addition, from field trips, community-based environmental the education perspective, much of the risk is activities, and similar extra-curricular thought to derive from the 19.1% schools115 activities. burning solid fuels in winter in order to maintain an acceptable learning environment, though in many cases, due to disrepair, poor insulation, low Hard-to-reach locations and ECD heating energy efficiency, and a lack of budget for UNICEF, through its involvement in the Alternative energy, some schools maintain indoor Preschool Educational Services initiative has temperatures below 8 ºC, or even close down already positioned itself as an important during winter116. In these situations indoor air Government partner in improving access to ECD pollution is unlikely to be considered as an facilities in hard-to-reach communities. Focusing important concern. It is therefore important for on hard-to-reach, rural communities will likely UNICEF to understand both the health risks and benefit many of the most CEE vulnerable and the underlying causes of IAP, and identify deprived communities in Armenia. workable solutions to reduce them.

As CEE threats increase financial pressures on Immersive Learning for CEE rural families, access to near-by, affordable, and UNICEF ACO should consider advocating for well equipped pre-school facilities may become greater inclusion of out-of-classroom, community, crucial in allowing children from even the poorest and nature-based learning for children of all ages. households to benefit from ECD investments. It is Building on UNICEF’s vast global experience with therefore important to make sure that CEE-drivers Green Schools, School Garden and Child Friendly of poverty and migration are considered in the Schools initiatives and UNICEF Armenia’s own location and design planning of APES CFS pilot project, opportunities should be investments, and as such ensure those children explored to increase the Ministry of Education’s most at-risk of worsening deprivations benefit from awareness of the benefits of immersive and extra- the initiative, both now and in the future .i.e. spatial curricular activities in improving learning targeting of new APES locations should take into outcomes for children in environmentally-based account communities that will be most affected by subjects especially. Partnering with other CEE and therefore likely suffer worst from agencies’, including the FAO/ WFP school-based increases in both poverty and out-migration. climate and food projects and the Empowering Environmental Education in Armenia should be Renewable energy considered. Internalizing valuable lessons gained through partnerships with, for example UNDP/ GEF Armenia Small Grant Programme-based project Social Protection for solar electricity in APES pre-schools and the Solar Hot Water in Gyumri Special School for o Investigate efficacy of emergency benefits to Children with Mental Disabilities are highly poor and non-poor households in reducing recommended due to the importance of ensuring worsening deprivations and preventing quality, effective RE solutions are identified for transient poverty associated climate/ education benefits. Solar systems are notoriously environment-induced reductions in difficult to manage and maintain, meaning household income examples of effective systems should be well o Investigate opportunities to increase the

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visibility of both poor and non-poor implement preparedness and mitigation strategies households’ CEE-vulnerability within social (that support the use of cash transfers) in protection assessments emergencies. Recommendations described in the o Identify appropriate social protection benefits assessment, particularly on “piloting a cash based for CEE-vulnerable households, to reduce emergency response program” and testing “small the risk of worsening child deprivations in the scale emergency” responses are highly relevant to event of CEE-shocks addressing climate-related emergencies. o Consider opportunities for the Inclusion of However, climate change, or the likely increase in IAP relevant assessments with the climate-related emergency events is not included vulnerability assessment for benefits “Social within the assessment, which has resulted in Needs Assessment File”. insufficient consideration of climate-specific emergency responses (i.e. what are the specific Social protection and wealth needs of households when seasonal drought UNICEF Armenia country office has been deeply occurs), as well as the omission of the engaged in supporting the Government’s ISS Government agencies specifically involved in reform since its inception in 2012. In particular climate-related issues. UNICEF has been instrumental in assisting the Government in developing the training package It is recommended therefore that UNICEF explore for case managers and associated ISS case the current social protection system from the management forms, which include the Family perspective of worsening and more frequent CEE Social Needs Assessment File117. However, while events, and reflect this in future social benefit likely exemplary from a current needs perspective, assessment frameworks. It is also recommended the range and targeting of questions within for UNICEF explore the options for inclusion of non- example the “Integrated Social Services-Case poor, climate vulnerable households (i.e those at Management Form N.1” is insufficient to capture risk of falling into transient poverty) in regular households’ vulnerabilities to changing wealth social protection assessments. patterns and food security circumstances, due to for example, CEE shocks. Social Protection and Indoor Air Pollution Question 2 on “Communal Conditions” within the For example, while “economic problems” and “the ISS training package developed by UNICEF nutritional status of adults and children” are currently includes observations on the “hygiene”, recorded in questions 4a and 5c, the wording is “electricity” and “natural gas” situation in the home, not tailored to elicit the susceptibility of households with the intention of understanding the level of to future economic problems, or of household food household wealth, or deprivations. Unfortunately insecurity in the event of a CEE shock. the question fails to capture the situation from the indoor air pollution perspective and therefore Although emergency funds can become available misses an opportunity to a) ensure children’s under extremely harsh conditions for households rights to grow up in a clean and health registered with social protection services, the environment are being met, and b) to begin to scope, timeliness and size of payouts is likely better understand the extent of the problem of IAP insufficient to make a real difference to the in Armenia (including from second hand smoke). increasing risk of worsening poverty due to CEE. In addition emergency benefits are difficult to It is therefore recommended that UNICEF access by households not already registered explores possibilities to adapt the ISS’s section on within the social protection system, which “communal conditions” to better understand IAP excludes households at risk of falling into transient risks to children that should be recorded as a poverty being assisted to remain non-poor. consideration for children’s welfare.

Recognizing this, UNICEF CO with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Office commissioned a Cash preparedness assessment focusing on the feasibility and o Investigate opportunities to increase climate readiness of Armenia’s social protection system to change and energy vulnerabilities and

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improvements within School Safety In line with UNICEF’s recently commissioned Assessment methodologies. Cash Preparedness Assessment report, it is recommended that CEE threats, specifically Currently UNICEF is providing strong support to drought and other livelihood-impacting events are the Government’s School Seismic Safety fully included in up-coming emergency Improvement Program - Results Based Lending assistance design developments. 2015-2030, with particular input on the School Safety Assessments. Nutrition

As a seismic-risk focused activity, other threats to o Investigate opportunities to influence schools functionality as a learning center, such as agriculture production initiatives for inclusion damage from extreme weather events (structural of children’s nutritional requirements in crop damage, access to electricity), slow on-set climate selection and trainings. change (access and availability of water for drinking and washing) and low energy efficiency RAED is currently designing the Sustainable Land and use of solid fuels for heating in schools, are Management for Increased Productivity in not as thoroughly investigated. Armenia (SLMIP) project a rural, agricultural development focused project with strong inclusion It is recommended that UNICEF address this of female headed households and young farmers, potential oversight through capitalizing on their which includes horticulture and climate resilient own position as an important Government partner, crop interventions. Given Goal Area 1 of and on the current momentum for school building UNICEF’s Strategic Plan118 identifies “Prevention assessment and retrofit activities (in terms of of stunting and other forms of malnutrition” as a donor and Government interest) to strengthen the key element, UNICEF RA CO should consider education system’s resilience to potential CEE- investing resources to influence this project to specific threats. include “no regrets” adaptations for greater infant and young child nutrition, i.e. Interventions that o Investigate opportunities for strengthening both improve households food security and emergency benefit distributions within economic prospects with respect to climate existing/adjusted social protection and change and address infant and child dietary payment mechanisms. nutrition needs.

It is recommended that the DRR unit, with the Social Protection unit identify mechanisms to Water and Sanitation assist the Government to better address household needs and reduce disparities affecting o Collaborate with WASH focused investments children during and after harmful climate events to increase inclusion of child benefits within (such as drought, hail, flooding etc). project monitoring and evaluation design.

