24 Nov
Uncategorized

Connecting Regions, Elevating Tourism: RECONOMY at ITF Armenia 2025

RECONOMY’s Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness project was proud to be part of ITF Armenia – a dynamic platform for unveiling new tourism experiences and fostering regional partnerships.

Within the project’s Regional Tourism Development in EaP Countries component, Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO supported partners from Moldova (ANTRIM) and Georgia (GTA) to join this key international event. SDA enabled the participation of four Moldovan and five Georgian representatives, covering stand design, travel, and accommodation to ensure strong visibility and meaningful engagement.

The fair served as a vibrant marketplace for the tour operators from project to present newly developed tourism products – including regional cross-border packages created with RECOMY’s support – and to build new business connections and partnerships.

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.

21 Nov
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

Shaping Tomorrow’s Livestock Sector: INLIMA ’s Working Visit to Shirak

The team of the “Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project, led by Project Manager Vahe Hovhannisyan, carried out a working visit to Shirak, one of the project’s target regions.

At the Shirak Regional Administration, the team held discussions with Albert Ayvazyan, Deputy Governor of Shirak Region and representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, focusing on the project’s strategic priorities and potential avenues for collaboration.

The project team also visited the “Gyumri Breeding Station” CJSC, where they met with its Director, Levon Ananyan, to present the project’s overarching objectives, innovative approaches, and the prospects for joint initiatives.

These meetings provided a valuable platform for aligning perspectives and defining the forthcoming steps of cooperation, laying a solid groundwork for modernizing the livestock sector in Shirak and ensuring the sustained impact of the INLIMA project

“Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project is implemented by the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.

18 Nov
Uncategorized

SDA Participated in Consultative Workshops on the Establishment of the “Jermuk” and “Tatev” National Parks, Showcasing Successful Practices from the LILA Project

On November 12 in Vayots Dzor and November 14 in Syunik, two high-level consultative workshops were held within the “Biodiversity and Protected Areas” component of the Biodiversity and Sustainable Local Development in Armenia program. The discussions focused on the establishment processes of the “Jermuk” and “Tatev” National Parks.

The workshops addressed key issues related to defining the boundaries of the parks, outlining future management models, and exploring opportunities for economic and tourism collaboration with local communities.

The Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO presented the successful experience developed under the economic component of the LILA project, specifically in advancing the value chain in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The outcomes of the LILA project demonstrate that fostering responsible tourism, mobilizing community potential, and applying integrated approaches to environmental conservation can simultaneously ensure effective management of protected areas and promote sustainable local economic growth.

We are confident that the best practices shared and the discussions held during these workshops will support the creation of sustainable and efficient management systems for the new national parks, strengthen community engagement, and stimulate joint development initiatives.

SDA NGO remains committed to supporting efforts that contribute to local economic development, environmental protection, and the promotion of responsible tourism.

Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by WWF-Armenia in collaboration with SDA NGO.

12 Nov
NEWSARM

IADAAM Mapping Stakeholders, Cultivating Impact: AEST and MoE Teams Build New Skills

On November 12, 2025, the “Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM)” Project organized a training session on “Stakeholder Mapping and Data Collection.”

The training, led by Anna Sargsyan, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert of the IADAAM Project, brought together representatives of the Agricultural Extension Support Team (AEST) and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia (MoE).

The training focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of stakeholder mapping as a dynamic and ongoing process essential for effective project implementation. It covered key principles, approaches, and methodologies for identifying, analyzing, and classifying stakeholders, as well as techniques for data collection and analysis relevant to the project’s objectives.

By fostering collaboration and innovation, the session equipped AEST and MoE teams to drive evidence-based change in Armenia’s irrigated agriculture sector.

The Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM) project, financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented with the support of the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement), aims to transform irrigated agriculture in Armenia.

Implemented by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, the project’s technical assistance is provided by a consortium comprising AESA – Agriconsulting Europe SA, Avenue Consulting Group LLC, Strategic Development Agency NGO, and 3R Strategy LLC, with the aim of strengthening agricultural policy and advancing sector reforms.

06 Nov
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Strategic Development Agency at WTM London 2025: When Virtual Areni Meets Real London

We are proud to share that Alla Ghazaryan, Coordinator of the LILA Project, participated in WTM London 2025, representing Strategic Development Agency (SDA) and promoting sustainable tourism together with LILA Project partners — Nueva Vista DMC and Tour Operator, and AM TRAVEL – alongside the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

This year’s participation was particularly special – for the first time, a Virtual Reality (VR) experience was presented from Armenia’s side, offering visitors an immersive Areni-1 Cave wine-tasting journey.

As one of the world’s leading travel and tourism events, WTM London provides an incredible platform to connect with global industry leaders, explore emerging trends shaping the future of travel, and, most importantly, showcase Armenia as a unique and desirable tourism destination rich in culture, history, and innovation.

Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by WWF-Armenia in collaboration with SDA NGO.

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