Project description

1. “UNIDO Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) Demonstration component Project of the EaP GREEN Programme of the EU in Armenia” Regional conference onPolicy and Legal Frameworks Analysis in Terms of Consideration of Cleaner Production in South CaucasusTbilisi (Georgia), 26-27 June, 2014

2. Project description • UNIDO’s RECP Demonstration Programme is aimed to improve resource productivity and environmental performance of businesses at the regional and national levels particularly in agro/food processing, chemicals and construction materials’ sectors. • In case of Armenia, RECP demonstrations would target food and beverage, chemical, and construction materials. Armenian businesses will benefit from RECP implementation through • cost savings on energy, • materials, • waste and effluent disposal, • improved compliance, • innovative products and services which will be generated by the group of UNIDO RECP national experts which will assess suggested SMEs interested in resource efficiency and cleaner production based on RECP methodology and suggest corrective measures for each of the industries/sectors involved.

3. MAIN PROJECT ACTIVITIES Duration of this project is 36 months starting from 2013. The RECP Demonstration Component is structured in three work-streams. 1. RECP human and Institutional Capacity Development: The project will prepare UNIDO certified group of Armenian experts who will deliver value-adding RECP services to Armenian enterprises and CBOs, in particular in the priority industry sectors, namely • agro-food processing • chemicals and • construction materials National experts will be trained to develop assessment skills and business advisory competencies and experiences. They are expected to deliver value adding RECP services to enterprises and CBOs in Armenia. The RECP services to be developed and delivered by the national experts will be complimentary to other types of environmental and energy advisory services.

4. MAIN PROJECT ACTIVITIES -2 2. RECP Implementation, Dissemination and Replication: It is expected that this work stream will result in the implementation of RECP concepts, methods, practices and technologies by enterprises and CBOs in Armenia. Their environment, resource use and economic benefits will also have been monitored and verified to provide a foundation for communications and advocacy initiatives, including dissemination of results through publications, workshops and other media. A number of up to 8-10 demonstration companies will be assessed based on RECP methodology already in 2014. 3. RECP Technology Support: Component is aimed to improve access to appropriate and affordable RECP practices and techniques, in particular for the target industry sectors. Common technical needs will be identified following the RECP assessments and customized technical solutions will be identified, and appropriate mechanisms developed for their transfer and/or deployment and effective implementation, operation and maintenance in Armenia.

5. PROJECT RESULTS • It is expected that businesses, business membership organizations, government and potentially other stakeholders (e.g. professional associations, academia) will have improved their awareness and understanding of RECP, its benefits and contribution to sustainable development. • The industry demonstration and replication activities will provide enterprise success stories and case studies, with documented environmental, economic and other benefits of RECP implementation. This will contribute towards overcoming weak incentives for consideration and implementation of RECP.

6. Implemented activities • UNIDO RECP coordination meeting The main objective of the First Coordination meeting was establishing working linkages between team members based on UNIDO contractual documents, finalizing the work plans and schedule of events in each country, building mutual understanding on further DC’s implementation at the national levels and sharing views on options and obstacles for successful realization of the envisaged activities at the national and regional levels in the year 2014. • During the meeting RECP project National Coordinator Ms. Nune Harutyunyan has presented the “Green economy perspectives and situation on resource efficiency and clean production in Armenia” outlining the status of current activities, as well as previous experiences with promotion of RECP (cleaner production) initiatives and projects in Armenia.

7. Coordination/inception meetings of the national coordinator and project administrator with Ministry of Nature Protection, Ministry of Economy, UNIDO Office in Armenia and Focal Points • Several initial meetings presenting the project goals and objectives, proposed action, methodology and expected outputs were conducted by the National coordinator in March and April 2014. Purpose of the meetings was to coordinate and improve understanding, as well as stimulate public awareness with key partners in government leading green growth/green economy process within the country. • National coordinator had a meeting with Ms. Simonyan, UNIDO Armenia office, to discuss and consult on possibly synergies between UNIDO activities, as well as creation of the Steering committee. It was decided that UNIDO will lead formulation of the SC in Armenia, and REC C would support the process coordinating with key partners and ministries. • SC has been created, however it is now undergoing changes and re-appointment of ite members due to the changes of Government.

8. Activity 1: Identification, training and coaching of National experts in basic and advanced RECP methods and applications 3.1. Activity 1.1: Identification of National experts’ team on RECP • Elaboration of the Vacancy Announcement and Terms of Reference , REC Caucasus website (www.rec-caucasus.org). Mentioned announcement and ToR has been posted on the websites of UN Armenia, UNDP Armenia, REPAT Armenia and Armenian Scientific Cooperation • 12 CVs with the most relevant qualifications and experience of candidates and skills were selected and provided to UNIDO for approval and final contracting, • RECP experts have been invited to the training on RECP methodology and application (introduction), as well as visited four SME demonstration companies for conducting initial assessment on potential intervention on Resource efficiency and cleaner production. Demonstration companies included • “KASHI" OJSC  (Manufacturer - Natural leather production), • “ NewPlast” company producing plastic pipes, • “Lukashin” brand producing dried fruit, • “Noyan” juice company. Initial recommendations on RECP potential activities and interventions targeting optimization, resource efficiency, improving cleaner production technologies have been elaborated and are summarized below.

9. Problems in RECP identified within DEMO companies, and recommended measures • Lack of a system for wastewater reuse • Lack of production for the use of waste • Loss of power • Loss of water and raw materials because of the lack of a closed system of wastewater reuse and production on the use of waste materials, • Loss of power • Loss of organic waste production • Lack of wastewater treatment (reuse) systems • Loss of electricity, heat • Inaccurate measurements • Circulation wastewater • Reuse of wastewater • Processing of residues of raw materials (leather) • Sale of residues of raw materials (leather, salt) • Introduction of solar panels, water heaters on the roof space • Creation of concurrent proceedings aimed at reuse of wastewater • Building of reservoirs • Cooperation with neighboring businesses, sharing water treatment plant • Adjusting the temperature in the drum depending on the quantity and quality of raw materials • Use of more accurate measuring instruments • Re-use of salt for industrial purposes • Water used for technological process and through the cleaning station can be used again for production purposes

10. RECP Introductory training • The objective of the training was to present to the training participants the Project objectives and outputs, basic and advanced RECP methods and applications, and supportive management/entrepreneurship topics. • Target group: National experts on RECP, SME’s and students International expert NazirAbidjanov specialized on cleaner production conducted the training in order to deliver in a coordinated and sustainable manner RECP assessment, training, information, advisory and related services that are valuable to enterprises and other organizations • Awareness and understanding of RECP opportunities and benefits improved at the national and regional levels among enterprises, government and civil society • Project website in Armenia – www.recp.am • Project information booklet on activities and outputs of RECP • Cooperation with American University of Armenia to promote RECP in environmental education curricula for Master students.

11. Visits to Demonstration companies