Priority Area 1: Sustainable use of natural resources, disaster risk reduction and management

FAO will strengthen core systems, policy frameworks and capacities for the sustainable use of natural resources by: Ensuring increase of productivity through introduction of best practices of sustainable use of land, water, and plant genetic resources;  Promoting fish production using sustainable water management technologies, Elaborating a national programme for Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) along with strengthening capacities for its implementation; Strengthening public and private agricultural extension services and research capacities; Elaborating and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for key sectors. As part of efforts to ensure conservation of animal genetic resources and value chain development, FAO will contribute to enhancing capacities of small livestock women and men owners and NGOs dealing with these specific issues.

FAO will ensure that national authorities are better equipped to carry out informed policy making by making available essential agricultural census data conforming to international classifications, by improving the current agricultural statistics system according to international standards and by establishing a robust M&E system at the Ministry of Agriculture. The agricultural census and the M&E systems will be gender sensitive, with sex-disaggregated data and gender-specific indicators in order to monitor the advancements in the goals established in the SADS. 

Priority Area 2: Animal health, plant protection, and food safety and quality  

FAO will support the improvement of national capacity to control animal diseases and plant pest by improving national and regional cooperation on locust management; strengthening the capacities of MoA veterinary services, elaborating a national programme for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and strengthening capacities for implementation. 

FAO is committed to enhancing the policy framework to ensure food safety and quality in the region, including in Armenia, in the following direction: establishing an effective phytosanitary control system to facilitate safe trade of agricultural commodities and to assess the situation on Geographic Indications (GIs). The projects are anticipated to enable the countries of Eastern Europe to strengthen their export potential, including locally produced products, and prevent or restrain the spread of harmful organisms and diseases in the region. 

Food policy areas that will be addressed by FAO include the promotion of a preventive approach to food safety emergencies through strengthening of the national scientific, analytic and technical capacities in risk analysis, food safety early warning and response to food safety emergencies, as well as improving traceability, inspectoral collaboration and coordination. Along with improving the capacity of national Competent Authorities in food safety, technical support will be provided to food business operators, including small enterprises, to strengthen their level of compliance with food safety requirements. 

Priority Area 3: Food and nutrition security and poverty reduction 

The Priority Area aims at strengthening policy and legal frameworks and social protection systems to eradicate hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and rural poverty. This outcome aims to contribute to the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security policy in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). FAO will support the GoA through strengthening the capacities of government and other stakeholders to develop sectoral and cross-sectoral policy frameworks, investment plans and programmes for food security and nutrition. One output will pilot policy options for food security, nutrition, social protection and agriculture interactions. The output producing the “School Food and Nutrition Program linked to the Agricultural Sector” and the “Strengthening Food Systems for Nutrition Sensitive Social Protection” models will provide evidence base on the impact of integrated approach on food security, nutrition and social protection outcomes.