Currently the Ministry for Emergency Situations UNICEF should consider advocating for inclusion provides organization and coordination of of child-sensitive indicators within the up-coming emergency prevention and response activities, ADB-led Second Water and Sanitation Supply and mobilization of state resources; the Ministry Project119. Child-specific indicators, such as water- of Labour and Social Assistance manages borne disease prevalence in Under-5s, should be Emergency Assistance payments; while included in baseline analysis and used as Government Decrees are necessary for providing determinates for spatial and temporal prioritisation assistance to those affected by larger, one-off of investments. covariate shocks. As described in detail previously, none of the above systems can adequately protect households vulnerable to the . CEE threats described in Section 2.

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Annex 1

Figure 4. Drought areas indicated in pink. Source: UNCCD Armenia120

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Figure 5. Flood impact map (GDP). Source: GFDRR.org

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Figure 6. Temperature Map (baseline). Source: World Bank121

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Figure 7. Landslide distribution map. Source: JICA Landslide Disaster Management Project

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Figure 8. Desertification risk zone map. Source: UNCCD Armenia122

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Annex 2 Table 6. CEE laws and International agreements

Environment and climate change focused international Date of ratification agreements and associated strategies / completion Law on “Atmospheric Air Protection” 1994/2008/2011 Law on “Nature Use and Nature Protection Payments” 1998 Law on “Population Environmental Education and Upbringing” 2001/2007 Law on “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy” (click here) 2004 Law “On Waste” 2004 Law – National Ambient Air Quality Standards-N160 2006 Law on Prevention of Emergency Situations 2008 Law on Targeted Use of Environmental Charges Paid by Companies 2010 Armenian Mining Code (III) 2015 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1993 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 1993 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 1997 Aarhus Convention on Environmental Information 1998 CBD National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 1999 UNCCD National Action Programmes (NAP) 2002 Stockholm Convention (SC) 2003 Minamata Convention 2013 GEF National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) 2004 SC National Implementation Plan (NIP) 2005 World Bank Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2003/2008 UNFCCC National Communications (1st, 2nd, 3rd) 1998/2010 UNFCCC Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) 2010 GEF-5 National Portfolio Formulation Exercise (NPFE) 2011 Strategic Action Programmes (SAPs) for shared international 2012 water-bodies Sendai Framework for Action 2015-2030 2017

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Annex 3

Table 7. CEE related Strategies, Policies and Plans

Lead Funding/ Policy areas included? Are CEE-child Supporting laws/ Related projects developers support linkages included agreements/ policy source documents Climate Change (CC) Environmental Energy (renewables , UNICEF CO Entry Points Title Degradation (ED) efficiency and access) RE/ EE Gov Gov, WB No- Very little focus on CC. No - Very little focus on ED Yes No - Very little Republic of Armenia All Armenian p131 – recognition of CC’s impact and deforestation p55 - renewables including mention of children in Sustainable Development Strategy on water p131 – brief recognition of solar energy highlighted as a any context. Solar Development Program (ADS) for 2014‐2025 p132 – strategic usage of cc desertification as a threat to priority area, especially for heating for 2008 funding for addressing economic progress rural communities. kindergartens is environmental degradation p132 – brief outline of p73 – renewables and energy mentioned but not Sustainable Energy national forest program efficiency identified as a main discussed (p131) Strategy 2014 policy direction for the energy sector The Law Of The Republic Education – No meaningful inclusion of CEE education Of Armenia On Energy -p133 Activities for implementing comprehensive measures for ecological education, public Saving And Renewable awareness and public participation will become more intensive”. Energy 2005

No other mention of child-related environmental education Gov USAID No inclusion of climate threats to Broad environmental Strong focus on RE and EE No The Law Of The Republic De-Risking and Scaling-Up National Program on the program benefits of the program are Development of energy While services to Of Armenia On Energy investments in Energy Efficient Energy Saving and included. Recognition of efficient technologies children such as Saving And Renewable

Renewable Energy of Mitigation of GHG is recognized importance of renewables (industry, thermal energy schools and hospitals Energy 2004 Building Retrofits Republic of Armenia and expected reductions due to as a response to pollution production and buildings), are considered within 2007 the program are calculated and emissions issues and investment in biogas, energy saving Paris Agreement /COP Habitat for Humanity Armenia solar, hydro-thermal, hydro- operations, resulting 21 Renewable Energy Financing electric and wind sources are benefits to children Project discussed. are not factored into Sustainable decision making. Development Goals -

Education – mainly adult focused but with some child- education focus SDG 13 on combating Energy Efficient Project p64 – Health benefits, climate change • “Establishment of internet site devoted to energy saving and renewable energy including potential Improving Energy Efficiency of development, providing an interactive communication option with the visitors, reductions in indoor Sustainable Municipal Heating and Hot production of informational materials for children “Energy Saving for Children” air pollution are not Development Goals - Water Supply • “Provision of affordable coverage on issues and trends in energy saving and renewable considered. SDG 7 on clean energy energy development to the broad public; publishing and free distribution of brochures, booklets and notes, as well as special literature for kids on energy saving and renewable energy, etc.”

p65 -

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• “Introduction of elective courses on energy saving, renewable energy and environmental issues in educational systems, • Organization of educational trips to energy objects, Republic of Armenia Gov Gov Climate change is mention once in Protection of the Maximizing renewable hydro, No inclusion of CEE- National Program Outdated – reference only Sustainable relation to vulnerable water environment is recognized wind, thermal, solar) child issues on Energy Saving Development Program resources as an important element of potential is identified, along 2008 sustainable poverty with increasing nuclear and Renewable reduction. production and improving Energy of Republic Extreme air pollution, soil transmission facilities of Armenia 2007 degradation, hazardous waste, and efficient use of forest resources are acknowledged as requiring attention

Impacts of pollution and mining waste on the environment are recognized (p282)

Improper waste management is identified as a hazard to human health (p285)

Air pollution from mining, cement manufacturing and vehicles (Yerevan) is identified as an issue that needs to be addressed (p285)

Education – No CEE-education focus

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UNDP/ GEF Climate change mitigation is Green spaces (lawns, trees, Activities of the Plan focus on Installation of solar The Law Of The Republic De-Risking and Scaling-Up Yerevan City Yerevan strongly represented within the parks) are recognized as EE in public service buildings water heaters in Of Armenia On Energy investments in Energy Sustainable Action Municipality Plan important for human health including schools and health preschools is a major Saving And Renewable

Plan (SEAP) and well being centers: activity of the plan, Energy 2005 Efficient Building Retrofits Impacts of CC on activities is not a • Solar water heating in however while some focus Municipal solid waste preschools activities are focused disposal is addressed as a • Solar thermal and solar on child-associated GHG issue (p81) PV in health centers buildings, the • Installation of solar inclusion of benefits energy plants in sports to children is not schools and children developed within the and youth complex Plan. sports schools • Modernization of household appliances in preschools

Education – Yes. The plan contains an important energy/environmental education focus

Activity H.6.2. Holding Out-of School Activities at Schools on Energy saving and Renewable Energy The program is implemented among middle and high school students from schools throughout Yerevan is aimed at encouraging students to develop a broad appreciation of local, regional, and global environmental issues and to develop capabilities in addressing some of the environmental challenges either as individuals or as a group. The main goal of the program is to build a more caring attitude among students towards natural resources, which will contribute to the successful implementation of the above- mentioned measures and achievement of the expected effectiveness.

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Yerevan EBRD Opportunities to reduce GHGs are Air pollution In line with SEAP, the YGCAP Recreational areas The Law Of The Republic De-Risking and Scaling-Up Yerevan Green City Municipality included within the plan. The GCAP recognizes the includes: and sport facilities Of Armenia On Energy investments in Energy Action Plan (GCAP) contribution of the • Installation of solar important to children Saving And Renewable

transportation sector and water heaters in are included in Energy 2005 Efficient Building Retrofits mining industry to high air administrative activities pollution levels in Yerevan buildings, pre-schools, and considers poor air sports schools and Yerevan City quality as the most pressing complex sports schools Sustainable Action environmental issue of for children

Yerevan • Modernize electric Plan (SEAP) appliances in kindergartens (electric cook stoves, water heaters, etc) • Promote installation of solar water heaters and PV systems in private housing areas through private investments (not child specific) Education – The Plan supports the “Natural environment and I”, - an educational programme on environment developed through partnership with AUA Acopian Center for Environment and targeting middle and high schools.

