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In Armenia, an UNDEF-funded project implemented by aims to contribute to sustainable management strategies of natural water resources in the Ararat Valley. This project has a focus on empowering women’s groups to conceive and oversee sustainable strategies for using community water and sanitation resources. Pilot projects identify community-based participatory approaches to decision-making involving women to improve access and management of water resources. Part of the approach is to educate school children on sustainable management of community resources to increase public awareness and reduce poor hygiene practices that negatively affect the wider community.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the project has incorporated Covid-19 into its public awareness communications and has expanded its reach to additional communities. An additional community pilot project delivered hygiene kits, printed education materials and organized online and in-person interactive sessions. This format has allowed the project to reach out an additional 140 children in Shirak province – one of the poorest provinces in Armenia with harsh winters and greater vulnerability to seasonal respiratory infections. Hygiene and Covid-19 prevention interactive sessions were conducted to raise awareness of the importance of Covid-19 safety regulations to keep the community safe. This work is a contribution to national efforts in addressing the pandemic in Shirak province.