Current Strategy (2009-2013) - Page 3

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Social and Health Portfolio

USAID activities in social and health areas will build upon accomplishments of the previous USAID strategy, continuing to focus on increasing the use of improved health and social services for Armenia’s most vulnerable populations. At the same time, USAID’s activities will serve as a catalyst for change by promoting the adoption of international best practice, policy reform, and system strengthening for enhanced efficiency. Central themes of USAID’s social and health portfolio are to encourage appropriate roles for the private and public sector- which in Armenia translates into an increased role for the private sector with appropriate government oversight - and increased capacity of government and the non-governmental sector in service delivery.

Labor Market and Pension Reform: To further improve social protection systems, USAID will target four specific areas: 1) building GOAM’s institutional and human resource capacity to implement a multi-pillar pension system; 2) giving greater attention to countering the effects of the global economic crisis which significantly affected the already inefficient Armenian labor market, 3) improving Armenia’s workforce readiness and competitiveness with an integrated economic and social approach; and 4) better targeting of social assistance benefits and services to the most vulnerable, including increasing public-private partnerships in provision of services.

Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive Health and Family Planning: USAID will provide technical assistance to support high-impact maternal and child health and reproductive health and family planning interventions in Armenia, focusing on reduction of maternal and under-five mortality by establishing an effective continuum of care to deliver essential services for mothers and children at critical points in adolescence, pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, and early childhood.

Tuberculosis: USAID will scale up support to the Ministry of Health and the Armenian National Tuberculosis Program to promote nationwide TB coordination, improve the quality of TB diagnostic and treatment services through the PHC system targeting rural vulnerable populations.