Armenia

The absence of norms in insulation, the harsh winters of its continental climate, and a high level of poverty make for very difficult housing conditions in Armenia. Energy wastage also costs the country 4.9% of its GDP annually.

It’s within this context that AFD approved its first project in Armenia in 2013 in the energy sector. It involved a credit line of USD 13.8 million and technical assistance of 1.5 million euros granted to the National Mortgage Company to develop the financing offer for investments in renovation and energy efficiency of housing for disadvantaged families.

Disadvantaged households lack access to loans for housing renovation because of their very low incomes. This program provides several benefits: the most disadvantaged families can save money by decreasing their energy consumption all the while improving their comfort; banks and credit institutions can become familiar with smaller housing renovation loans than currently practiced; and the country as a whole can reduce natural gas imports and consequently its greenhouse gas emissions.

Armenia’s economy enjoyed double-digit growth potential in the 2000s. But since its collapse in 2009 (-14.2% of GDP), the country has not been able to re-establish this growth rate, which has remained below 3.5% since that time.

To reverse this situation, the Armenian government has undertaken a big reform plan to tackle the country’s structural weaknesses. This plan is based on four pillars: job creation, development of human capital, strengthening of social protection, and modernization of the public sector.

Multisector budget aid of 40 million euros was granted in 2016 in order to provide guidance—with the World Bank—in major fiscal, economic, social and environmental reforms. Its objective is to support large-scale projects to modernize Armenia’s public services offer and reform the way the administration functions. It will also contribute to the country’s medium-term efforts towards sustainable financing of social programs, the sustainability of economic programs, tax fairness, and efficient management of public resources.

Agriculture is a strategic sector for Armenia, both economically (22% of GDP) and geopolitically (national food security, with two out of four borders closed). However, 80% of total production depends on the country’s irrigation infrastructure, which dates mostly from the Soviet era and is now increasingly in disrepair.

AFD granted the Armenian government an initial sovereign loan of 75 million euros in 2015 to enhance the sustainability of water resources in the fertile Ararat plain. The funds from the loan will help secure extra renewable water reserves thanks to the construction of the Vedi reservoir as well as improve irrigation efficiency through modernization of the network. The European Union Neighbourhood Investment Facility has provided a grant of 10 million euros to back up the loan. The aim is to develop irrigated agriculture in the Ararat and Armavir regions.

This project will enable more sustainable management of water resources; a more efficient, less costly and better managed irrigation network; agriculture with higher yields; more attractive agricultural incomes; and capacity building for the actors of the sector.