JP Armenia Clean Air 

Objectives

Fund scope

The Clean Air for Health and Green Growth in Armenia (EU4 Clean Air in Armenia) Joint Programme supports Armenia's efforts to improve air quality and protect public health. Air pollution remains a major environmental and health challenge in the country, contributing to premature deaths, increasing healthcare costs, and affecting economic productivity. The programme helps Armenia meet its commitments under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), relevant European Union air quality legislation, the UNECE Air Convention, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The programme is implemented over three years through a partnership between UNDP, UNECE, WHO and the Environment Agency Austria, with funding from the European Union.

Theory of Change

The programme is based on the premise that better air quality requires stronger institutions, reliable data, modern monitoring systems, effective legislation, and informed citizens.

If Armenia:

• strengthens its legal and regulatory framework for air quality management and industrial emissions;
• upgrades its air quality monitoring network and laboratory capacities;
• improves emission inventories, data management, and public access to information; and
• increases public awareness of air pollution and its health impacts,

then national authorities will be able to monitor, analyse and regulate air quality more effectively, resulting in improved environmental governance and better protection of public health.

Strategic Framework

The programme delivers three mutually reinforcing results. First, it strengthens Armenia’s legal and institutional framework for air quality management through support for approximation with EU requirements, enhanced capacities of national authorities, promotion of Best Available Techniques (BATs), and development of relevant vocational education curricula. Second, it modernizes the national air quality monitoring and management system through the upgrade of monitoring infrastructure, installation of new automatic monitoring stations, establishment of a National Reference Laboratory, and support for evidence-based air quality planning. Third, it promotes wider use of air quality data by strengthening emission inventory systems, improving public access to information, developing digital tools for real-time air quality reporting, and increasing public awareness of air pollution and its health impacts.

The programme has a total budget of approximately USD 2.47 million, financed primarily by the European Union, with additional contributions from UNDP, UNECE and WHO. Resources are invested in strengthening air quality governance, modernizing monitoring infrastructure, enhancing institutional and technical capacities, improving public access to information, and promoting awareness of air pollution and its health impacts.

Governance

Board / Steering Committee
The programme follows a joint governance structure designed to ensure strategic oversight, technical coordination, transparency, and accountability. A Project Steering Committee provides overall strategic direction and guidance. The Committee reviews progress, ensures alignment with national priorities and European Union commitments, and supports coordination among participating institutions. It serves as the principal decision-making body for programme implementation.

Secretariat
UNDP Armenia serves as the Convening Agency and coordinates programme implementation, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and day-to-day management. It works closely with participating organizations and national counterparts to ensure efficient delivery of activities and results.

Participating Organizations
Participating United Nations Organizations develop project and programme proposals, and report on implementation and financial processes and outcomes. Each Participating Organization assumes full programmatic and financial accountability for funds disbursed to it by the Administrative Agent.  

Participating United Nations Organizations (UNDP, UNECE and WHO) develop and implement programme activities and report on implementation, financial processes and results. In partnership with the Environment Agency Austria (UBA), they provide technical expertise and support delivery of programme outcomes. Each Participating Organization assumes full programmatic and financial accountability for funds disbursed to it by the Administrative Agent.

Administrative Agent
Recipient Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, the MPTF Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Recipient Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors. 

Projects

JP Armenia Clean Air

JP Armenia Clean Air is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

JP Armenia Clean Air

Results

The programme focuses on achieving lasting improvements in air quality governance and public health through institutional transformation rather than short-term interventions.

Results will be achieved by:

• Strengthening laws, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms aligned with EU standards.
• Modernizing air quality monitoring infrastructure and laboratory capacity.
• Improving the quality, availability, and use of environmental data.
• Building technical capacities of government institutions and specialists.
• Expanding public access to reliable air quality information.
• Raising awareness of air pollution risks and promoting healthier behaviours.

By the end of the programme, Armenia is expected to have stronger institutional capacity to monitor, analyse, and regulate air quality; improved access to real-time air quality information; enhanced emission reporting systems; and a stronger foundation for reducing air pollution and protecting the health of its population.

Contacts

Points of contact