Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), in collaboration with Mission Armenia (MA), has launched a new initiative to support refugee women from Nagorno-Karabakh and women from host communities in Armenia. The project, “Empowerment of Refugees and Host Communities: Improving Employability and Active Support for Sustainable Integration (ELSI),” aims to enhance employability and promote social integration through targeted support and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) the ELSI project promotes social inclusion, strengthens the resilience of vulnerable groups, and improves access to social protection mechanisms. By adopting a nexus approach, it moves beyond short-term emergency aid and contributes to long-term, sustainable empowerment that bridges humanitarian assistance and development cooperation.

To address complex socio-economic challenges and ensure inclusive growth, the project focuses on:

• Vocational training and skills development to improve employability in sectors with high labour market demand;        
• Employment support and entrepreneurship through career counselling, job matching, financial literacy training and small business support.
• Psychosocial support (PSS) to strengthen well-being and resilience
• Institutional capacity building for VET centres, social workers, local authorities and partner organizations to strengthen sustainable support system

Through strong partnerships and targeted interventions , the ELSI project contributes  to a more inclusive future by supporting vulnerable populations and strengthening resilience across Armenia.

Donor: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Project duration: 1 December 2025 – 31 March 2029