Strengthening Community Resilience and Disaster Preparedness for Displaced Populations in Armenia

The project is implemented with financial support from the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Service (ECHO), through the joint efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Vision Armenia, and the “Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform” (ARNAP) Foundation.

The project aims to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of partner communities against various threats (natural, technological, biological, and others), as well as climate change, with a special focus on developing capacities to address possible forced displacement and/or evacuation resulting from these hazards.

The project started in April 2025 and will conclude in May 2026. The first phase of the project (April–December 2025) has been completed. Within this phase, the ARNAP Foundation implemented the following activities:

1. The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) plans of the consolidated communities of Vardenis, Ararat, Vayk, and Martuni were reviewed and updated.
2. Members of the DRM Councils of these communities, as well as representatives of other relevant stakeholders, were trained. The training covered two main topics:
   • “Disaster Risk Management at the community Level: Basics of Planning”
   • “Social Protection Issues in Emergencies”
3. A total of 1,695 active residents from the consolidated communities of Vardenis, Ararat, Vayk, and Martuni participated in training sessions on “Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection” (85 sessions were conducted).
4. Training- simulation exercise sessions entitled “Learn, Play, Practice” were conducted in all 43 kindergartens of the consolidated communities, engaging 3,273 children and staff members.
5. Tabletop exercises were conducted with the participation of the DRM Councils of Vardenis, Ararat, Vayk, and Martuni, with special emphasis on ensuring social assistance and protection measures during emergencies.
6. The early warning systems of these communities were modernized and their coverage expanded (new sirens were installed and equipped with remote-control capabilities).
7. A new web platform was developed, serving as a Disaster Risk Management Information HUB.

During the current phase of the project (January–May 2026), the ARNAP Foundation will:

• Update the DRM Plan of Meghri community.
• Conduct training for the community’s DRM Council.
• Implement “Learn, Play, Practice” training-simulation exercise sessions in all kindergartens of the consolidated community.
• Organize a workshop to present the results of both the previous and the current project phases.

All the above-mentioned activities have been and are being implemented by the ARNAP Foundation under the coordination of World Vision Armenia.