UNDP and AMAA address youth employment challenges in Armenia

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Capitalizing on the successful partnership and joint achievements in increasing youth employability, today Bradley Busetto, UNDP Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, and Harout Nercessian, Armenia Representative of Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), signed an agreement to further continue the Youth Career Trail (YCT) project. The UNDP Public Relations Department informed “Armenpress” that former beneficiaries of the YCT were also present at the signing ceremony, who shared with participants their experiences and ideas on further expansion of the initiative.

YCT is a paid internship program, which offers young professionals an opportunity to be involved for the first time in employment relevant to their education, and to gain valuable work experience and practical knowledge to become more competitive in their access to the labor market. It provides educated but unemployed youth (fresh graduates) with a first paid career-related work experience to prepare and position them for future employment.

It is estimated that about 60 interns - between the ages of 19 and 25 (inclusive), who hold at least Bachelor’s degree and have a good academic record - will accomplish a 6-month internship program during the next year.

“Our partnership with AMAA has a proven track record, as since 2012, together with AMAA, we managed to facilitate the successful transition of unemployed youth into workforce by provision of direct employment opportunities through internships. This project is an excellent example of cooperation between the donors, public and private sectors with strong potential for further development and expansion for the sake of Armenian youth,” said Bradley Busetto, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia,

The AMAA cosponsors the YCT because it believes that youth employment in Armenia is a major development priority and can highly contribute to the economic growth and solve some of employment challenges that youth are facing in the country. The AMAA is a non-profit organization that supports underprivileged people in 24 countries. The AMAA was established in 1918 in the U.S.A.

“The AMAA started its Armenia operations with the distribution of relief supplies and medical programs. This was essential in those ‘dark years’ of the early 1990’s when Armenia was experiencing severe economic conditions, and shortages of basic life necessities. In recent years, through various educational and development programs, the AMAA has been focusing on helping people earn their own living, be self-sufficient and thus preserve their dignity. The YCT program is an important part of this strategy. We greatly value our partnership with the UNDP,” said Harout Nercessian AMAA Armenia Representative.

During 2007-2013, UNDP in Armenia implemented four rounds of the YCT initiative, which turned to be popular and of high demand among both the university graduates and employers. In total, around 180 fresh graduates passed the YCT internship in Yerevan and 6 regions of Armenia and around 50 percent of the interns were offered permanent employment by the host organizations at the end of their internships.

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

UNDP in Armenia has been established in March 1993 and supports the government to reach national development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.