Increased capacities of constituents to develop and implement an integrated policy response on employment and social protection, supported by social dialogue

This intervention focuses on pursuing an integrated employment and social protection policy response in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Armenia. It addresses the weak coordination between social assistance and employment programmes, specifically between cash assistance programmes and employment services. It aims at the activation and development of the coordination mechanism and institutional arrangements to facilitate a quick and smooth reintegration of recipients of social assistance into the labour market. The work is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, State Employment Services (SEA), Social Assistance Agency (SAA), Integrated Social Services (ISS Centres), Republican Union of Employers, and the Confederation of Trade Unions. Interventions target unemployed people, workers at risk of losing their jobs and those in precarious conditions (supply side), as well as employers from affected sectors of the economy (demand side). The expected results are: Re-connecting the recipients of social protection cash transfers during COVID-19 confinement measures with the labour market when economic activity picks up; establishing gender-responsive mechanisms for increased reintegration of unemployed people, including private entrepreneurs working in affected sectors, into the labour market; integrating employment objectives into national development policies and budget as well as regional and sectoral programmes; introducing social dialogue initiatives in the implementation of the new National Employment Strategy; and improving trade unions’ strategies to reach out to, attract and extend their services to informal workers, including in new work arrangements, dependent self-employment and digital platforms.

Project symbol

ARM/20/01/RBS

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Moscow

Start date

01/07/2020

End date

05/01/2024

Total allocation

230903

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

230903

Development Partners

Core voluntary funds (RBSA)

Country/Countries

Armenia

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Full and productive employment for just transitions
Outcome 7: Universal social protection