ARMENIA SOCIAL TRENDS "06

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) is commemorated throughout the world from 17 - 24 October, drawing the attention of political leaders and civil society to the need to address the acute problems facing the poor and unite the efforts of all nations to combat the causes underlying poverty.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia joined the worldwide commemorations this year by organising a number of events devoted to rural poverty.
Global poverty has a rural face: 75 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas, where access to high quality education and health care is limited and where job opportunities are concentrated in low-paying sectors.
Contrary to worldwide trends, poverty in Armenia has been more prevalent in recent years in small and medium-sized cities. The results of a survey conducted in 2003, however, show that poverty levels in rural areas have now surpassed urban centres.
To better understand this recent phenomenon, UNDP, together with the Government of the Republic of Armenia, decided to devote the sixth issue of the "Armenia Social Trends" bulletin to the diverse manifestations of rural poverty. The information and analysis summarised in this bulletin shows us that the rural population, despite being forced to work harder for lower wages, is threatened by a higher risk of poverty than urban residents and benefits less, in virtually all ways, from the country's economic growth.
Interviews in 170 rural communities, particularly those with young people, suggest that Armenian youth are destined to have two distinctly different futures, depending on whether they live in rural areas or urban centres. A round-table televised discussion on the theme of "One Nation, Two Futures", organised with the support of the UNDP for the IDEP, revealed that many young people in rural areas consider their life boring and miserable and link their future to the capital city, where they hope to move as soon as possible.
UNDP is committed to supporting rural communities to overcome their social problems. In villages in Lori, Armavir, Gegharkunik and Tavush marzes UNDP is implementing integrated community development projects targeted to the most poor and socially disadvantaged people. Our aim is doing this is to help ensure that there is one future for the youth of Armenia and that it is a bright future, free from poverty.

Lise Grande
UN Resident Coordinator
UNDP Resident Representative

RURAL POVERTY IN THE REGIONS OF RA

RURAL POVERTY IN THE REGIONS OF RA (PDF)

RURAL POPULATION DEPRIVATION INDICIES IN THE REGIONS OF RA