USAID Bridge completed 40 projects totaling $2.9 million

PanARMENIAN.Net - The USAID Bridge Public Works Program marked the completion of its 5-year activities in Armenia by highlighting the program's successes and the importance of public works in fostering Armenia's labor market. Head of State Employment Agency Sona Harutyunyan and Social Sector advisor of the USAID/Armenia Social Reform Office Volodimir Yatsenko opened the conference. The event was attended by representatives of partner organizations, including the Anoushavan Abrahamyan Educational Fund, the State Employment Services Agency and World Vision among others.



The objective of the conference was to present the results to the public, partners and donor organizations. Through its three components of community mobilization, vocational training and public works, the Bridge program aimed to assist vulnerable communities in achieving greater self-sufficiency by providing them with vocational training in construction skills as well as with employment opportunities on public works projects that rehabilitated infrastructure items chosen by the community.



Bridge worked in 20 towns in Tavush, Aragatsotn, Lori, Shirak, Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes. Specifically, the program completed 40 projects totaling $2.9 million, generated more than 87 000 person days of employment, provided 1 240 people with short-term labor opportunities, leveraged 16% matching contribution over the life of the program, conducted 54 training in 5 different construction trades, trained 734 unemployed persons, 70% of whom found jobs in construction after the program completion and developed training curricula for Riling, Wood Flooring, Painting and Plastering, Concrete and Stone Masonry.