German Corporation for International Cooperation

May 13

GIZ has been working in Armenia since the early 1990s and opened its country office in Yerevan in 2002.

The Velvet Revolution in the Republic of Armenia in 2018 was a clear call for greater democracy, the rule of law, a free market economy and harmonisation with the European Union (EU).

However, Armenia’s borders with neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan remain closed, severely limiting the country’s economy. The economic growth achieved in recent years has been mainly concentrated in the capital Yerevan. In many parts of the country, however, almost 30 percent of the population still lives below the poverty line. Many Armenians, especially young, well-educated professionals, are therefore leaving their country in search of work and better prospects.

Furthermore, living conditions in rural areas are precarious. Public institutions are underdeveloped and infrastructure needs expansion and modernisation. Above all, high energy costs pose a major threat to people’s energy security. As rural communities in particular are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, the pressure on the country’s limited forest and natural resources is increasing. This situation is further compounded by the underutilization of agricultural land.

GIZ operates in Armenia on behalf of several contracting parties, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the EU and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Its work focuses on:

- Sustainable economic development

- Good local governance

- Environment and climate change

GIZ official website: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/374.html