Joint UN programme in Armenia to unlock sustainable finance for climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive food systems

Yerevan, Armenia

Under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Françoise Jacob, and with support from the UN Joint SDG Fund, the Government of Armenia, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), officially launched the joint programme “Unlocking Sustainable Finance for Nutrition-Sensitive, Climate-Smart Food Systems Transformation in Armenia” on 29 January 2026 in Yerevan. 

The programme aims to advance inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable food systems in Armenia by improving access to finance, strengthening climate-smart value chains, and promoting healthy food consumption. It supports national priorities and seeks to demonstrate scalable solutions for building resilient, environmentally sustainable, and equitable food systems.

The programme focuses on four areas with direct impact on people’s lives: strengthening seed systems, advancing sustainable dairy value chains, expanding access to finance for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, and promoting healthy and sustainable food consumption. Together, these interventions are expected to help farmers increase productivity, reduce environmental pressure, create rural employment opportunities and improve access to nutritious food across the country.

“This programme is about investing in people – farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers – so they can be part of a food system that supports their health, livelihoods and the environment. Joint action will push the biodiversity agenda further into agricultural priorities, turning sustainable food systems into a key force for inclusive and long-term growth,” Françoise Jacob, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia said. “The joint programme is supported by the Joint SDG Fund. We appreciate the contributions from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.”

The Joint Programme aligns with Armenia’s Food Security Strategy 2023–2026 and the National Food Systems Pathway 2021, while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to food security and nutrition, climate action and sustainable economic growth. By linking policy support with practical investments, the initiative promotes climate-resilient agriculture, nature-positive production and inclusive economic opportunities. 

“FAO recognizes that unlocking access to sustainable finance is essential for farmers and agrifood small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt climate-smart solutions, strengthen local food value chains, and promote healthy diets,” highlighted Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Armenia. “As the lead agency of this Joint Programme, FAO will help translate policy priorities into concrete results on the ground.”

Konstantin Sokulskiy, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Armenia, noted: “This Joint Programme, implemented by FAO, UNDP, and UNEP, introduces an outcome-based and innovative financing model that links private investment with verified improvements in milk productivity, pasture restoration, and farmer livelihoods. It demonstrates that agricultural transformation in Armenia can be both climate-smart and biodiversity-positive while generating measurable social and economic returns. Through the piloting of a Development Impact Bond in the dairy sector, UNDP establishes a transparent and performance-based financing mechanism in which public and private resources are mobilized around independently verified results, creating a new pathway for sustainable investment in climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly food systems.”

As host of 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Armenia has a unique opportunity to advance its sustainable food systems,” added Thierry Lucas, Coordinator of Nature Action in Europe at UNEP. “By scaling agroecology, restoring degraded pastures and promoting indigenous seeds, this Joint Programme will deliver tangible benefits for farmers, biodiversity and land resilience, with concrete outcomes to be showcased at COP17.”