USAID/Armenia Improved Water Management for Sustainable Economic Growth Program Launch

21.11.2022

On November 21, 2022, USAID publicly launched its new “Armenia Improved Water Management for Sustainable Economic Growth” Program (AIWM). In attendance at the launch event were Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Armenia Chip Laitinen, USAID/Armenia Mission Director John G. Allelo, RA Deputy Minister of Environment Tigran Gabrielyan, RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Vache Terteryan, Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLC David Spira, Government of Armenia officials, representatives of the partner communities, representatives of academia, local and international organizations and the private sector.

Improvement of its water management approach is of high importance for Armenia to increase access to water while maintaining environmental integrity and water quality for the protection of freshwater resources. The overuse of existing resources is due to the lack of proper management practices. Consequently, there is an urgent need to reshape Armenia’s natural resource management and distribution in order to meet the economic and environmental demands and ensure sustainable economic growth.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Armenia Chip Laitinen thanked the counterparts and stakeholders indicating: “There are significant benefits to be gained by managing water resources in a sustainable manner, including protection and more effective uses of resources, improved access to water, and cooperation, stability and economic development from a broader regional standpoint. I am particularly pleased that today’s event marks the launch of USAID’s Improved Water for Sustainable Economic Growth project that will help Armenia to benefit from improved management of water resources.”

The five-year AIWM Program is implemented by “Deloitte Consulting” jointly with the the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development, the University of Colorado Boulder and REC Caucasus. The project will closely collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders including national and local authorities and agencies, civil society organizations, water user associations, research institutions, and the media.

The Program plans to achieve this goal through introduction of modern technologies and tools, improvement of water governance, implementation of small-scale infrastructure projects for irrigation and drinking water supply with a focus to vulnerable communities and beneficiaries, and through cross-border cooperation.

USAID/ Armenia Improved Water Management for Sustainable economic Growth Program is implemented by ” Deloitte Consulting” jointly with Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development, the University of Colorado Boulde and REC Caucasus.