logos

Date:    December 14, 2015

Location: “Regance” Hotel Complex, D. Anhaght Str. 10/1, Yerevan, 0014

Background:   The meeting will be chaired by the State Committee of Water Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia. The objective of the meeting is to discuss the status of NPD activities and recent developments in water sector of Armenia, as well as the progress in implementation of WFD principles in Armenia.  The meeting will also serve as platform for establishing synergies with other international water projects implemented in Armenia.

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

09:00-09:30         Registration of participants

09:30-09:45         Opening of the meeting and adoption of the agenda

Purpose of the meeting and adoption of the agenda – Mr. Volodya Narimanyan, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Water Systems, Minitry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia

Opening statements

  • Aram Harutyunyan, Chairman of the State Committee of Water Economy, MoA
  • John Barker, International Aid/Cooperation Offices in the sphere of agricultural, rural development, forestry, water environment and climate change, EU Delegation to Armenia
  • Tatiana Efimova, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
  • Peep Mardiste, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

09:45-10:00         Status of NPD Activities in Armenia

Status of NPD activities, progress in implementation of WFD principles in Armenia, update on the recent development in water sector of Armenia – Mr. Volodya Narimanyan

Reflections by members of the Steering Committee representing different agencies

10:00-11:30         Session 1 – UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health in Armenia

  1. Presentations
  • International experience – Roberto Martin Hurtado, UNECE Consultanbt
  • Health component – Nune Bakuntz, National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia
  • Water resources management component – Norayr Vardanyan, Water Resources Management Agency of the Ministry of Nature Protection of the Reublic of Armenia
  • Water supply and sanitation component – Armine Arushanyan, State Committee on Water Systems of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia
  • Public participation – Emma Anakhasyan, “Armenian Women for Health and Health Environment” NGO
  1. Policy discussion
  2. Decision(s) by the Steering Committee

11:30-12:00         Coffee Break

12:00-13:00         Session 2 – Economic and Financial Aspects of Water Sector Reforms in Armenia

  1. Presentations
  • Work on economic aspects of water management reform in Armenia – Tatiana Efimova, OECD
  1. Policy Discusssion
  2. Decision(s) by the Steering Committee

13:00-14:00         Lunch

14:00-15:30         Session 3 – Synergies with other international projects implemented in Armenia

  1. Presentations
  • EU funded “Environmental Protection of International River Basins” Project: progress up to date, activities in the extension period and cooperation with the EUWI
  • Japanese International Cooperation Agency funded project on reconstruction of Yeghvard Reservoir
  • German KfW Bank funded project on construction of Kaps Reservoir and Gravtity System
  • French Development Agency funded project on Construction of Vedi Reservoir
  • USAID funded “Advanced Science and Partnership for Integrated Resource Developement” project

15:30-16:00         Coffee break

16:00-16:45          Session 4: Discussion of the Next Steps of the NPD in Armenia

  1. Policy discussion
  • Mandate for chairing of the National Policy Dialogue process in Armenia.
  • Priorities of the National Policy Dialogue in 2016
  1. Decision(s) by the Steering Committee

16:45-17:00          Session 5 – Closure of the Meeting

Reflections by members of the Steering Committee representing different agencies.

Mr. Narimanyan moderated the session and recalled decisions taken under previous agenda items.

 

logos2

National consultation on management of small-scale water supply and sanitation and assessing equitable access to water and sanitation in Armenia

15 December 2015, Yerevan

Provisional programme

09:00-09:30

09:30-09:50

Registration of participants and welcome refreshments

Welcome and opening

–         Mr. Volodya Narimanyan, State Committee of Water Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture

–         Ms. Nune Bakunts, Deputy Director of the “National Center of Disease Control and Prevention” State Non-commercial Organization, Ministry of Health

–         Mr. Tatul Hakobyan, Head of WHO Country Office

–         Mr. Peep Mardiste, UNECE

09:50-10:20

Introduction to the Protocol on Water and Health and the objectives of the consultation

Mr. Oliver Schmoll, WHO Regional Office for Europe

Introduction of participants

PART A: Small-scale water supply and sanitation
Moderator: Ms. Nune Bakunts, National Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health

10:20-10:35

 

 

10:35-10:50

 

10:50-11:10

 

11:10-11:20

Relevance of small-scale systems as priority target area under the Protocol on Water and Health

Mr. Oliver Schmoll, WHO Regional Office for Europe

 

Small-scale water supply and sanitation in the WHO European Region: status quo and challenges

Ms. Enkhtsetseg Shinee, WHO Regional Office for Europe

The situation of small-scale systems in Armenia

Ms. Nune Bakunts, National Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health

Questions and answers

11:20-11:40

Morning break

11:40-12:00

 

 

12:00-13:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13:15-13:30

Management of small-scale water supply and sanitation systems from local authority perspective

Mr. Albert Harutyunyan, Chief Engineer of the Hov-Khach Limited Liability Company, v. Garni, Kotayk province, and Mr. Artavazd Hakobyan, Mayor of Goght community

Moderated roundtable discussion: issues and challenges related to small-scale water supply and sanitation (see discussion points in the information note)

–         Review the available evidence and information on the situation of small-scale water supplies and sanitation in Armenia;

–         Identify knowledge/data gaps that hinder a comprehensive assessment of the situation and potential health risks;

–         Review of regulatory requirements and institutional responsibilities related to public health and water quality surveillance (i.e. monitoring and inspection), specifically for small-scale systems;

–         Discuss specific challenges related to small-scale water supplies and sanitation, as well as the capacity of the government to address these;

–         Review of existing and/or planned policies, programs and/or initiatives aiming at improving the situation of small-scale water supply and sanitation systems; and

–         Introduce target setting process under the Protocol and discuss relevance of small systems as target area.

Summary of key take away messages & conclusions of Part A

13:30-14:30

Lunch break

PART B: Equitable access to water and sanitation
Moderator: Mr. Volodya Narimanyan, State Committee of Water Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture

14:30-14:45

 

 

14:45-15:00

Ensuring equitable access to water and sanitation: international obligations and main challenges faced

Mr. Roberto Martin Hurtado, Consultant to UNECE

 

Situation of equitable access to water and sanitation in Armenia,

Ms. Armine Arushanyan, State Committee of Water Econopmy of the Ministry of Agriculture

15:00-15:15

 

15:15-15:30

 

15:30-16:00

Introduction of the Equitable Access Score-card

Mr. Roberto Martin Hurtado, Consultant to UNECE

Experience of Ukraine: lessons learnt and benefits from applying the Equitable Access Score-card

To be confirmed

Questions and answers

16:00-16:30

Afternoon break

16:50-17:15

 

 

17:15-17:30

Plans for the equitable access self-assessment exercise in Armenia

Ms. Emma Anakhasyan, Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment

Moderated interactive discussion focusing on:

–         Objectives and expected outcomes of the equitable access self-assessment exercise

–         Process and schedule for the self-assessment exercise

–         Possible sources of information and mapping of stakeholders to be involved

 

Summary of key take away messages & conclusions of Part B

17:30

Closure of the meeting