Strategic Development Agency NGO

🟢Training on Silage Production and Manure Management for #MAVETA Project Partners 🔰As part of the Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, a short-term training on silage production was conducted in the Lori and Syunik regions from November 11 to 15. The course was led by Stefan Dubach, a lecturer in didactics and methodology at the University of Agriculture, Forest, and Food Sciences (HAFL) in Bern, and head of the “Teaching and Consulting” program. Participants included lecturers from Stepanavan State Agricultural College, Goris State Agricultural College, DUAL students as well as partner farmers from Lori and Syunik regions with an interest in fodder production. The training sessions covered the advantages and disadvantages of silage production, methods for evaluating raw fodder, and its suitability for silage. The Swiss expert also introduced participants to the latest methods and equipment used in silage production, along with best practices for organizing optimal harvesting and storage. 🤝The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC. The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).

🌱 📈 Sustainable Success: Swedish Know-How in Trade and Aid 🟠 Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO, participated in a forum on environmental sustainability, competitiveness, and market access organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Yerevan on November 19. In his opening remarks, H.E. Patrick Svensson, Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia, highlighted Sweden’s dedication to fostering partnerships with Armenia and expanding development cooperation. The forum brought together over 80 participants, including business leaders, government representatives, and development experts, to explore how sustainability can drive economic growth and enhance trade competitiveness. During a panel discussion titled “Sweden’s Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Sustainability and Export-Readiness,” Mkrtich Ayvazyan shared the Strategic Development Agency NGO’s longstanding collaboration with Swedish partners. He also discussed the organization’s contributions to sustainable economic development, particularly through RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” and other ongoing projects. “Operating in more than 200 communities across Armenia since 2002, the SDA’s mission has remained unchanged: to bring positive change to people’s real lives,” emphasized Mkrtich Ayvazyan. 🤝 RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions.

🔵LDASN-2 Meeting of the Steering Committee of the "Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2" project․ On November 20, the year-end meeting of the Steering Committee of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project was held at the Gyumri breeding station. 🇦🇹 🇦🇲Klaus Kapper, Head of the Austrian Development Agency in Armenia, Tigran Aleksanyan, Head of the Livestock Breeding Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia, Anna Martikyan, Deputy Governor of Shirak, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO, Norik Mkrtchyan, Director of the Gyumri Breeding Station, representatives of the project's target communities participated in the meeting. Vahe Hovhannisyan, the project manager, presented the progress of the "Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2" project and the results recorded so far. Mikayel Haykuni, animal health and breeding specialist, presented the directions of possible involvement of SDA regarding the implementation of "Piloting and National Programs to Increase Productivity in the Cattle Breeding Sector." 🐄It was emphasized that the establishment and operation of the "Gyumri Breeding Station" will allow to contribute to the increase productivity of the cattle in the republic. Tigran Aleksanyan, the head of the Department of Livestock Breeding of the Ministry of Economy, presented the state approaches to the implementation of the pilot program for increasing productivity.  At the meeting, the #SDA presented another important initiative in the field of livestock development, aimed at the regulation of animal migration for pasture grazing.  Then the participants of the meeting exchanged ideas about possible cooperation in the field with involvement of local, state and international players. 🤝“Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project is implemented by “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and financed by the Austrian Development Agency, the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.

👏Congratulations to the AMTRAVEL team on this achievement! Investing in professional development is key to driving excellence and innovation in Armenia's tourism sector. Wishing you continued success in creating exceptional travel experiences!

🟤 #IADAAM "Development of Irrigated Agriculture in Ararat and Armavir Marzes" (IADAAM) project’s team met with the staff of Ararat regional administration 💁♂️ 🗓️ On November 20th, RA Ararat Marz Governor Sedrak Tevonyan welcomed a delegation led by Stefan Rosenow, the team leader of the "Development of Irrigated Agriculture in Ararat and Armavir Marzes" (IADAAM) project. 🌱Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (AFD) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia. 🌐Within the IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A, Avenue Consulting Group LLC, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in the formulation of agricultural policies and reforms in priority areas. During the meeting, the project team presented an overview of the planned activities for Ararat Marz, outlining the key objectives and anticipated outcomes 🌱 The importance of access to services essential for managing water resources and promoting agricultural development, as well as the challenges in the agricultural sector that are hindering the economic growth of Ararat region were discussed.  The Governor of Ararat Marz Sedrak Tevonyan has indicated his support for the project. "Our farmers need agricultural advisory services to improve their operations, and this component of the project is very important and in demand," he said. The meeting aimed to foster closer cooperation between regional administration and AEST Coordinators to create a more resilient and efficient agricultural system in Ararat Marz.

