The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will assist the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Armenia to improve the shock reactivity of the country’s social protection system thanks to a kind donation of US$750,000 from USAID, a WFP press release reads.
Armenia has recently experienced a number of shocks that have highlighted the urgent need to improve the social protection system’s adaptability and response mechanisms in order to address the requirements of vulnerable people both during and after crises.
The “Integrated Response to Increased Food Prices in Armenia” initiative, which WFP initiated in collaboration with USAID, intends to develop shock-responsive policies over the course of the following 15 months as well as promote social assistance mechanisms for populations who are food insecure.
According to John Allelo, director of USAID’s Armenia mission, USAID is pleased to partner with the World Food Programme to assist the government of Armenia in meeting the needs of its people, particularly vulnerable populations, in the face of unforeseen difficulties. He continued by saying that they are happy that this program will directly impact at least 3,000 people.
The WFP will also create and implement protocols, resources, and social protection policy that are shock-responsive in close coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. WFP will continue to employ food cards as cash-based transfer mechanisms to help 3,000 people in three regions who are food insecure meet their immediate food needs as a result of shocks and emergencies.
Given that Armenia is vulnerable to a variety of shocks, WFP recognizes the critical importance of strengthening the country’s social safety system. A multi-stakeholder approach is necessary to address the effects of the shocks and provide a quick and effective response to hundreds of individuals across Armenia. By improving social protection services, WFP can reach more people who are at danger.
