The Government of Armenia has formally prioritised integration and local implementation of social protection and labour-market policies. However, it has not yet provided clear guidance, tools, or institutional mechanisms for municipalities to translate these national priorities into practice. Most municipalities, including Vayk Municipality where the project is implemented, currently lack the capacity, methods, and coordination needed to operationalise the reforms.
Local civil-society organisations and community actors hold valuable knowledge of vulnerable groups and their needs, yet are rarely engaged in systematic or institutionalised ways in local policy processes.
The ‘From Protection to Participation’ project aims to strengthen the social and economic resilience of refugees and other vulnerable groups in Vayk Municipality through improved access to social protection and employment pathways.
It fosters cooperation between municipal authorities, state agencies, CSOs, and community actors to co-design a Local Social Plan that includes inclusive labour market activation measures.
Key activities include mapping services, assessing needs, developing the Local Social Plan, building the capacities of the local social workforce, piloting activation support, and facilitating experience-sharing with Danish partners.
The expected result is a more coordinated, evidence-based, and participatory local social protection system that enables Vayk’s leadership to understand community needs and potential, while unlocking hidden opportunities for vulnerable individuals to access income-generating activities and social support.
By fostering collaboration between local authorities, social-service providers, civil society, and the private sector, the initiative will help transform Vayk’s social protection system from passive assistance to active inclusion, ensuring that vulnerable residents gain both social security and pathways to sustainable income.
