The Republic of Armenia, with financial support from the World Bank (WB), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union (EU), along with co-financing from the Government of the Republic of Armenia, is implementing the "Water and Irrigation Services Enhancement" (WISE) Program with a total budget of USD 185 million, launched in March 2026. The program is implemented by the Water Committee of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia through a dedicated Program Implementation Unit established for this purpose. It forms part of a 10-year multiphase program aimed at improving the delivery of irrigation as well as rural water supply and sanitation (WSS) services in Armenia.
Program Objective:
To ensure the implementation of climate-resilient irrigation and water supply systems, contributing to economic growth, food security, balanced regional development, and enhanced management efficiency in the water sector.
The Program consists of 4 components:
- a. Water Sector Policy and Institutional Reform: Including the strengthening of irrigation system management and services, asset management, tariff reforms, and the introduction of climate-resilient water management tools.
- b. Improvement of Water Supply and Sanitation in Rural Communities: Including sectoral capacity development, regulatory reforms, feasibility studies, and the expansion of water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in prioritized, unserved communities.
- c. Modernization of Irrigation Infrastructure and System Management Enhancement: Including the rehabilitation of selected irrigation systems, the application of climate-resilient engineering solutions, and the implementation of an Accounting and Automated Control System for Water Resources (GIS, SCADA, mobile applications).
- d. Program Management
Implementation of Phase 1 of the WISE Program will contribute to achieving the following key outcomes:
- Modernized irrigation systems: Providing a sustainable and reliable water supply to farms, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and crop yields.
- Reduction of water losses and increased conveyance efficiency: Achieved through infrastructure rehabilitation and modernization.
- Safely managed water supply services: Ensuring compliance with established quality, pressure, and continuity standards for rural households in target beneficiary communities.
- Strengthened financial sustainability: Supported by improved cost-recovery mechanisms and institutional reforms.
- Enhanced operational capacity: Building the capacity of the Water Committee, basin management authorities, and rural water supply and sanitation service providers to effectively manage, operate, and maintain systems.