One of the main barriers to energy efficiency is the lack of information to consumers about what they can do. To address this issue, a large range of tools has to be designed: e.g. general information campaigns, labeling of appliances and even dwellings rating their energy performance, audits, local information centers, education campaigns in schools and universities, case studies, and comparative information.

Gov Gov Strong focus on CC mitigation CO2 emissions focused – Energy efficiencies, reduced De-Risking and Scaling-Up National Energy through a focus on improving includes air pollution from energy consumption, investments in Energy Efficient Efficient Action Plan political and institutional climate vehicles improved enforcement

2010 for greater energy efficiency Building Retrofits across a number of sectors Energy Efficient Project Education – no strong education focus. Small reference below: p3- “One of the main barriers to energy efficiency is the lack of information to consumers about what they can do. To address this issue, a large range of tools has to be designed: e.g. general information campaigns, labeling of appliances and even dwellings rating their energy performance, audits, local information centers, education campaigns in schools and universities, case studies, and comparative information.

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Gov / Gov No inclusion of climate change Brief recognition of the No inclusion of energy No mention of Sustainable Land Management Sustainable Ministry of threats to agricultural relationship between related issues children in relation to for Increased Productivity in Agriculture Strategy Agriculture productivity agriculture and degraded agriculture, nutrition,

2010-2020 land health, diet, poverty. Armenia (SLMIP) Brief reference to the need to the Brief inclusion of need to increase resilience to agriculture, poverty drought, landslide, frost and and migration flooding interactions p19

Education – child/ school level education not included. Some reference to higher education activities

Armenia’s Transport Gov ADB The Plan recognizes the impact of The Plan does not include No energy focus There is no Outlook - Transport the transport sector on climate references to air pollution. recognition of Sector Master Plan change and recommends “the children within the provision of an efficient low- It does mention the Plan carbon intermodal transport Government’s actions on system should be incorporated setting emission standards for into the national transport imported vehicles and framework” banning leaded fuel Education – no mention of education in the Plan

Gov Gov The Strategy takes CC into Land degradation in recognized No energy focus. No The Strategy Sendai Framework for School Seismic Safety National Strategy and account and recognizes the as a contributor to disaster risk recognition of the need for identifies the need Disaster Risk Improvement Program - Action Plan on increasing disaster risk due to emergency energy or the to better include Reduction 2015 -

Disaster Risk increasing frequency and opportunities to utilize children (as a 2030 Results Based Lending Reduction 2017 severity of extreme events renewable off-grid energy vulnerable group) sources for disaster into all disaster risk In line with the Sendai resilience. management Framework for Action Education focus: processes. 2015-2030, the priorities and targets Expected result of the Strategy include: One of the seven of the NSAPDRR • 3) Strengthening disaster risk management capacities of schools and increasing targets selected for the safety of school staff and students with inclusive and child-centred approach. provide an the assessment the opportunity to pay General child-specific Activities and Outcomes of the Strategy include: progress: more attention to non- • 2.1.disaster risk reduction capacity building within institutions 4) Reduce disaster earthquake causes of • Enhancement of the level of disaster resilience of schools, implementation of damage to critical disaster risk, such as disaster reduction measures infrastructure and poverty, climate • Student capacity development in disaster risk management (higher eductation) disruption of basic change, and • 3.1. Incorporation of disaster risk management topics into general and vocational services, among unplanned, rapid education, and professional development programs them health and urbanization. • 3.1.3 Incorporation of disaster risk management topics into professional educational development programs for pedagogues and administrative staffs of pre-school, facilities, including general education, primary and secondary vocational education, and higher through developing education establishments. their resilience by 2030; • Disaster risk reduction and resilience enhancement at community and regional levels

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Child specific Activities and Outcomes include: • 5.2 Ensuring preservation of contemporary disaster-resistant urban development norms during construction of health care, educational, social, and public facilities • 5.2.1 Improvement of seismic safety of general education schools • 5.2.2 Increase of seismic stability of pre-school buildings, as well as facilities for caring for and protection for, children, adults and disabled people, and health care

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Annex 4

Table 2. Current and upcoming CEE projects, child relevance and UNICEF Entry Points

Title Policy areas included? Are CEE-child linkages included? Related projects Lead developers Supporting laws/ Funding/ support source Climate Change Environmental Energy (renewables and agreements/ policy Cost Degradation access) documents USD UNICEF Entry Points

Timing Strong focus on climate Reductions in indoor air Energy efficiency focus Despite the project’s strong recognition of positive Law on “Energy De-Risking and Scaling-Up investments in Energy Efficient change mitigation through pollution is identified as a through retrofitting impact on the living and learning environment for Efficiency and Building Retrofits reduced financing/ benefit buildings with improved children, it has not developed child-sensitive indicators, UNDP/ GCF - $20m over 20 years (2017-2037) supporting the investment in insulation and heating including missing altogether to capture benefits related Renewable Ministry of Nature Protection, Municipality of Yerevan improved energy systems to reductions in indoor air pollution associated with Energy” consumption in buildings burning solid fuels for heating. The De-Risking and Scaling-up Investment in Energy (improved insulation and National Program Efficient Building Retrofits project aims to create a energy efficient heating and The project describes: Improved conditions for home- on Energy Saving favourable market environment and scalable business model lighting investments) owners, including improved health due to reduced and Renewable for investment in EE building retrofits in Armenia, leading to Education - While education per-se is not a focus of the project, indirect educational exposure to cold, improved indoor air quality and a energy savings and GHG emission reductions (up to benefits to children include: healthier indoor environment from the absence of molds. Energy of 5.8million tCO2 of direct and indirect emission savings over Republic of the 20-year equipment lifetimes), green job creation and • Improved access to educational facilities with suitable thermal environments: While benefits to children are not specifically evaluated Armenia 2007 energy poverty reduction. It aims to directly benefit over currently, many schools close down during the winter because they cannot benefits to women and mothers are considered within 200,000 people and catalyse private and public sector provide adequate space heating the results framework: Armenian investment of approximately US$ 100 million. • Reduction in Government expenditures on energy and freeing-up Government Development budget to be reallocated to other important areas of expenditure such as “Out of the 82,200 residents of the single and multi- education, healthcare or reinvestment in EE-related activities. family buildings that will be directly impacted by the Strategy (ADS) for • In smaller public buildings such as schools, the total energy saving possible as a project, an estimated 6,000 people would be female-head 2014‐2025 result of better insulating the building is 49%. This means that retrofits could of households and their dependents based on the potentially save public buildings 10% or more of their budget (potentially estimated 37% percentage of the female-headed Yerevan City allowing this money to be spent on improving education). households nationally” (p44) Sustainable

Opportunities for improving the project’s capacity to Action Plan capture benefits to children are therefore clear, but will (SEAP) likely require proactive and timely input from child- focused experts to be realised. Yerevan Green City Action Plan (GCAP)

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National Energy Efficient Action Plan 2010

Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Through the undertaking of this CLAC it has become clear UN Framework Development of Armenia’s Fourth National that while the current draft framework for the new NC Convention on Communication to the UNFCCC and Second Biennial does not contain child-sensitive elements, the authors Report within UNDP’s environment and climate change section Climate Change UNDP/ GEF are open-minded with regards to greater inclusion of (UNFCCC) Ministry of Nature Protection child-focused issues, where timely assistance from $0.85m 2016-2018 UNICEF is provided.

