Lori Berd, Armenia – 9 June 2025 — A high-level delegation visited the Lori Berd community in Lori region to observe the construction progress of a daily regulated water reservoir (DWR), a key component of the “Resilience from the Start” project. This initiative is funded by the Government of Serbia and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia.

The visit was attended by Tatiana Panajotović Cvetković, Ambassador of Serbia to Armenia; Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia; Koryun Shekoyan, Head of Programs Department at the Lori Governor’s Office; and Arayik Nersisyan, Head of Lori Berd community. They were joined by colleagues from the Embassy of Serbia, UNDP, and project experts.

The 8,900 m³ reservoir, currently under construction in the Hovnanadzor settlement, is designed to significantly improve irrigation in the region. Once completed, it will expand irrigated land by 160 hectares and fully irrigate an additional 240 hectares. The project will directly benefit 900 households—approximately 3,700 farmers, including 2,000 women—and indirectly support over 8,000 individuals, including refugees.

UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili expressed gratitude to the Government of Serbia for generous funding and the Embassy of Serbia to Armenia for new, but very productive partnership. She emphasized that strengthening local capacities is crucial in the context of a crisis to enhance resilience and create more significant opportunities for host communities and refugees. “We are glad that our efforts to improve systems and infrastructure will turn into tangible results soon in Lori Berd community,” concluded Natia Natsvlishvili.

The reservoir will serve nine rural settlements: Yaghdan and Koghes in the Lori Berd community, and Karmir Aghek, Arevatsag, Tsater, Mghart, Aygehat, Odzun, and Ardvin in the Alaverdi community. A similar reservoir is also under construction in the Ijevan community, Tavush region, further extending the project’s impact.

This initiative is part of a larger project that aims to respond to the needs of host communities and refugees by offering sustainable solutions aimed at promoting social cohesion.