2010-2013

In 2010-2013 the International Center for Human Development (ICHD) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) implemented the project “Strengthening Evidence-Based Management of Migration in Armenia” with the support of the EU. The overall goal of the project was to enhance management of labour migration flows from Armenia to EU countries through four cross-cutting specific objectives: (A) enhancing capacities of private employment agencies (PEAs) to match labour demand and offer; (B) enabling a conducive environment for circular migration of Armenian workers; (C) strengthening national capacities in migration data collection, analysis and policy and (D) raising awareness towards possible approximation of legislation on migration management with EU Acquis. To address these objectives a series of interlinked activities were implemented, including policy advice, institutional capacity building and awareness raising, which were constantly being revised and updated in line with new developments both in Armenia and the European Union.

In the result of the project, five of 20 PEAs currently active in the Armenian job market have been able to support Armenian labour migrants in making informed and legal choices about labour migration to European countries.  160 profiles of jobseekers are currently registered on Umbrella Information Support System for Employment Services (ULISSES), developed within the project. On one hand, the platform allows PEAs to mitigated possible perils of illegal migration for potential Armenian migrants, and on the other, gives their European counterparts an opportunity to gain consistent and reliable information on labour supply from Armenia. There are already Armenian PEAs, as well as other institutions subscribed to ULISSES.  To enable a conducive environment for circular migration of Armenian workers, ICHD and IOM worked very closely with all the other active stakeholders in the migration field including state authorities, private sector and civil society representatives building up synergies where possible, and contributing insights, recommendations and concrete instruments when needed. Thus, one of the direct outcomes of the project was engaging two Armenian communities, Gyumri and Ashtarak and the Italian community of Nardo in formal community-to-community cooperation. Another output, was improvement of a few financial instruments for labour migrants. The contribution of the project towards this positive change has been acknowledged by the direct stakeholders as well, At least 132,000 Armenians, including migrants and members of their families in capital Yerevan and regions of Armenia can now use new financial instruments, including MobiDram and Idram, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank’s ACBA Transfer Card (ArCa Classic or Maestro). Since mid-2012 the users can pay also for air tickets through these online tools.

On the policy level, bilateral cooperation on labour migration was discussed between Armenia and EU member states: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia. In 2013 Poland introduced a simplified scheme for Armenian migrants engaged in the CLM scheme.

To strengthen national capacities in migration data collection, analysis and policy the project invested considerable resources to enhance the data collection methodology and build up the capacity of relevant state agencies.

Finally, using the recommendations of the “Analysis of Armenian Migration Legislation and Practices as Compared to EU Standards”, a draft “Decision of the Armenian Government on Adopting the 2014 – 2016 National Plan of Action towards Harmonization of the Armenian Legislation on Migration with International Standards, including the Approaches and Principles Adopted by the EU, the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space” was developed, which includes a total of 81 activities. The activities target a wide range of issues, such as the status of foreigners; issues of refugees and asylum; labour migration. It specifies also the need for initiating new laws or making amendments to the current legislation and acceding to international treaties. All these activities are based on the 41 recommendations made in the IOM Gaps Analysis within the framework of the project. To improve the migration management policies in Armenia, the project supported also capacity building activities for policy makers, government, academia and civil society to carry forward the reform in migration management.