AM PARTNERS

Starting from 2010, several international organizations (UNICEF, World Bank, USAID) have been providing technical assistance to the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Territorial Administration for the design of the reform on Integrated Social Services (hereinafter ISS) targeting the development and introduction of the system of social security services.

As a part of the ongoing support to the ISS reform in Armenia, UNICEF is cooperating with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in applying the reform in five target marzes through the EU-funded “Mitigating Social Consequences of Labor Migration and Maximizing Migrants’ Involvement in Local Development” project (hereinafter the Project). The Project aims at addressing social vulnerability of labor migrants' families and communities in five target marzes through the provision of tailored social services and best use of migrants’ resources (financial and intellectual) in the development of their communities.

This Baseline Survey targets to assess the level of access to, use of and satisfaction with social services delivery among vulnerable groups (including migrant families), as well as the impact of social service delivery on the socio-economic situation of these families. The Survey particularly presents initial sociological and statistical data on the following specific issues.

• socio-economic situation of socially vulnerable families,
• labor migration in socially vulnerable families,
• socially vulnerable families’ awareness of social services,
• socially vulnerable families’ use of social services,
• socially vulnerable families’ satisfaction with social services,
• socially vulnerable families’ awareness of ISS and their expectations.

The Survey was conducted among vulnerable families of 5 marzes of Armenia. Those are the marzes where the UNICEF implements the abovementioned project: Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Gegharkunik, and Syunik. Qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used by the Consultant for the implementation of the Survey. Quantitative research sample included 1,046 socially vulnerable families. 30 in-depth interviews have been conducted within the framework of qualitative research among the same target group.

The results of the Survey attest that beneficiaries of social security system have either positive, or indifferent attitude towards the reforms, or are not aware of them, at all. Vast majority of socially vulnerable families welcomes the introduction of ISS and infrastructure improvements; they develop positive expectations. Small sizes of the social support hinder the objective appreciation of social services and reforms. This especially refers to types of social support with financial nature - pensions, allowances, financial aids.

The UNICEF uses the collected baseline data for the implementation of the Project and impact assessment of the Project interventions on reducing the social vulnerability of vulnerable (including migrant families).