Nune Harutyunyan
Director
Regional Environmental Center for Caucasus (RECC)
Armenia

Biography
Ms. Nune Harutyunyan is an international development professional with 18 years of professional experience in international diplomacy, international law and environmental management, focusing initiatives targeting biodiversity conservation, climate change, sustainable management of natural resources, economic valuation of ecosystem services, strategic planning, organizational development and management. Ms. Harutyunyan has an academic background in International Law from Lund University (Sweden, 2001), MA in International Studies and Conflict Resolution from Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver (USA, 2004), and has got a specialization in Green Economy from Dresden Technical University (Germany, 2013). After seven years of working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Harutyunyan has been heading larger international and regional projects working for UNDP, Agribusiness Teaching Center (International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education), EU funded regional projects, she has been providing consultancy services to UNDP and UN agencies in a number of countries in CIS and Central Asia, South Caucasus. Since 2009 she is heading Armenian National office of REC Caucasus, and from 2011 Ms. Harutyunyan is Executive Troika Member from Armenia, Regional Director of REC Caucasus in Tbilisi, Georgia. Ms. Harutyunyan is currently managing Resource efficiency and cleaner production project in Armenia funded by UNIDO, and has been appointed Smart city focal point of the Ministry of Urban Development of Armenia.

Abstract
Perspectives of Smart City Development in Armenia: Smart City of Goris

The presentation investigates sustainable urban strategies and impact of the notion of Smart city currently being piloted in Armenia’s Southern province of Syunik, city of Goris, chosen by UNECE and Government of Armenia as a pilot site. Presentation outlines the main targets pursued within the project of Smart city of Goris, including improved land and housing conditions, environment, energy efficient solution, IT innovations, sustainable and participatory urban development policies and practices, accessibility of infrastructure and service modified for the benefits of local citizens, possibilities to fight negative impact of climate change and preserve city’s historical and cultural heritage, improved and effective public-private partnerships targeting resource efficiency and cleaner production. The smart city profile methodology and indicators are currently being developed considering local challenges and their future applicability to the international context, and will take into account the diverse political, economic and social situation and needs of cities in the UNECE region and beyond. Furthermore, a network of pilot cities is being established. The smart cities profile will help the city’s stakeholders to understand the needs of the city for becoming “smarter”, with more enabling living conditions, availability of smarter development policies based on multi-stakeholder co-operation and improved governance structure encouraging partnerships between government, civil society, experts, financial institutions and think tanks.