ARM / ENG «Ագրո քընսալթինգ Եվրոփ»-ի (AESA) գյուղատնտեսության և գյուղական բնակավայրերի զարգացման դեպարտամենտի ղեկավար Լորենցո Գրացիոլիի Հայաստան կատարած այցի ընթացքում էկոնոմիկայի նախարարությունում տեղի ունեցավ ընդլայնված կազմով հանդիպում «Ոռոգվող գյուղատնտեսության զարգացում Արարատի և Արմավիրի մարզերում» (IADAAM) ծրագրի տեխնիկական աջակցության բաղադրիչի իրականացման մեջ ներգրավված կառույցների ներկայացուցիչների մասնակցությամբ։ Ծրագրում տեխնիկական աջակցության բաղադրիչն իրականացվում է «Ագրո քընսալթինգ Եվրոփ»-ի, «Ավենյու քընսալթինգ գրուպ» ՍՊԸ-ի, «Ռազմավարական զարգացման գործակալություն» ՀԿ-ի և «3 ԱՐ Ստրատեգիա» ՍՊԸ մասնակցությամբ կոնսորցիումի կողմից։ «Ոռոգվող գյուղատնտեսության զարգացումը Արարատի և Արմավիրի մարզերում» (IADAAM) ծրագիրը, որը ֆինանսավորվում է Եվրոպական միության միջոցով (ԵՄ), Զարգացման ֆրանսիական գործակալության (ԶՖԳ) իրականացմամբ, համապարփակ նախաձեռնություն է, որի նպատակն է վերափոխել ոռոգվող գյուղատնտեսությունը Հայաստանում։  Հանդիպմանը քննարկվեցին IADAAM ծրագրի շրջանակներում նախատեսված միջոցառումները և միջամտությունները, որոնց նպատակն է բարելավել ոռոգման համակարգերը և գյուղատնտեսական պրակտիկան Արարատի և Արմավիրի մարզերում: Հանդիպմանը անդրադարձ կատարվեց նաև Հայաստանում «Ագրո քընսալթինգ Եվրոփ»-ի (AESA) մասնաճյուղի հիմնման գործընթացին, որը կծառայի որպես ծրագրերի համակարգման տեղական կենտրոն և կբարձրացնի մարզերում տրամադրվելիք տեխնիկական աջակցության արդյունավետությունը: During the visit of Lorenzo Grazioli, Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Department at AESA - Agriconsulting Europe SA to Armenia, an enlarged meeting was held in the Ministry of Economy with the representatives of institutions involved in the implementation of the technical assistance component of the "Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes" (IADAAM) project. Within the IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A․, Avenue Consulting Group, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium. Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia.  During the meeting the discussion was held with a focus on the planned activities and interventions under the IADAAM project, which aims to improve irrigation systems and agricultural practices in the Ararat and Armavir regions. The meeting also covered the establishment of an AESA branch office in Armenia, which will serve as a local hub for project coordination and enhance the effectiveness of technical assistance in the regions.

📣 2024թ. նոյեմբերի 6-ին Երևանում ներկայացվեցին «Հայաստանի կենդանի լանդշաֆտները շուկայի զարգացման համար» (LILA) ծրագրի բնահեն լուծումների ու զբոսաշրջության զարգացման շրջանակում իրականացված արդյունքները 🟢 Տես ավելին այստեղ 👇

We are looking for a local professional to support me with the #SEIRA project. ⬇ Since September 2024, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation launched a new project called "Socio-Economic Integration of Refugees in Armenia" (SEIRA) to continue supporting Armenia in integrating refugees from Nagorno Karabakh into society while improving social cohesion and economic prospects in remote rural areas of the country. SEIRA is a contribution to the activities of the World Food Programme in Armenia and the Strategic Development Agency NGO with an ambition to support 1’500 refugee- and vulnerable local households facilitating their transition from humanitarian aid to long-term development.

🔰 RECONOMY & #LILA Trainings on Providing Experiential Tourism Services 🏞 As part of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) and RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” projects, training sessions on “Essentials of Experiential Tourism Services and Registration on the LIKE LOCAL Digital Platform” were held on November 2-3 in Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor. The training, led by LIKE LOCAL platform representative Gevorg Babayan and expert Sirarpi Fahradyan, engaged participants through interactive discussions. Attendees explored various approaches to developing tourism products and learned about factors influencing their success, along with the characteristics of providing alternative tourism services on an international platform. Special focus was given to the demands of experiential tourism, including arts and crafts, local traditions, food service, and hygiene standards. Participants also received a detailed overview of writing guidelines for the LIKE LOCAL platform, covering account management, the use of digital tools for guest communication, and other technical aspects. Additionally, the training emphasized skills in guest service, intercultural communication, and ethical practices, providing a comprehensive foundation for professionals aiming to enhance Armenia’s tourism offerings. 🤝 LILA project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by the WWF Armenian Office (WWF-Armenia) in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO. 🤝 RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries.

🖼 Ecolur's article on the most recent collaboration between the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) and RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” projects. ✍ On November 2-3, a training session titled "Experiential Tourism Services and Guidelines for Registering on “LIKE LOCAL Digital Platform" was held in the communities of Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor. The training aimed to support local community members in developing and presenting tourism services using innovative approaches, focusing on how to successfully provide experiential tourism services—from product development strategies to presenting their services on digital platforms. More at 👉 https://lnkd.in/efpKPDmi