UNDP is currently assisting the Government in developing This situation presents an excellent opportunity for the country’s 4th National Communication on Climate Change UNICEF to begin to both expose the specific to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate vulnerabilities of children to CEE threats, and to highlight Change (UNFCCC). In lieu of a national climate change the role that children can play in positively affecting both Education – strategy, the National Communications best represent the mitigation and adaptation outcomes within a major and Government’s policy and strategic direction for addressing • Unavailable influential CEE national document. climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. CO2 emission reductions in No inclusion of ED issues Energy savings in Not specifically child related, but according to the Law on “Energy Energy Efficient Project retrofitted public facilities retrofitted social and terminal review: Efficiency and World Bank/ GEF through energy efficiency other public facilities $1.85m – Closed investments “The general public benefitted from the availability of Renewable better public service facilities - schools, administrative Energy” A World Bank/GEF supported project, implemented by the offices and hospitals through renovated facilities, and Government through the R2E2 Fund. The EEP has focused improved comfort and functionality.” National Program on reducing energy consumption in public and municipal on Energy Saving buildings and in street lighting systems. The Project has Education – no child-focused education elements in the project, other than indirect Opportunities to retrospectively record benefits to and Renewable successfully substituted, retrofitted and constructed benefits: children and identify missed opportunities to improve improved energy efficient installations in 44 public facilities Energy of future EE projects from a child-sensitive perspective including schools and other educational institutions, Republic of The educational beneficiaries reported an increase in the number of students should be investigated kindergartens, hospitals, administrative buildings, cultural attending the renovated schools or kindergartens, and the hospitals reported an Armenia 2007 and residential building, and outdoor lighting since 2012 increase in the number of patients. p20 –Terminal Evaluation National Energy Efficient Action Plan 2010

No The project focuses on No Risks to women and children, as vulnerable groups are Minamata assessing the sources and highlighted within the Project Document. There is no Convention exposure risk of mercury evidence of specific provisions for including children

in Armenia, the project will within the project activities. provide a better Law “On Waste”

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understanding of the The UNDP/GEF guidelines on producing a MIA do not Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in the environmental impacts of a include any reference to children’s health risks from Armenian Mining Republic of Armenia number of potential mercury Code (III) mercury polluting sources, UNIDO/ UNDP/ GEF - $0.2m -ongoing Ministry of Nature Protection including mining.

Opportunities to work with UNIDO to ensure specific The overall objective is to provide basic and essential pollution threats to children are fully incorporated in to information on sources and risk of mercury pollution in the the assessment should be explored. environment to enable policy and strategic decisions to be made and to identify priority areas for future interventions. The project will strengthen Armenia’s national capacity to Education – no child-level education included fulfil obligations under the Minamata Convention. Trainings for women and Strong focus on sustainable No The project is not designed to maximise any potential Sustainable Sustainable Land Management for Increased Productivity young farmers in CC farming techniques and benefits to children or to measure any of the likely Agriculture in Armenia (SLMIP) adaptation for food restoration actions to benefits to children that will arise out of the project, IFAD/ GEF -$3.97m USD production reduce soil erosion and however: Strategy 2010- fertility loss 2020 Through the RAED programme, IFAD are assisting the Promotion of climate resilient Planned initiatives are likely to sustainably improve the Government in improving the resilience of rural farming crops and post-harvesting food production and income generation capacity within UN Framework communities to the impact of climate change, including technologies CEE vulnerable communities, and importantly reduce Convention on improved water-use efficiency, improved land management hardships for female headed households. Climate Change techniques, income generating activities and technologies, Water efficient irrigation and provision of insurance for drought damage to systems (climate change The project’s focus on horticulture may have important (UNFCCC) agriculture production. The project includes a strong focus adaptation) implications for children’s access to a nutritious diet on female-headed households UN Convention to Education – children’s education is not a focus, but trainings for youth farmers is Combat included Desertification

(UNCCD) Trainings for young farmers are likely to result in higher incomes and reduced RAED have expressed interest in reviewing the details of deprivations and possibly lower out-migration; however any benefits to children will their current project design from the child perspective, remain unknown. and remain flexible with regard to adapting their monitoring and evaluation tools to include child-sensitive indicators.

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Climate change is not a major No Energy efficiency through Benefits to children will not be measured under the Armenian Second Water and Sanitation Supply Project focus of the project utilizing gravity fed water current design of the programme. ADB Armenia is Development ADB $2.4m USD – ongoing is included however interested in learning more about its project’s implications for children's health and have invited Strategy (ADS) for The upcoming Second Water Supply and Sanitation Sector UNICEF to contribute to the continuing development of 2014‐2025 Project will improve drinking water access and quality in the project design. rural communities through addressing a number of remaining issues, including water pollution and unimproved sanitation, and is working in some of the most important locations for water-borne infections in children identified in UNICEF have an opportunity to influence the early design this report. of the Project to target the most vulnerable locations Education – no education focus from the child perspective, including identifying locations at highest risk of water-borne diseases and measuring benefits to children

In production Unknown Unknown Unknown Armenian Development of the National Adaptation Plan on Climate NAPs focus on long-term Development Change adaptation objectives with the Clima East (EU) aim of building resilience to Strategy (ADS) for Ministry of Nature Protection anticipated climate impacts. In order to ensure the adequate inclusion of children as 2014‐2025 They are designed to do this an important and specific vulnerable group, Clima East Clima East is a EU funded project package assisting the predominantly through the and the NAP design process would benefit from support UN Framework Eastern Neighbourhood Partnership Countries and Russia in development of policy based from UNICEF and other child-focused partners. Convention on approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation. In solutions that build on Climate Change Armenia Clima East are assisting the Government in multiple inputs including developing the National Adaptation Plan, which should socio-economic scenarios, and (UNFCCC) become the most important climate change adaptation place a particular focus on policy document in Armenia within the next year or so. vulnerable groups. Education focus: unknown

No climate focus Likely indoor air pollution Between 200-2016 Impacts to children are included in “family” based National Energy Habitat for Humanity Armenia Renewable Energy benefits but not measured Habitat Armenia assisted measurements of wealth and improved living condtions Efficient Action Financing Project 4,135 poor and middle

Habitat Armenia /Global Credit UCO CJSC $136,450 USD income families in Plan 2010 4 years, on-going improving their living conditions. Inviting Habitat into a stakeholder coordination forum Law on “Energy In partnership with Universal Credit Organizations, Habitat for child-CEE issues would strengthen the forum’s Efficiency and Armenia operate housing microfinance projects that help Education focus: No understanding of on-the-ground activities that have Renewable low and middle income families renovate and repair their successfully improved CEE- vulnerable children and their Energy” (click homes, improve energy efficiency, water and sanitation families’ living conditions. conditions, and create access to renewable energy. here)

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No CC focus No ED focus Energy efficiency focused No child focus National Energy Improving Energy Efficiency of Municipal Heating and Hot Efficient Action Water Supply

GEF/ UNDP $2.95m Closed Capturing of lessons learned to strengthen UNICEF’s Plan 2010 Ministry of Nature Protection of the Government of Armenia “small schools” and “Alternative Pre-school Educational Education focus: not child focused – institutional/ capacity training for Government Law on “Energy Services” activities’ design UNDP /GEF supported project with MoNP and MoENR Efficiency and focused on the reduction of GHG emissions from heat supply Renewable through combination of measures including developing and Energy” (click replicating EE and RE pilot projects, increasing the here) awareness on EE advanced technologies, capacity building and policy development support.

