The program was initiated by the US Agency for International Development. The five-year program will be implemented jointly with the Ministries of Environment, Territorial Administration, other state and local authorities and departments, civil society structures, water user companies, research institutions and the media, Deloitte Consulting in cooperation with the Urban Sustainable Development Fund, the University of Colorado Boulder, the Caucasus Regional Environmental Center.
Deputy Minister of Environment Tigran Gabrielyan took part in the public launch of the program. The event was attended by US Vice Ambassador to Armenia Chip Leitinen, Director of the Armenian Mission of the USAID John J. Alelo, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia Vache Terteryan, CEO of Deloitte Consulting David Spira, government representatives, heads of partner communities, representatives of scientific and educational institutions, local and international organizations, private sectors.
"The activities carried out contributed to the adoption of more accurate decisions on the management of water resources of the Ararat Valley, the promotion of the use of modern technologies and the improvement of the capabilities of specialists involved in the water sector.
The Ministry of Environment attaches great importance to cooperation with the US Agency for International Development and is confident that within the framework of the launching program, the process of implementing decision-making tools for effective water resources management will continue and improve, in particular, the development of basin management plans, the use of modern technologies, improved monitoring, filling gaps in the data of the state water cadastre, the introduction of tools modeling of water resources," Deputy Minister Tigran Gabrielyan said in his welcoming speech.
Head of the Water Resources Cadastre and Monitoring Department Gayane Hovsepyan presented the steps aimed at water resources management in Armenia, noting the changes in the Water Code.
Improving approaches to water resources management is extremely important for the Republic of Armenia in order to create opportunities for access to water resources, while simultaneously ensuring environmental releases and water quality in order to preserve fresh water resources.
Within the framework of the "Improvement of Water Resources Management in Armenia" program, the following activities are envisaged: the use of innovative, effective technologies, improvement of water resources management, implementation of small infrastructure projects aimed at improving drinking and irrigation water supply systems in the direction of socially vulnerable communities and stakeholders, as well as in cooperation with neighboring states.