Yerevan, 14 May 2019 – Today, the first round of environmental training for around 350 employees of Yerevan Municipality was launched in the scope of UNDP-GEF “Generate global environmental benefits through Environmental Education and raising awareness of stakeholders” project. This activity is part of environmental training series to be implemented by the project in close collaboration with the Public Administration Academy of Armenia for the period of May-September for 1,000 community and civil servants.

The comprehensive training modules are developed by the American University of Armenia Acopian Center for the Environment and aim to enhance the knowledge and capacity of decision-makers involved in the management of natural resources, focusing on environmental management and natural resource management as an integral part of sustainable development in the country. The training will be conducted by field specialists trained by the American University of Armenia.

UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Dmitry Mariyasin, First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Irina Ghaplanyan, First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Lilia Shushanyan, Head of General Education Department of the Ministry of Science and Education Ashot Arshakyan, Deputy Head of Civil Service Office Gegham Sargsyan, and Rector of the Public Administration Academy of Armenia Arsen Lokyan attended the launch of the environmental training.

UNDP Resident Representative Dmitry Mariyasin highlighted: “UNDP values that for the first time in Armenia in close collaboration with the Ministry of Nature Protection and American University of Armenia we developed such comprehensive environmental modules in Armenian for civil and community servants. We also value our partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development and the Civil Servants Office of Armenia to ensure sustainability of the developed modules and their further incorporation into the training programs for civil servants.”

The training participants also highlighted the relevancy of the training modules and expressed readiness to apply the gained knowledge into their professional activities.

UNDP-GEF “Generate Global Environmental Benefits through Environmental Education and Raising Awareness of Stakeholders” Project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and co-funded by UNDP. The objective of the project is to strengthen Armenia’s capacity to use environmental education and awareness raising as tools to improve the capacity of stakeholders involved in the management of natural resources.

                                                        ***

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. UNDP in Armenia was established in March 1993 and supports the government in meeting its development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.