Climate change is not Strong earthquake focus, but Some focus on energy, Strong child focus: National Strategy School Seismic Safety Improvement Program - Results mentioned within the SSRP no associated though no specific targets and Action Plan Based Lending program. environmental risks are described: Seismic disaster preparedness activities/ emergency ADB- ~$86m USD – Ongoing considered, i.e. landslides, “The strengthened or response plans include child-sensitive design on Disaster Risk Implemented by the Flood risk is considered in mudslides. Increasing risk reconstructed school Reduction 2017 Armenian Territorial Development Fund school design associated with buildings will Consultations with child-focused CSOs undertaken environmental degradation also meet the Armenian School Strengthening and Renovation Program (SSRP) While “water” as a critical is not considered government’s Development ADB - Ongoing 2015-2030 system is considered, requirements on energy Strategy (ADS) for Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES Armenia), Armenia - vulnerability to drought is efficiency” gov not considered. 2014‐2025 The program will support the implementation of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by (i) Education focus- Yes UNICEF’s already strong relationship with the SSRP can Sendai improving school seismic safety to reduce casualties and Results area 2: Strengthening seismic disaster preparedness and response be utilized to introduce a stronger focus on climate- Framework for capacity. An emergency response action plan will be developed for each school related risk vulnerability in to the project, and to ensure damages in schools during earthquakes, and (ii) enabling Action 2015-2030 better use of school buildings as shelters for the general with building/s strengthened or reconstructed under the program, supplementing the that energy efficient and renewable energy technologies public and as focal points for emergency response after existing curriculum on disaster risk education and reduction to further raise the are fully considered. Extra budget requirements for earthquakes. Retro-fitting of schools will also consider students’ and teachers’ awareness on seismic risks and to guide them in properly additional climate-proofing/ energy efficiency activities Law on improved energy efficiency design and materials responding and evacuating in the event of earthquakes. Earthquake drill exercises will may need to be explored through UNICEF’s donor Prevention of be conducted regularly in these schools in accordance with the emergency response networks. Emergency action plan. Situations

Climate change and food Inclusive of biodiversity and Not EE focused Yes, highly child focused Sustainable FAO/ WFP production awareness natural resource issues Agriculture 2016 undertook a school-based initiative to include focused schoolchildren in climate change and food production Strategy 2010- activities, highlighting the importance of more efficient 2020 usage of natural resources, production of better agricultural Experiences from the initiative should be catalogued by produce, reduction of food waste and promotion of Education – Yes UNICEF to include within future school-based CBD National biodiversity in the fight to adapt to and mitigate against environmental activities aimed at improving learning Biodiversity

57 | P a g e climate change. The involved two schools in Tsitsan and The initiative was school based and involved working with children, teachers and strategies and increasing children’s awareness of Strategy and Haytagh communities in Armavir marz, and included tree communities to increase children’s awareness of the linkages between climate, change, environmental issues. Action Plan planting, discussion of nutritious recipes, cooking the natural environment and food production. Also designed to increase children’s competitions and promoting the inclusion of fruits from the awareness of nutritious foods and to support WFP’s school feeding project (NBSAP) planted trees in the school feeding project. UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Not CC focused – Likely to include air quality Not energy efficiency- Child-sensitivity is not a focus of the concept Armenian Yerevan Road Network benefits may included monitoring investments to focused, but will likely Development reduced GHG emissions measure changes in particulate have benefits to energy However, increasing the capacity to measure the air ADB is currently assisting the Government in developing a pollution across the city – consumption through pollution situation -an essential step in understanding Strategy (ADS) for Yerevan city-wide road network improvement concept. including around schools and efficient road transport the risks to children - will be a component. Air pollution 2014‐2025 pre-schools design monitoring stations will be set up. Monitor air quality in No more details available locations around schools should be promoted. Yerevan City Sustainable Action Plan

ADB have expressed interest in discussing further how (SEAP) their investments can benefit children’s wellbeing, providing an excellent opportunity for UNICEF to begin Education: Unknown influencing CEE-funding for improved child outcomes.

The project will support Strongly environment-focused. RE and EE are not focal Activities are split between institutional and teacher- Law on the dissemination of areas based capacity development for improved environmental “Population Generate Global Environmental Benefits through information on state-of- The project will address the awareness and knowledge, and capacity to deliver Environmental Education and Raising Awareness of the-art technologies for critical priority capacity need to trainings and lessons on environmental issues. Environmental Stakeholders climate change raise the environmental literacy Education and UNDP/ GEF 0.75m USD mitigation and in Armenia by developing the Upbringing” Ministry of Nature Protection adaptation, capacity for delivering environmental education UN Convention on To strengthen the capacity to use environmental education programmes Biological and awareness raising as tools to address natural resource management issues. The project will support the Diversity (CBD) dissemination of information on state-of-the-art technologies for conservation of biodiversity and prevention of soil degradation. Education focus: Yes UNICEF, in line with its work with the Environmental Education Network (EEN) should provide support

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• Conduct a training need analysis (TNA) in the public sector to identify towards ensuring a) the implications of CEE issues on to capacity gaps of public sector staff and also of teachers and professors in the children are fully included within the trainings and environmental education area. materials being produced, and b) UNICEF’s experience in • Develop training programmes – including curricula - needed to raise Child Friendly Schools is fully integrated within the child environmental literacy of public sector staff, teachers and professors, education focused activities of the project. including how to implement environmental education programmes.

With the National Institute of Education:

• Implement programs involving environmental education issues for decision makers of education sector; support in elaboration of training curriculums; • Provide the NIE’s branch network capabilities for the project implementation, including training centers in regions; • Provide link and proper communication between the project and the beneficiaries in Marzes through the regional educational structures; • Support in capacity needs assessment • Provide substantial input into the project materials development, promote adaptation and dissemination practices; • Support with implementation of training for teachers an national and local levels; Not CC focused Environmental parameters will Not energy focused Not child focused, but with clear implications for better Law – National be captured to better understanding environmental risks to children’s health. Ambient Air Building a Shared Environmental Information System understand the environmental situation in the country, and The expanded SEIS looks to integrate national-level Quality National Statistical Services (NSS) and Ministry of Nature how it relates to a number of environmental data with impacts to human health and Standards-N160 Protection social and health related issues socio-economic indicators into a single database, including information relating to: Armenian Mining The Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) is an Code (III) EU initiative to modernise and simplify the collection, • School dropouts exchange and use of data and information required for • Health Aarhus designing and implementing environmental policy. • Morbidity vectors – diseases associated with The implementation of SEIS is underpinned by three main Convention on emissions from vehicles pillars: Environmental • Waste, radioactive pollutants, water vectors 1. Cooperation: building partnerships between the providers Information and users of data and information; The NSS is in the process of requesting support from 2. Content: generating policy-relevant and comparable development partners in the UN as well as pursuing Minamata information; partnership with the Ministry of Health, who themselves 3. Infrastructure: using shared and modern web-based are in the process of digitizing health statistics and Convention information and communication technologies. making them both publically available and disaggregated to a higher and more useful spatial resolution (expected NSS and MoNP are currently designing an expansion to the 2018). Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS), which has recently had success in developing a Lake Sevan-focused Together these developments in inter-government SEIS. agency coordination should enable greater data availability, improved analysis of the risk to public health from environmental threats, and thereby allow

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environmental pollution implications for children’s health and wellbeing to be measured.

Education: UNICEF’s support to this programme may help to ensure child-specific parameters are included in the data sharing Including information related to school dropouts is highlighted as one of the main process, thereby ensuring CEE risks to children are drivers behind the initiative adequately addressed throughout the initiative.

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Various projects with Various projects with strong Many and various SGP Vast array of small community based projects - strong UN Convention on UNDP/ GEF Armenia Small Grant Programme strong CCA and CCM environmental focus projects include EE and CEE focus, and significant inclusion of child-related Biological Various small projects with CEE focuses. Many also include focuses RE activities activities, including education and school-based Diversity (CBD) education and child-focused activities, including: initiatives.

