US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1208

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, IO/EDA (Swaney, Bill), 
 
DEPT FOR USAID/GH (Gibb, D.) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, AM, AID 
SUBJECT:  REVIEW OF UNICEF IN ARMENIA 
 
REF: STATE 100314 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (SBU) Post applauds UNICEF's efforts in partnering 
with many agencies in Armenia to improve the capacity 
of government agencies working with socially 
disadvantaged children, and to advocate on behalf of 
these same children.  Per reftel request, Post notes 
that UNICEF's Armenia programs complement USG economic 
development programs.  End Summary. 
 
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ROLE OF UNICEF 
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3. (SBU) UNICEF continues to play a vital role in 
advocacy and capacity development in Armenia.  The 
agency has identified some significant problems in 
Armenia including:  inadequate food intake, pervasive 
child neglect, a lack of micronutrients in the average 
diet, and insufficient health care.  Along with their 
partners, UNICEF attempts to address these needs. 
UNICEF programs complement USG programs.  While USG 
resources currently focus on overall economic and 
democratic development, UNICEF focuses specifically on 
the critical needs of socially disadvantaged children 
and their families.  Post would encourage UNICEF to 
more tightly focus some of its goal statements in the 
"Draft Country Programme Document" to help it better 
measure improvement in the well being of children, but 
overall assesses its work in Armenia positively. 
 
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DESPITE IMPRESSIVE GROWTH, POVERTY REMAINS AN ISSUE 
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4. (SBU) Armenia has experienced impressive growth in 
real incomes, but poverty is still high, especially in 
rural areas.  Almost 50 percent of Armenians live below 
the poverty line.  GOAM health care spending is 
approximately USD 8 per person, and health care 
services, when available, are unaffordable for many 
Armenians.  Government educational spending is less 
than one third of that spent in Armenia during the 
Soviet period.  We believe that UNICEF's continuing 
support for maternal and child health programs, as well 
as child protection and welfare programs is vital to 
the implementation and success of Armenia's Poverty 
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). 
ORDWAY