Armenia

The IOM office in Armenia opened in 1993, when the Republic of Armenia became an IOM Member State. For three decades, IOM Armenia has been instrumental in shaping migration policies and management reforms through policy advice, the generation of high-quality evidence, capacity building, technical assistance, and assistance diverse migrant groups.

IOM supports the government in upholding migrants’ rights, regardless of their migration status and across all stages of the migration cycle. The organization’s programmes align with Armenia's international commitments and government priorities, addressing labor migration, human development, social cohesion, voluntary return and reintegration, border management, and counter-trafficking.

With well-established, reliable operations and programming in Armenia, and experienced and professional staff, IOM Armenia is a competitive, result-oriented organization, committed to results-based management and value for money principles for the projects and programmes it manages.

Policy and Cooperation

An advocate of strong partnerships with key stakeholders in migration nationally and internationally, IOM Armenia enjoys an excellent reputation and the trust of the Government of Armenia and partners.

The organization has played a key role in ensuring Armenia’s international presence and cooperation in migration. It supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the negotiations of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), Armenia subsequently voted in favour of in 2018, and has since submitted two Voluntary National Progress Reviews on Implementation of GCM in 2018 and 2021.

Since 2021, IOM has taken on the role of Coordinator and Secretariat for the UN Network on Migration in Armenia, whose objective is to ensure effective, timely and coordinated system-wide approach to migration and highlight the rights and well-being of migrants and their communities.

Migration Governance

IOM works closely with the government to support the country’s migration governance. IOM Armenia assists the Government of Armenia in developing and reforming its migration governance system through the provision of assistance to stakeholders for enhancing the relevant policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as the provision of technical assistance.

To this end IOM supports the reforms kicked off by the Government of Armenia in the justice sector and creation of a Ministry of Internal Affairs where Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS) became one arm of the Ministry. The reform provides important framework for the enhanced migration governance in the country and to this end IOM’s supports to the development and roll out of the training curricula for the staff of newly created Migration and Citizenship Service. 

With the IOM support government has launched a modern, transparent, electronic Work Permit Issuance system in line with the international best practices operated by the Migration and Citizenship Service with the active engagement of other relevant state institutions. 

IOM collaborates with the Integrated Social Service of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs within the framework of social service delivery to migrants, regularly conducts capacity assessments, trainings and provides recommendations for its service delivery improvement and main intervention areas by application of international experience.

IOM Armenia regularly develops knowledge products and practical toolkits to raise awareness of migration issues.

Capacity Building, Protection and Assistance to Migrants and Communities

IOM supports retuning migrants for their reintegration into the Armenian society. IOM Armenia collaborates with the Government on integration and reintegration policy and strategy development. IOM also commissions labor market assessments aiming to help capacitate the migrants and guide them on finding jobs.

Through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme as well as other reintegration programming, IOM Armenia has helped thousands of Armenians to reintegration, through business consultations and business grant provisions.

IOM Armenia supports the survivors of human trafficking in Armenia and organized their voluntary return to their countries of origin. The organization is part of the Working Group affiliated to the Council on Issues of Trafficking in Persons in Armenia since 2006 and has contributed to development of legal acts, National Action Plans, and annual reports, ensuring compliance with the instruments of international law that have set the course for how to define, prevent, and prosecute human trafficking.

IOM provides capacity development courses to the Border Guard Troops of Armenia on transnational organized crimes on regular basis.

IOM provides primary healthcare and psychological services to affected populations, including refugees via mobile clinics by deploying multi-disciplinary health teams to the communities hosting large number of beneficiaries. IOM runs a health campaign to promote healthy behavior for migrants and the population at large.

Emergencies and Post-Crisis Response

IOM’s expertise before, during and after the onset of crises crosses various sectors, particularly in situations of displacement. IOM is part of all sectors operating in the country during a crisis situation, namely Shelter/Non-Food Items, Early Recovery, Protection and Health.

During the 2020 crisis, IOM undertook a comprehensive response strategy. IOM distributed COVID-19 hygiene items and personal protective equipment while also dedicating efforts to shelter renovations to ensure decent living conditions, particularly for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and individuals with special needs. This approach aimed to provide essential support and enhance living standards for those affected by the conflict.

In the 2023 currently ongoing refugee crisis, IOM is focusing on the immediate provision of primary health care services and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), as well as on supporting the provision of adequate shelter that supports the protection of refugees, while simultaneously working for solutions from the start and planning the organization’s integration support programming.

In both crises, IOM has also supported the government with the data analysis and visualization of registration data of arriving populations, building on its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) expertise. This support helps the government as well as the humanitarian sector to target their assistance adequately.

Career opportunities

Being a member of the IOM team requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. As an international organization with a global mandate, IOM also aims to maintain an equitable geographical balance among its staff. As such, its recruitment efforts target, but are not necessarily limited to, nationals of its Member States. IOM is an equal opportunity employer and seeks committed professionals with a wide variety of skills in the field of migration. IOM staff work in multi-cultural environments, in which diversity and cultural sensitivity are valued.

 

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Contact information

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
14 Petros Adamyan
UN Building
Yerevan
Armenia

Tel: +374 10 585 692, +374 10 525 692
Fax: +374 10 543 365
Email: IOMArmenia@iom.int