The state management body - National Survey for Seismic Protection under the Government of the Republic of Armenia (NSSP RA) is the institution which was founded by the directive of the Government of the Republic of Armenia on 17 July 1991 and was given special governmental status. The president of NSSP RA is directly subordinated to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

The main goal of the NSSP RA is seismic risk reduction in Armenia i.e. the population residence hazard mitigation, as well as the state economic and social loss reduction results from earthquake. To achieve this goal NSSP RA has developed two long-term Strategic National Programs on seismic risk reduction in Armenia and in Yerevan city. The Programs adopted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia on the 7th and 10th of July in 1999 and are including long-term (up to 30 years), medium-term (up to 5 years) and short-term (up to 1 year) tasks.

All the Ministries and other Governmental, non-Governmental and private organization will participate and contribute these National Programs under the general co-ordination of the NSSP RA assigned by the Government as a state responsible body for the Seismic Risk Reduction Strategy development and implementation which includes:
- seismic hazard and risk assessment
- vulnerability reduction in urban areas, including reinforcement and upgrading of existing buildings and structures as well as areas of location of critical engineered structures (NPP, dams, bridges, etc.)
- design of new seismic building codes
- public awareness, people education and training
- early warning and notification
- risk management, including emergency response and rescue operations
- disaster relief and people rehabilitation
- insurance
- partnership establishment, involving public and private organizations
- development of state laws and regulations on seismic risk reduction
- internationalization of National Programs on the base of wide spread international co-operation

NSSP RA has staff of nearly 1000, out of which more than 300 - the experts with high scientific degrees and nearly 300 - engineers and technicians. NSSP RA carry out specific works on seismic risk reduction including geophysical, geological, geo-chemical, geo-detical, earthquake engineering, sociology, psychology, etc. NSSP RA has the well-equipped Task Force Unit that repeatedly participating in international relief and rehabilitation missions.

NSSP RA has a unique multi-parameter-monitoring network consisting of more than 150 stations incorporated into regional and global network. National observation network is used for round-the-clock tracking of seismic, geophysical, geo-dynamical, geo-chemical, atmospheric and other parameters of geo-sphere changing aimed to current seismic hazard assessment in the territory of Armenia.

NSSP RA consists of several administrative departments and centers. Each department has a specialized divisions which carry out all range of works on seismic protection (from the seismic hazard and risk assessment to the seismoresistance of buildings and structures and participation in new building codes creation; from knowledge dissemination on seismic protection and population training to the rapid response and rescue operations). NSSP RA departments specialized divisions connected to each other by adjoining tasks and responsible for their fulfillment.

The President of the NSSP RA makes important decisions in the field of seismic protection of the population, based on the three Councils:
・ NSSP RA Council is reviewing and confirming the internal problems and documents of the NSSP RA.
・ Expert Council is reviewing and confirming the normative documents in the field of seismic protection of the population makes examination of decisions on seismic risk reduction.
・ Scientific-Technical Council is forming the scientific-technical policy and developing the International collaboration in the field of seismic risk reduction.

The Councils includes well-known armenian and foreign experts in the field of seismic hazard and seismic risk reduction assessment.

At the permanent acting NSSP RA Seminar only in 2000 more than 40 distinguished armenian and foreign scientists and experts presented their scientific and technological research on various fields of science.

NSSP RA for ten years has significant achievements in the field of seismic risk reduction namely:

Seismic Hazard Assessment. For the territory of Crimea - Caucasus - Copet-Dagh in the frame of the GSHAP Program, and for the territory of Armenia within the framework of the national program, the first probabilistic maps of SHA have been created.

Current Seismic Hazard Assessment. A unique multi-parameter network has been established. It consists of 150 monitoring stations performing round-the-clock data acquisition and analysis. Expert systems for current seismic hazard assessment have been created.

Seismic Risk Assessment. The original method for seismic risk quantitative assessment based on the main seismic risk factors, that is, seismic hazard level, population density and buildings' vulnerability, have been elaborated.

New Methods for Reinforcement of Buildings and Structures. New methods for increasing the earthquake resistance of buildings and structures have been developed and successfully tested and implemented in practice

New Seismic Construction Codes. NSSP RA took part in creation of the first seismic construction codes for Armenia.

Early Warning Systems and Notification. An Early Warning System based on the current seismic hazard assessment has been developed and is under realization. A project of Early Warning System based on automatic registration and determination of the parameters of destructive seismic wave propagation is under preparation. A project of Early Warning System based on the fast determination of earthquake parameters and estimation of possible destruction and human loss is under preparation.

Development of Large-scale Initiatives and Projects for regional and international co-operation in the field of population protection against earthquakes, including all scientific and social aspects of the problem.

State Disaster Law and Regulations. The Law on Seismic Protection of Armenia is under development and will be submitted to Armenian Government in 2001.

Risk Management, including Emergency Response and Rescue Operations. The Rapid Response Forces were organized for operation in strong earthquake epicentral zone. They include rescuers and scientific staff for rescue activities and scientific investigations immediately after a strong earthquake.

Population Education. The Center for people education and training in the field of protection against earthquakes has been established in NSSP RA. Education system involves instructors, mass media, TV and radio.

Today NSSP RA not only national but also big international center. In 2001 NSSP RA concluded more than 50 international agreements and memorandums in the field of seismic protection with the all leading surveys of the world - France, USA, Italy, Greece, Iran, India, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Georgia, Azerbaijan, China, Japan and other countries.

NSSP RA for 10 years gained unique experience in seismic protection. NSSP RA achievements and contribution in this multi-disciplinary field were recognized by UN-SASAKAVA CERTIFICATE of DISTINCTION DISASTER PREVENTION AWARD "in appreciation for its distinguished contribution to disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness and furthering the goals of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction", Geneva 14 October 1998.

On February 2001 after the destructive earthquake in Gujarat State the Government of Armenia rushed to India multi-profile well-equipped NSSP RA Task Force Unit consists of seismologists, geologists, earthquake and communication engineers, psychologist, instructor on work with population, physicians and rescuers which works were highly appreciated by the Government of India and Gujarat State Administration. NSSP RA Task Force Unit enrolled into the staff of international formations acting under the aegis of UN.