New Craft Markets Provide Income for People with Disabilities
High unemployment in Chambarak, a border town with primary employment is agriculture and Military defense offering no employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “Astghatsolk” Public Organization is very active in the town, working with the local government and businesses to improve employment for disabled individuals in the region. Using government funds this NGO organized woodcrafts and hand crafts trainings for 11 disabled individuals. The trainings assisted these individuals to develop crafts skills and become self-employed. READ MORE >>>

New Jobs for Workers Who are Blind                             

Mr. Soghoyan says that the grant helped Echmiadzin Union of Blind and its headquarters to recover from effects of the financial crisis and produce better quality products as well as meet market requirements. As a result the enterprise has signed a two year agreement with a Russian Company and will have sustainable income to employ at least 35 blind people.  Currently, there are about 112 blind job seekers in Echmiadzin and surrounding villages which are registered and waiting for jobs. READ MORE >>>

Keeping Track of Individual Pension Contributions
The Government of Armenia (GOAM) has been considering pension reform options for many years, and USAID has supported several different initiatives to assist this process. GOAM appointed a Pension Reform Working Group (PWG), which had already initiated its work when the SPSS project started in January 2007.  The SPSS pension experts worked closely with the PWG as it developed pension policy. The SPSS project has assisted the Government of Armenia’s Pension Reform Implementation Working Group in a number of areas. In previous months, the project has assisted in modeling pension system finances and drafting legislation. READ MORE >>>

SPSS Study Drives Improvements in Pension Services

In January 2008, USAID Social Protection Systems Strengthening (SPSS) Project began a thorough Survey on Business Processes in 10 SSSS offices located in Yerevan.

Varduhi Gevorgyan is the Head of Kanaker-Zeytun State Social Security Service (SSSS) office. She passionately embraces the Business Process Assessment done by the USAID’ SPSS project: “The reports became the basic instrument to get better facilities which can be easily accessed by our basic customers, pensioners.” READ MORE>>>

SESA Takes Lead with Active Labor Market Measures
On October 14, 2008, through the support of the USAID Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project (SPSS), as well as other public and private partners, the State Employment Service Agency (SESA) of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues (MLSI) held its 4th Job Fair – this time in Gyumri. The Job Fair attracted 41 employers and over 1000 job seekers. 150 current vacancies were advertized, and employers collected CVs for anticipated openings, as well. READ MORE>>>

Successful Partnership- Key to Successful Regulation
On August 28, 2008, as a result of successful cooperation with the USAID Social Protection Systems Strengthening Project, the Government of the Republic of Armenia (RoA) adopted Technical Regulation on Minimum Requirements for Construction and Operation of Gas Stations. The new regulation reflects all important aspects of the draft regulation created through ME and SPSS cooperation. Specifically, it has the same structure, requires risk assessment and is largely built on performance based norms. The regulation regards safety as a complex issue and encourages preventive Occupational Safety and Health measures. READ MORE>>>

On the Way to a Better Career
According to the RA National Statistical Service and World Bank data, the youth unemployment rate several times exceeds the average rate of overall unemployment in Armenia.  According to the Armenian Youth National Report, 22% of Armenian youth are unemployed. During July 31 - August 12, 2008 25 young people from around the country attended a Job Search Workshop held during the Youth Summer School organized by the Youth Professional Orientation Center. READ MORE>>> 

Stimulating Community Partnerships for Social Integration
According to statistical data worldwide 3 of every 1000 newborn children encounter hearing impairment, and the numbers are increasing, especially in developing countries. In Armenia there are already 3000 children identified with hearing disabilities, and approximately 120 new children are born every year with hearing problems. While maternity hospitals in Armenia have advanced diagnostics to identify hearing problems at an early age (and children are normally tested right after birth), there are few places where these children can receive help.
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Strengthening Community-Based Social Services
The USAID/SPSS project launched three-stage training campaign for local community social services improvement. Mushegh Vardanyan from Nor-Nork community noted that the trainings were a success, “as only by involving different organizations and  age groups representatives we were able to assess our community social services strengths and weaknesses  and identify the best outsourcing project.”
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5000 Job Seekers at Job Fair in Yerevan
A young job seeker, clutching a stack of job leads she had just gathered, exclaimed, “I am glad there are so many jobs around!” She is one of 5000 eager young and old job seekers attending the “Find What You Seek” job fair sponsored by the USAID Armenia, Social Protection Systems Strengthening (SPSS) project and the State Employment Service Agency (SESA) on 13 October 2007 in Yerevan where 96 employers advertized vacancies. NGOs and Universities also provided information on adult learning opportunities. READ MORE >>>

Bringing together the Armenian Government and the Private Sector in Mining
“Everybody goes home.” It’s the key lesson and reason for mining safety regulations, to ensure that every miner that sets foot in a mine leaves safe and sound at the end of the day to go home to his family. Mining accounts for approximately 5% of the GDP of the Armenia, with nearly 15,000 employees leaving every morning for the mines. However, mine safety is still at a nascent stage in the country, as employers and government adhere to mostly outdated Soviet regulations which do not even have the force of law. READ MORE >>>

Country-wide Access to Social Services
Throughout August 22-24, the seminar organized by SPSS together with the Ministry rendered a unique opportunity for more than hundred social workers from regional and community government offices from all of the regions of Armenia to receive training on the new procedures, improve understanding of underlying paperwork, customer service to the vulnerable populations and get answers to locally accumulated questions. READ MORE >>>