UN Framework Transition to Energy Resilience Through Raising Energy EE in Kindergartens The project increased the energy resilience of Project –provided Stepanavan town through implementation of energy Convention on Efficiency in the Kindergartens of Stepanavan City renewable energy efficiency measures and installation of solar hot water Climate Change solutions to small systems in three community kindergartens as an integral Energy Efficiency Improvements in Pilot Kindergarten - communities alongside (UNFCCC) Tavush marz UNICEF’s Alternative part of introducing new approaches and culture of Preschools Educational energy conservation. UN Convention to Solar Hot Water in Gyumri Special School for Children with Services initiative. Combat Mental Disabilities The project was implemented in close collaboration with Desertification

World Vision Armenia, Armenian Red Cross Society, (UNCCD)

Empowering Environmental Education in Armenia Disaster Risk Reduction project of the UNDP, DRR National Platform, UNICEF and the Municipality of CBD National "Green" Backyard Garndening and Family Orchards Stepanavan. Biodiversity Strategy and Great exploration and capture of lessons learned, and engagement with the small grants programme to identify Action Plan important child related activities should be considered (NBSAP) by UNICEF CO Law on “Energy With specific reference to the highlighted project already Efficiency and partnering with UNICEF - Understanding the shortfalls Renewable and achievements of RE investments -from both the technical and the beneficiary perspective- and learning Energy” (click whether investments are sustainable in terms of here) maintenance and repairs will be essential in ensuring effective RE facilities are provided to hard-to-reach Law on communities. These lessons will become invaluable as “Population UNICEF moves towards expanding its APES and “small Environmental Education focus: schools” programmes, with or without future UNDP partnership. Education and A number of projects within the SGP have focused on school-based environmental Upbringing” education and improvements to educational facilities

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Some climate change Strong environmental Installation of a solar thermal FPWC are not child focsed per-se, but many of their National Program The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural mitigation focus conservation and system and electric heating in a projects include elements of education, while some are on Energy Saving Assets- protection focus pre-school in Paruyr SIevak focused on school EE and cost savings in partnership with VivaCell-MTS village, Ararat Region and Renewable Energy of

FPWC work focuses on wildlife protection, environmental Republic of education, and sustainable development, engaging rural Alternative Energy project 80 Armenia 2007 LED lights were installed in all populations in the sustainable development of their the adjacent streets of the communities. FPWC advocate for mutual respect between central National Energy human beings, natural wealth, and cultural heritage Efficient Action Plan 2010 Four focal areas are: Law on • Biodiversity Conservation “Population • Environmental Education Environmental • Community Development Education and • Raising Public Awareness FPWC’s activities should be explored and potential partnerships fostered Upbringing” Strong education focus. • Example projects: FPWC established the SunChild Eco-club Network nationwide structure providing Law on “Energy Pre-school solar heating and lighting systems environmental education for children and youth mostly located in remote rural Efficiency and communities. Since 2006 around 2000 youths have taken environmental education Water supply project courses. Renewable Tashir EE street lighting initiative Energy” (click

here)

UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

CBD National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

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Annex 5 UNICEF Armenia CPD 2016-2020 CEE-related threats

UNICEF CP Outcome areas Indicative country programme CEE barriers to realization of outcome areas Outputs

By 2020, disadvantaged girls –National capacity to provide Health and boys aged 0-6 years and quality maternal and child ▪ Increasing flood, drought, hail, frost and reductions in groundwater availability contribute to their families will make health services for the most increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, progress in realization of disadvantaged children ▪ Increasing flood and drought and drops in river water volume reduce access to safe drinking water their rights to quality and is increased in both ground and surface water dependent areas, impacting mother’s and children’s health inclusive health care,

nutrition and early learning –Equity-oriented family services support and home visiting Climate-forced economic stresses undermine investment in health services and household capacity to services for young-child health pay for health services and nutrition are improved Education –Access to early learning • Energy poverty (increasing prices, lower incomes and budgets, worsening conditions of buildings) for the most disadvantaged in homes and schools contributes to deteriorating health of children, affecting learning groups is increased, including • Climate driven worsening malnutrition may undermine children’s ability to learn in times of shock and stress ▪ Changing/ reductions in agriculture productivity impacts children’s education –increases in children dropping out of school, lower attendance rates ▪ Increased water shortages can keep more children (especially girls) out of school, hamper basic education, impact student hygiene and hand-washing

By 2020, statutory needs- Child protection services Social Inclusion/ Protection based services to effectively prevent family ▪ Children at higher risk of deprivation, institutionalization, exclusion, and discrimination due to disadvantaged families are in separation and respond to child decreases in household income with climate change place to realize the right of a violence and abuse ▪ Risk of increased transient poverty increasing child deprivations in households not visible to social child to live in caring, protective protection services and resilient family –The integrated social ▪ Loss of livelihood opportunities in rural areas due to climate change can result in external migration environments protection system and family separation effectively identifies and responds to income poverty Climate driven competition for central funding may reduce state allocations for child-focused and multiple deprivations of investments, undermining state institutions capacities to implement laws. o Climate change results in overall reduction in economic production and foreign exchange

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disadvantaged children and through exports (agriculture) their families o Climate change results in requirement to purchase more imports (food) ▪ Climate change results in more spending on adaptation and disaster response, reducing focus on social care

By 2020, children Children with disabilities have o As above with disabilities progressively improved access to quality o No specific interactions realize their rights to rehabilitation and care education, rehabilitation services and social protection and to participate in community life

By 2020, justice and human Government capacity is o As above rights institutions better serve, strengthened to ensure o No specific interactions protect and monitor the rights that equity-focused, child- of all children, especially the specific quality data most vulnerable, in line with management systems are in the Convention on the Rights line with international of the Child standards

The justice system adequately responds to children’s violation of rights and ensures fair, timely and effective solutions

The Ombudsman and a network of child rights civil society groups are able to monitor and report on child rights violations

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Annex 6 Resources

List of CEE contacts in Armenia Institution Contact

GEF Focal points Operational Focal Point Mr. Artsvik Minasyan Minister, Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia 3 Government Building, 0010 Republic Square, Yerevan, - 0010, Armenia Tel: (+374 11) 818501, Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] GCF National Designated Mr. Artsvik Minasyan Authority Minister, Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of ArmeniaAddress: 3rd Government Building, Republic Square, 0010, Yerevan, Armenia Tel (+374 11) 818501 Email: [email protected] Ministry of Nature As above Protection Ministry of Health Ms. Nune Pashayan Head of Child Health Protection Division 3, Government Building Yerevan 0010, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 521559 Email: [email protected] Ms. Nune Bakunts Deputy Head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Tel.: (+374 10) 340444 Email: [email protected] Ministry of Education Mr. David Sahakyan and Science Deputy Minister Government Building 2, 0010, Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 524327 Email: [email protected]

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Ministry of Energy and Mr. Hovhannes Abrahamyan Natural Resources Foreign Relations Department Government House 3, 0010, Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+374 11) 565459 Email: [email protected] State Committee of Water Mr. Hovhannes Harutyunyan Economy Deputy Chairman Vardanants St, 13a, Yerevan 0010, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 540264 Email: [email protected] National Statistical Mr. Yura Poghosyan Service Member of State Council on Statistics Republic Ave, 3 Government House, Yerevan 0010, Armenia Tel: (+374 11) 524213 Email: [email protected] Center for Ecological Mr. Gevorg Tepanosyan Noosphere Studies of the Head of Environmental Geochemistry Department National Academy of 68 Abovyan St, Yerevan 0025, Armenia Sciences Tel.: (+374 10) 572924 Email: [email protected] UNDP Mr. Armen Martirosyan Manager Sustainable Growth and Resilience Portfolio 14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan, Armenia Email: [email protected] Ms. Diana Harutyunyan Climate Change Program Coordinator UNDP Armenia Tel: (+374 10) 58 39 20 (14) E-mail: [email protected]; www.nature-ic.am UNEP Ms. Karine Danielyan, UNEP Focal Point, Local independent expert on Environment and Climate Tel.: (+374 55) 522321 Email: [email protected]

