UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)

This year UMCOR Armenia celebrates its 10th anniversary. A decade ago, we started distributing essential pharmaceuticals and in-kind supplies. We continue to do so today. But we are doing much more. Over the last ten years, we have expanded our humanitarian skills, to include development expertise and engaged in a variety of projects including agricultural and microfinance programs. We have become renown for that. We recently ventured into new areas such as anti-trafficking and civil society building.

In June UMCOR will organize a photo exhibition of its work with pictures by Zaven Khatchikyan, a talented Armenian photographer.

UMCOR was formed by the United Methodist Church in 1940 to alleviate human suffering caused by World War II. Nowadays UMCOR also initiates programs geared towards development and capacity building, addressing the roots of hunger and poverty, and provides beneficiaries with the opportunity to become self-reliant. UMCOR is headquartered in New York City.

In the aftermath of an earthquake, regional conflict and economic distress, UMCOR established offices in Armenia in August 1994. Initially the office focused on the distribution of pharmaceuticals to health institutions and clinics. Gradually the organization transitioned from relief to more developmental activities including the provision of medium-size agricultural loans, micro-credit and the provision of agricultural inputs. At present, around 150 Armenian staff and three expatriate staff work for UMCOR in Armenia.

Agriculture
UMCOR’s agricultural activities consist of two programs: the demonstration farm program in Gegharkunik and the farmers’ organizations support program.

Demonstration farms: In the course of 2004 UMCOR will establish demonstration farms in the province of Gegharkunik, one of the poorest regions of Armenia. The program has a dual purpose: it is primarily meant to provide training to local poor but active farmers, enabling them to upgrade their knowledge and skills of appropriate agricultural practices. The farms will procure and raise livestock not only for demonstration purposes but also for distribution, in the form of milk and meat, to vulnerable families in the region, thus increasing their food security.

Farmers organizations support program: The farmers organizations support program (FOSPA) helps farming communities to establish agricultural associations. UMCOR strongly believes that there is the potential in Armenia for the development of a strong farming sector, even with the small plot sizes available to many farmers. The associations receive loans for procuring agricultural inputs in bulk, allowing the farmers to reduce their costs and increase income. The program also provides the associations with management and agricultural training as well as marketing assistance. In February 2002, the associations founded the Federation of Agricultural Associations, the FAA. This federation now has a total of 14 members, representing 872 families.

Anti-trafficking
With funding from the Norwegian and the Dutch governments, UMCOR is implementing an anti-trafficking program in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and coordinated by the Armenian government. While UNDP and other organizations are addressing the issue of the legal framework, UMCOR assists victims of trafficking with a safe and caring environment, aiming at their reintegration in society. At the same time in cooperation with UNDP and other partners, UMCOR raises awareness about the tricks of traffickers as a preventive measure.

Aregak
AREGAK is UMCOR’s micro-lending program in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh (NK). By the end of 2003, the program was serving approximately 15,000 clients, predominantly women, with micro-loans and other financial products. AREGAK started its operations in 1997 with a micro-loan program in Vayots Dzor. The program operates in more than 300 cities and villages throughout Armenia and NK.

It is AREGAK’s mission in Armenia and NK to provide high quality financial services to economically active low-income families and small entrepreneurs with the aim of eradicating poverty and developing sustainable livelihoods. The majority of AREGAK’s clients are poor, economically active rural women. Research shows that AREGAK loans help women and their families increase their income. As a result, in many cases, the family has more funds available for medical expenses and the education of the children, which are mentioned by the clients as two priorities for extra income.

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pLavash baker, AREGAK client

AREGAK is on its way to becoming a registered local organization in 2004. At present, AREGAK offers three different financial products: micro-loans, medium-sized loans and family loans. In 2004, AREGAK will commence provision of equipment loans, which is similar to leasing.

Health
UMCOR’s health programs include the distribution of pharmaceuticals, HIV/AIDS prevention, eye care and improving the design and dissemination of health education messages. During its ten-year tenure in the country, UMCOR has acquired extensive experience in the provision of mobile medical services, an activity it would like to continue to implement.

HIV/AIDS prevention: In 2003, UMCOR started a small pilot project for HIV/AIDS prevention in the mountainous province of Gegharkunik with funding from Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). This year, project activities in Gegharkunik will expand to a larger number of villages. The project aims specifically at raising awareness among the general public about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis. Female sex workers are specifically targeted through the project. So far 7,000 people have been reached with health messages and various individuals have received counseling, medical examination, voluntary testing and treatment by project staff.

Health education: UMCOR’s effort to strengthen public health education in Armenia is entirely new. It aims to both raise community awareness about health issues among the general public as well as increase the capacity of leaders and health professionals to design effective public health strategies. The project is expected to culminate in the design, pre-testing, printing and dissemination of innovative health messages. The themes selected for this purpose are AIDS prevention, control of tuberculosis, patients’ rights and anti-smoking. The project also foresees the drafting of a Health Education Manual. The project is funded by the US Department of State (DoS).

Pharmaceuticals: The distribution of pharmaceuticals is UMCOR’s longest-running project in Armenia. For ten years, UMCOR has provided hundreds of clinics throughout the country with essential medicines and medical supplies. These clinics prescribe UMCOR medicines free of charge to vulnerable patients. UMCOR is renowned for this type of intervention.

This year more than 150 health posts and clinics will receive medicines and medical supplies. The project is supported by the US Department of State and closely coordinated with policy makers and regulators at the Ministry of Health. The medicines and supplies are received as donations from private institutions such as Interchurch Medical Assistance, Project Hope and International Relief and Development.

Eye care: In 2003, UMCOR screened schoolchildren at 13 schools, benefiting 4,056 students. In 2004, UMCOR will continue its eye care project aiming to further reduce the prevalence of visual impairment.

Eye Check

In-kind
Since 1995, UMCOR Armenia has been a recipient of in-kind donations, which are passed on to the needy throughout Armenia. Blankets, clothes, shoes, hygiene, layette, sewing and school kits have found their way to thousands of Armenian families, orphanages, boarding schools, nursing homes and institutions for physically and mentally handicapped. Often the distribution is organized with the assistance of local charities, which distribute the goods to their target groups. During its tenure in Armenia, UMCOR has distributed goods with a value of more than US$ 10 million.

Monetization
UMCOR has implemented four monetization programs in the last decade, all funded by the Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In total, UMCOR has imported 14,700 MT of commodities such as vegetable oil and dry milk. “UMCOR oil and milk” are known all over Armenia. The proceeds of the sales have been used for UMCOR’s humanitarian and economic development programs throughout the country. UMCOR’s programs have benefited tens of thousands of the most vulnerable and the poorest people in Armenia.

Nutrition
UMCOR’s nutrition department has experience with the direct distribution of commodities including vegetable oil and wheat flour to tens of thousands of beneficiaries. The department currently implements the cheese distribution project, which is funded with USDA monetization funds. Over 80 institutions, such as orphanages, boarding schools and homes for the elderly, are receiving locally produced fresh cheese for the people they serve. The project will distribute 150,000 kilos of Lori and Chanakh cheese during 2004 thus improving the food security of over 14,000 beneficiaries. A similar project was also implemented in 1999 and 2000.

Contact information:
Paul Daniels, Head of Mission
14, Karapet Ulnetsu Street,
UMCOR Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia
E-mail: paul@umcor.am
Tel: +3741 248141, 282977
www.umcor.am