Organics Mobilized: Accelerating Social Transformation Towards Circular Bioeconomy

RATIONALE

Armenia, like many landlocked countries, faces a growing food and nutrition challenge rooted in inefficient organic waste management across municipal and agricultural systems. Nearly 50% of MSW consists of food and green waste, much of which is openly dumped—generating GHG emissions and squandering valuable nutrients that could enhance soil health and support food production. In parallel, manure, crop residues, slaughterhouse waste, and oil-cake from the agricultural sector remain largely unmanaged, contributing to localized pollution, GHG emissions, and lost economic value.  

In rural provinces like Lori and Syunik, the problem is compounded by fragmented cold chain infrastructure. Many farmers lack reliable post-harvest storage and first-mile logistics, leading to premature sales, reduced incomes, and high rates of edible food loss. Outdated cold storage units often rely on super-pollutant refrigerants, worsening environmental impacts. Simultaneously, Armenia lacks systems for large-scale nutrient recovery—such as compost or digestate use—constraining agroecological restoration and soil regeneration. For years, public subsidies have supported chemical inputs, a trend that undermines soil health and risks being perpetuated without reform.  

The project addresses these challenges through a systems-based approach that pilots source separation, composting, AD feedstock preparation, and inclusive cold chain upgrades. It will establish regional Living Labs and engage a national Learning Community to support innovation, replication, and adaptive scaling. The learning communities serve as the mechanism for translating Living Lab insights into national action. They’re not just observers, but co-creators adapting innovations to their local contexts. By targeting methane reduction, food recovery, soil health, and rural resilience, the project will foster a more circular, inclusive, and climate-smart food system in Armenia, leveraging UNDP’s validated portfolio approach for systemic transformation. 

OBJECTIVES

• The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Environment formally adopt national guidance on climate- smart resource management, while regional governments in Lori, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik adopt and implement regional circular organics strategies, and municipal authorities operationalize local action plans for source separation, organics treatment, and low-carbon resource management by the end of the project.
• Municipalities in Lori, Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions institutionally adopt and implement source separation and decentralized organics treatment by the end of the project.
• Food Loss Reduction via Cold Chain (Cold Chain Lab – Syunik/National) 5-10% food loss reduction in Syunik will be obtained via Cold Chain by the end of the project.
• Finance Catalyzed for AD & Circular Models by the end of the project
• 10 target municipalities actively participate in a Learning Community, replicate and adapt circular economy and climate- smart resource management models, and regularly report MRV-based short-lived climate pollutant reductions and co- benefits by the end of the project. 

[WST-25-009] - Organics Mobilized: Accelerating Social Transformation Towards Circular Bioeconomy