Climate investments are already improving everyday life in communities of Lori

April 17, 2026

Visiting the energy-efficiency building in Stepanavan.

UNDP in Armenia

On 15 April, Stepanavan and Alaverdi communities welcomed UNDP and international partners, national authorities for a site visit under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and UNDP “De-risking and Scaling-up Investment in Energy Efficient Building Retrofits” project - an opportunity to see how long term climate investments are already improving everyday life in communities of Lori.
 

Mr. Leif Holmberg, Co-Chair of the Board, GCF; Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia; Mr. Avetik Darbinyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure; Ms. Sun Mi Lee, Country Coordinator/ Project Lead, Department of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, GCF; Ms. Jana Kopernich, Regional Technical Advisor, UNDP; Mr. Armen Yesoyan, Director of the RA MoE Environmental Project Implementation Unit; Mr. Arsen Gharibyan, Deputy Governor of Lori region; Mr. Armen Grigoryan, Mayor of Stepanavan, Mr. David Ghumashyan, Mayor of Alaverdi, and other high-level officials participated in the events.

From newly renovated multi apartment residential buildings in Stepanavan to upgraded public facilities in Alaverdi, the visit highlighted tangible results: 92 residential buildings and 9 public buildings retrofitted across the two towns, enhancing comfort, reducing energy consumption and improving living conditions for more than 11,500 people, with more than 20,000 benefiting indirectly.

These results have been made possible through the close partnership between UNDP and the Government of Armenia, implemented in cooperation with local authorities within the framework of the Government’s subvention programme. The initiative demonstrates how coordinated action can translate development commitments into real, visible change on the ground.

During the site visits, the delegation met with local authorities and residents, toured retrofitted sites and discussed how energy efficiency investments help households lower energy costs, strengthen resilience and contribute to the implementation of Armenia’s climate goals.

“Energy efficiency is not just about buildings—it is about people,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia. “By investing jointly with the Government and municipalities in multi-apartment buildings and public spaces, we are creating healthier communities, reducing emissions and building a more resilient future for towns like Stepanavan and Alaverdi.”

The visit underscored how strong partnerships—between communities, national institutions and international partners—can turn climate action into lasting local impact, block by block and home by home.