ainable and resilient societies · transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies · transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies · transformation towards susta i n t s a u b s l e s a ddd rrr n a d www r o e t s i n l i e o i n t t a s o m rrr c o i fff e s t i n e a s rrr · t t · r s a e n i t s e f i o c r m o s a t t n i e o i l n i s t e o r w d a n r d a s e l s b u a s t n a i i a n t s a u b s l Yerevan 2018 Yerevan e s a ddd rrr n a d www r o e t s i n l i o e i n t t a s o m rrr c July 2018 July Forum on Sustainable Development Forum o Report for the UN High-level Political Political the UN High-level for Report and Resilient Societies and Resilient i fff e s t i n e a s rrr · t t · r s a e n i t s e f i o ARMENIA c VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW (VNR) NATIONAL VOLUNTARY SDG IMPLEMENTATION r m o s Transformation Towards Sustainable Towards Transformation a t t n i e o i l n i s t e o r w d a n r d a s e l u s i s e r r d n a a e e l l b b a n n i i a a t s a a r r r r r t t · s e i t e i c o s t n e i l a w w w o o t t n n o o i i t t a a m r r o f f f f s s n n n a e l b a n i a t s u s s d d d r r r e e i i t e e i c o s t n n e e i i l l i s e e r r r r d n o i t a m r o f f f s n a r r r t · s s a n i a t s u s s d d d r r r a w w w o t t n e i l i s e r r d n a e l b o t n o i t a m r o f f f s n a r r r t b a n i a t s u s s d d d r r r a w w w Contents ABBREVIATIONS 4 1. OPENING STATEMENT 6 2. HIGHLIGHTS 9 The Context of VNR in Armenia 10 VNR Method and Process 13 VNR Results 16 A Note on Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies 23 Looking Forward 24 3. STRATEGIC AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 25 SDGs and Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development in the National Framework 26 Institutional Framework 27 Cooperation with the International Community 28 4. MEANS of IMPLEMENTATION (SDG17) 30 ANNEX 1. Details on the Progress on SDG Targets 33 SDG1: Poverty Eradication 35 SDG2: Hunger, Food Security, Imroved Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture 37 SDG3: Healthy Lives and Well-being for all at all Ages 40 SDG4: Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning 44 SDG5: Gender Equailty and Empowering Women and Girls 46 SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation 49 SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy 52 SDG8: Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Employment and Decent Work 56 SDG9: Resilient Infrastructure, Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization 59 SDG10: Reduce Inequality within and among Countries 61 SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 62 SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production 66 SDG13: Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and its Impacts 71 SDG14: Converse and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources 73 SDG15: Life on Land 74 SDG16: Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development 78 3 Abbreviations AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AMD Armenian Dram ADS Armenia Development Strategy CEO Chief Executive Officer CIS Commonwealth of Independent States CSI Center for Strategic Initiatives of the Republic of Armenia CSO Civil Society Organization DHS Demographic and Health Survey EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EECA East Europe and Central Asia EEU Eurasian Economic Union EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMIC Environmental Impact Monitoring Center of the Republic of Armenia ENOC European Network of Ombudspersons for Children EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN GiZ German Corporation for International Cooperation GoA Government of Armenia GDP Gross Domestic Product HIV Human immunodeficiency virus HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus/ Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome HRDO Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) ICT Information and communications technologies IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development ILCS Integrated Living Conditions Survey ILO International Labor Organization IOM International Organization for Migration IMF International Monetary Fund MDG Millennium Development Goal MMR Measles, Mumps and Rubella diseases 4 Abbreviations MOH Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia NEAP National Environmental Action Program SCA Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia ODP Ozone Depletion Potential OECD Organization for European Cooperation and Development OPCAT Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment PPP Purchasing power parity RA Republic of Armenia SCP Sustainable Consumption and Production SDI Sustainable Development Indicators SDG Sustainable Development Goal SDP Statistics for Development program SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment SEIS Shared Environment Information System SIDA Swedish International Development Agency SRH Sexual and reproductive health STEM Science, technology, engineering and mathematics TFSD Task Force on Measuring Sustainable Development under OECD UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund USAID United States Agency of International Development USD United States Dollar VNR Voluntary National Report WHO World Health Organization 5 Opening Statement In April-May 2018, Armenia experienced dramatic a comprehensive set of targets and indicators necessary changes in its political system and life. A new Government for effective planning and monitoring of development came to power through a democratic and peaceful objectives. (non-violent) revolution and proclaimed the launch of wide ranging fundamental reforms. The Revolution marked a In this context, the voluntary national review (VNR) in major step in Armenia’s history towards a more democrat- Armenia was undertaken as a natural and necessary effort ic society. It created a favorable atmosphere that gives and step for pursuing the sustainable development fresh impetus to reforms and forward momentum for agenda. The VNR is important both as a participatory drastic transformations. The enhancement of democracy, process itself and as a measurement of the progress efficient and effective governance, increased level of towards achieving SDGs. The VNR is a good chance for transparency and accountability in public governance, the Government to assess work done in the scope of the fight against corruption, free economic competition, SDGs and shape opportunities for innovative and impact- protection of investors’ rights, rule of law and human rights ful solutions towards achieving the vision of “New Arme- are high priorities of the new Government. All in all, our nia” as we call it in Armenia. aim is to achieve real changes in Armenia that will ensure freedom, happiness and prosperity of citizens. As indicated by the VNR, Armenia has had mixed results in implementing the SDGs. In many areas, Armenia We are confident that political transformations in has made good progress towards achieving SDG targets Armenia will have positive effects on the process of imple- such as: (i) health protection in terms of child and maternal mentation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals health; (ii) access to safe and reliable water supply in urban (SDG), since the 2030 Agenda is explicitly grounded in and rural areas; (iii) improved sanitation in urban areas, (iv) international human rights treaties, and the commitment universal access to reliable energy, (v) promotion of to human rights is reflected in the general principle of renewable energy, (v) environmental protection, in terms non-discrimination and the aim to “leave no one behind”. of enlargement of protected areas and biodiversity. Yet, In this regard, SDG implementation is considered to be an there are areas where Armenia has had slow or mixed important instrument of internal reforms. It is a multi-di- progress. These include, particularly: (i) poverty, i.e. despite mensional and an all-embracing challenge. It can be effec- ending extreme poverty, about 30 percent of the popula- tively tackled only through collective and concerted action tion still lives under the national poverty line, (ii) education, by all – the Government, international partners, private due to high dropout rate from high school, (iii) gender businesses, civil society organizations, households and equality, (iv) inefficient use of water, with over 50 percent every and each individual of the society. loss of irrigation water, (v) environment, due to deforesta- tion risks, land degradation; (vi) low access to sanitation in With this understanding, Armenia started a partici- rural areas; (vii) inefficiencies in governance; (viii) lack of patory process of SDG nationalization and implementation sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices. in 2015, by forming a Post-2015 Task Force in collabora- The VNR helped to highlight also that there are still a tion with stakeholders and the international community.