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ADB Ms. Armine Yedigaryan National Environmental Safeguards Consultant Armenia Resident Mission 10 V. Sargsyan Street, Piaza Grande, 3rd Floor Offices 79,80,81, Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 546370 Email: [email protected] American University of Mr. Alen Amirkhanian Armenia Director AUA Acopian Centre for the Environment Interim Director AUA Centre for Responsible Mining 40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+374 60) 612690 Email: [email protected] Ms. Varduhi Petrosyan Director Zvart Avedissian Ohanian Center for Health Services, Research and Development Tel.: (+374 60) 612592 Email: [email protected] Clima East (EU) Clima East Office in Georgia (coordinating activities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) (development of NAP) Stalin street 2, Dusheti, Georgia Tel.: (+995 346) 222 051 Aarhus Centre Ms. Silva Ayvazyan Head of Yerevan Aarhus Centre 46 Charents str, Yerevan 0025, Armenia Tel.: (+374 91) 816055 Email: [email protected]; http://aarhus.am IFAD/RAED PIU Maria Muradyan Head of Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Components Coordination Division Tigran Mec 4 . 6-Th Floor, Yerevan, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 546510 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; www.raed.am Habitat for Humanity Luiza Vardanyan (RE in homes) Executive Director Str. Hanrapetutyan 85 a, Apt. 9, Yerevan 0001, Armenia Tel.: (+374 10) 587188 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Climate and Environment online tools and resources

The One UN Climate Change http://www.uncclearn.org/ Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) is a collaborative initiative involving more than 30 multilateral organizations which supports countries in designing and implementing country-driven, results-oriented and sustainable learning to address climate change.

Choose courses at https://unccelearn.org/ (registration required)

Courses include: • Introductory e-Course on Climate Change • Children and Climate Change

UNICEF Publications on CEE and Children Online resources appropriate for For kids: child learning on climate change • https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/ • https://vimeo.com/112042837 • http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/global-goals/protect-the-planet/ • http://www.comicsunitingnations.org/

Carbon Footprint and Sustainable Development tools: • http://www.myclimate.org/education/ • http://wwf.panda.org/how_you_can_help/live_green/footprint_calculator/ • http://calc.zerofootprint.net/ • http://tfl.kopymark.com/index.php

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References:

1 World Bank 2012 The Republic of Armenia Climate Change and Agriculture Country Note. Available at: www.worldbank.org/eca/climateandagriculture 2 UNICEF 2016. Clear the Air For Children. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_92957.html 3 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 4 Ibid 5 World Bank 2012 The Republic of Armenia Climate Change and Agriculture Country Note Available at: www.worldbank.org/eca/climateandagriculture 6 GFDRR Report Armenia 2009. Available at: https://www.gfdrr.org/armenia 7 ReliefWeb. Armenia Flood Situation Report No. 1 https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-1997-0111-arm 8 Press Report: Panorama.am article. Available at: https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/02/03/Yerevan-risk-flooding-Armenia-environmentalist- alert/1720970 Access on 19/20/2017 9 Prevention Web 2014. Armenia Disaster & Risk Profile. http://www.preventionweb.net/countries/arm/data/ 10 Global information and early warning system on food and agriculture. Foodcrops and Shortages. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/country/arm 11 FAO 2000. Special Report Serious Feed and Seed Shortages Emerge in Armenia Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/x9217e/x9217e00.htm 12 Press Report: News.am article. 2012. There is Drought in Armenia. Available at: https://news.am/eng/news/109494.html Accessed on 19/10/2017 13 Ahouissoussi et al. 2014. Reducing the Vulnerability of Armenia’s Agriculture Systems to Climate Change. World Bank Studies. 14 On The Approval Of The Disaster Risk Management National Strategy And The Action Plan - Annex Number 1 of protocol decree Number 14 of the session of the Government of the RA. dated 6 April, 2017 15 http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11834660.pdf 16 JICA. Landslide Disaster Management Project Available at: https://www.jica.go.jp/armenia/english/office/others/c8h0vm00009se4d9-att/ongoing_01.pdf 17 Press Report: https://www.upi.com/Energy-News/2010/04/29/Armenia-gets-gas-relief-after- mudslide/80491272550510/ Accessed 19/10/2017 18 IFRC 2013. DREF Armenia Hail Storm. Available at: https://www.reliefweb.int 19 Press report: http://epress.am/en/2014/05/07/damage-of-this-years-frost-to-armenian-agriculture- amounts-to-29-million-newspaper.html Accessed on 2/11/2017 20 Press Report: https://www.armenianow.com/en/society/2016/05/24/armenia-wind-yerevan-damage- weather-storm-meteorologist/3751/ Accessed on: 2/11/2017 21 Armenia’s Third National Communication on Climate Change. Yerevan (2015), “Lusabats” Publishing House, 165 p. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 22 Ibid 23 Armenia’s Third National Communication on Climate Change. Yerevan (2015), “Lusabats” Publishing House, 165 p. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 24 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 25 Ibid

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26 Ibid 27 USAID 2017. Climate Risk Profile Armenia. Available at: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2017_USAID_Climate%20Change%20Risk%2 0Profile_Armenia.pdf 28 Ibid 29 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 30 Ibid 31 Ibid 32 First Biennial Report to UNFCCC. Available at: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armbur1.pdf 33 Ibid 34 INDC Armenia 2015. Available at: http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/indc/Submission%20Pages/submissions.aspx 35 Environment and natural resources in RA for 2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/file/article/eco_book_2016_8.pdf 36 WHO 2008. Country Profiles of Environmental Burden of Disease. http://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/national/countryprofile/armenia.pdf 37 World Bank 2016. Armenia: Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/289051468186845846/Armenia-Strategic-mineral-sector- sustainability-assessment 38 WHO 2008. Country Profiles of Environmental Burden of Disease. http://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/national/countryprofile/armenia.pdf 39 Millennium Development Goals National Report Armenia 2015. Available at: www.un.am/up/library/MDG%20NPR_15_eng.pdf 40 MoES National Center for Education Technologies. Retrieved on November 15, 2017. Available at: www.statarmedu.am 41 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 42 5th NBSAP National Report. Armenia. 2014. https://www.cbd.int/countries/?country=am 43 Gevorgyan, G.A., et al 2016. Environmental Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Armenian River Ecosystems: Case Study of Lake Sevan and Debed River Catchment Basins. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 25, No. 6 (2016), 2387-2399 44 National Action Plan To Combat Desertification In The Republic Of Armenia 2015. Protocol Degree number 23. Available at: www.unccd.int/ActionProgrammes/NAP%20AND%20STRATEGy%20TO%20COMBAT%20DESERTIFICATION%20I N%20ARMENIA.pdf 45 5th NBSAP National Report. Armenia. 2014. https://www.cbd.int/countries/?country=am 46 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 47 Ibid 48 http://crm.aua.am/files/2016/12/Schools-and-Kindergartens-in-Kapan_Final-Report-Eng-Dec-2-2016.pdf 49 http://www.cens.am/article/heavy-metals-pollution-levels-and-children-health-risk-assessment-of- yerevan-kindergartens-soils 50 DHS 2015-2016 Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/what-we-do/survey/survey-display-492.cfm 51 Ibid 52 SPRSS 2012. ADB. Available at: www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-document/59956/45299-001- arm-sprss.pdf. 53 Grigoryan, R. 2016. Risk factors for children’s blood lead levels in metal mining and smelting communities in Armenia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health December 2016, 16:945 70 | P a g e

