Today marked a significant step toward inclusive service delivery in Armenia, as seven specially adapted minivans were officially handed over by the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to respective SNCOs providing services to persons with disabilities.

The symbolic handover event, held at the Nork Elderly Care Institution in Yerevan, brought together Narek Mkrtchyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, Silvia Mestroni, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Armenia, and other partners from MLSA.

This initiative is being realized under the “Stronger Services for Equal Participation and Inclusive Development” project, implemented jointly by UNDP  and UNICEF in partnership with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. 

The project focuses on four key areas: disability policy reform, digitalization, assistive technologies, and independent living services.

The vehicles will enhance the outreach and mobility of institutions supporting children and adults with disabilities, especially in remote and underserved areas, enabling timely access to essential care.

“These vehicles are more than a means of transport, they are a bridge to inclusion. With every journey they take, they will carry the message that accessibility is not an option, it is a right,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.