EU4Armenia (2017-2019)

Energy poverty is a growing problem in Armenia, especially in rural areas. Recent UNECE surveys show that at least 30 percent of the population can be considered ‘energy poor’: these households spend more than half of their income on energy and heating. The situation is complicated by the fact that local civil society groups and organisations lack both, the knowledge and the capacity to support the population and municipalities in articulating the problem of energy poverty and the need for action to the relevant decision-makers. Against this background, the National Social Housing Association Foundation (ASBA) in Armenia has joined forces with partners from the Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic to initiate the EU4Armenia project. The project aimed to address the problem of energy poverty in rural areas by developing measures to raise awareness of the issue on all relevant sides and by making practical arrangements for improved, i.e. more conscious energy consumption. This way, energy expenditure can be reduced and contribute to an improved quality of life.