54 NSS 2015. Energy Balance of the Republic of Armenia 2015. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?module=news&mid=3&id=521 55 Millennium Development Goals National Report Armenia 2015. Available at: www.un.am/up/library/MDG%20NPR_15_eng.pdf 56 Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) 2014. Available at: http://r2e2.am/en/documents/renewable-energy/ 57 Renewable Energy Road Map for Armenia http://r2e2.am/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable- Energy-Roadmap-for-Armenia.pdf 58 National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (Draft). 2010. Available at: http://www.nature- ic.am/res/pdfs/documents/strategic/draft-report_based-on-protocol_N43_06.11.10_eng.pdf 59 Danielyan, K. 2017. Challenges Of Children Faced By Environmental Degradation And Climate Change (Armenia). UNICEF. 59 SEI UNDP. Socio Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia. 2009. 59 Data from 2004-2007, Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 59 https://globalwindatlas.info/area/Armenia 59 IFAD/RAED 60http://www.nature-ic.am/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/draft-report_based-on- protocol_N43_06.11.10_eng.pdf 61 Danielyan, K. 2017. Challenges of Children Faced by Environmental Degradation and Climate Change (Armenia). UNICEF. 62 SEI UNDP. Socio Economic Impact of Climate Change in Armenia. 2009. 63 Data from 2004-2007, Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 64 https://globalwindatlas.info/area/Armenia 65 IFAD/RAED.2014 Project Identification Form Sustainable Land Management for Increased Productivity in Armenia https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/project_documents/1-7-15_- _PIF_DOc.pdf 66 First Biennial Report to UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/files/national_reports/non- annex_i_parties/biennial.../armbur1.pdf 67 Third National Communication to the UNFCCC. Available at: www.unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/armnc3.pdf 68 https://aarhus.osce.org/armenia 69 NSSRA 2017. Part 1-Armenia: Poverty Profile in 2008-2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=1988 70Ibid 71 World Bank 2012 The Republic of Armenia Climate Change and Agriculture Country Note Available at: www.worldbank.org/eca/climateandagriculture 72 UNICEF. 2016. Child Poverty in Armenia: National Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis 73 NSSRA 2017. Part 1-Armenia: Poverty Profile in 2008-2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=1988 74 Ibid 75 DHS 2015-2016 Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/what-we-do/survey/survey-display-492.cfm 76 NSSRA 2017. Part 1-Armenia: Poverty Profile in 2008-2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=1988 77 Ibid 78 Avenue Consulting Group 2014. Poverty and Regional Disparities in Armenia. Available at: http://www.avenueconsulting.am/resources/avenue//uploads/pdf/1606506214ba2205926f1eaef8e52b72.pdf 79 http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/development/interrelations-between-public- policies71 | P a-migration g e -and-development-in-armenia_9789264273603-en#.WgzEN4bLeHo#page26

80 NSSRA 2017. Part 1-Armenia: Poverty Profile in 2008-2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=1988 81 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Youth Aspirations Research Report, 2012. 82 Save The Children. 2017. EVERY LAST CHILD Campaign 2016-18 / Armenia. The Right of a Child to Live in a Family Environment. Available at: https://campaigns.savethechildren.net/sites/campaigns.savethechildren.net/files/Spotlight_on_ARME NIA_EveryLastChild.pdf 83 CRC 2013. Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Armenia, U.N. Doc. CRC/C/ARM/CO/3-4 (2013). Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/crc/armenia2013.html 84 NSS, Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia, 2014. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=80&id=1618 85 DHS 2015-2016 Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/what-we-do/survey/survey-display-492.cfm 86 Ibid 87 UNICEF 2015. Unless We Act Now. The Impact of Climate Change on Children, UNICEF Press 88 http://arabkirjmc.am/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/English-version-of-Armenian-HBSC-2016.pdf 89 http://washinschoolsmapping.com/wengine/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1.-Armenia-Formatted.pdf 90 World Bank Group-Armenia Partnership April 2015. Country Program Snapshot 91 Personal Communication. Tigran Tovmasyan UNICEF Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Officer Emergency Focal Point: 20/11/2017 92Arabkir 2016. Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children of Armenia 2013/2014 Available at: http://arabkirjmc.am/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/English-version-of-Armenian-HBSC-2016.pdf 93 Save the Children. 2016. Operation and Maintenance Financing for School WASH Facilities in Armenia. 94http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/development/interrelations-between-public- policies-migration-and-development-in-armenia_9789264273603-en#.WgzEN4bLeHo#page16 95 NSSRA 2017. Part 1-Armenia: Poverty Profile in 2008-2016. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=1988 rldbank/document/Armenia-Snapshot.pdf //www.ilo.org/ipec/Informationresources/WCMS_IPEC_PUB_28755/lang--en/index.htm" http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Informationresources/WCMS_IPEC_PUB_28755/lang--en/index.htm 97https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/images/ilab/child-labor/Armenia2016.pdf 98 DHS 2015-2016 Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/what-we-do/survey/survey-display-492.cfm 99 NSS, Social Snapshot and Poverty in Armenia, 2014. Available at: http://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=80&id=1618 100 Ahouissoussi et al. 2014. Reducing the Vulnerability of Armenia’s Agriculture Systems to Climate Change. World Bank Studies. 101 Cash Preparedness Assessment: Armenia Pilot Report 2017 commissioned by UNICEF 102 Cash Preparedness Assessment: Armenia Pilot Report 2017 commissioned by UNICEF 103 Child Poverty in Armenia: National Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis, UNICEF, National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia,2016. 104 UNECE. 2002. National Report on the State of the Environment in Armenia in 2002. Available at: https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/europe/monitoring/Armenia/en/Part%20I%20-%20Ch.3.pdf 105 Ministry of Nature Protection. 2009. Vulnerability of Water Resources in the Republic of Armenia under Climate Change. 106 Personal correspondence: Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of Water Economy, Oct 2017 107 Ibid 108 DHS 2015-2016 Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/what-we-do/survey/survey-display-492.cfm 109 72 Personal| P a g e correspondence: Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Deputy Chairman, State Committee of Water Economy, Oct 2017

110 WHO Ambient air pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease. Available at: http://www.who.int/phe/publications/air-pollution-global-assessment/en/ 111 SREP 2014. Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme Available at: https://policy.asiapacificenergy.org/sites/default/files/Armenia%20SREP%20Investment%20Plan_final.pdf 112 World Bank 2016. Armenia: Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/289051468186845846/Armenia-Strategic-mineral-sector- sustainability-assessment 113 Personal Communication. Tigran Tovmasyan UNICEF Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Officer, Emergency Focal Point: 20/11/2017 114 Aarhus Convention 1998. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/aarhus/ 115 Ministry of Education. Personal communication 24/11/2017 116 UNDP/GCF. 2016. De-risking and scaling-up investment in energy efficient building retrofits (in Armenia) submitted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Available at: http://www.greenclimate.fund/documents/20182/226888/GCF_B.13_16_Add.02_- _Funding_proposal_package_for_FP010.pdf/9e2c673e-1eef-4ff3-9609-d23a49c6d190 117UNICEF 2012. Integrated Social Services: Reaching the most vulnerable Training Package for Case Managers. Armenia. Available at: http://unicef.am/uploads/file/Integrated%20Social%20Services%2C%20Reaching%20the%20most%20vulnera ble%2C%20Training%20package%20for%20Case%20Managers.pdf 118 UNICEF 2017. Strategic Plan 2018-20212. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/PDFs/UNICEF_Strategic_Plan.pdf 119 ADB Project Data Sheet. 2017. Available at: https://www.adb.org/projects/49384-001/main#project- pds 120 Government of Armenia. National Action Plan and Strategy to Combat Desertification. Available at: http://www.unccd.int/ActionProgrammes/NAP%20AND%20STRATEGy%20TO%20COMBAT%20DESERTIFICATI ON%20IN%20ARMENIA.pdf 121 World Bank 2014. Reducing the Vulnerability of Armenia’s Agricultural Systems to Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Options. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/925371468005082091/pdf/878110PUB0EPI200Box382150B00P UBLIC0.pdf 122Government of Armenia. National Action Plan and Strategy to Combat Desertification. Available at: http://www.unccd.int/ActionProgrammes/NAP%20AND%20STRATEGy%20TO%20COMBAT%20DESERTIFICATI ON%20IN%20ARMENIA.pdf

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