On June 7 and 8, 2025, within the framework of the “Development of Irrigated Agriculture in the Ararat and Armavir Regions” (IADAAM) program, two intensive thematic training sessions were successfully conducted. These sessions were designed specifically for the staff of the Agricultural Departments under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, aimed at enhancing their leadership, communication, and negotiation skills – both at the individual and team levels.

The trainings were delivered by Magda Arsenyan, PhD in Political Science, whose experienced and specialized approach ensured high participant engagement and effective achievement of the training objectives.

On June 7, the training session entitled “Leadership in Public Administration: From Self-Awareness to Effective Crisis Management” was conducted. Throughout this comprehensive program, participants engaged in an in-depth examination of the core leadership principles pertinent to the public administration sector. The session also addressed the critical influence of socio-psychological factors on managerial processes, alongside the development and implementation of effective strategies for crisis prevention and management.

On June 8, the participants proceeded with the training titled “Communication, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution”. This training focused on enhancing participants’ proficiency in communication by exploring a wide array of mechanisms, including communication techniques, strategic planning, digital and remote communication platforms, active listening, public speaking, and constructive feedback – integrating both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Furthermore, participants were introduced to diverse negotiation models, conflict resolution methodologies, and advanced persuasion tactics.

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 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, provide technical support to the MoE in the implementing project activities, ensure communication and reporting for the IADAAM project.

On June 3, a regular meeting of the management team and beneficiaries of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project took place at the COAF Center in the village of Debed, Lori region.

Levon Aghasyan, Director of WWF-Armenia, welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the project’s progress to date.

Alla Ghazaryan, Project Coordinator at the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, presented updates on the first component. She highlighted efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism, improve local business infrastructure and living conditions, and strengthen the skills and capacities of tourism and hospitality professionals. She also emphasized the value of exchange visits with international partners and the project’s collaboration with target communities.

Naire Yeritsyan, Project Coordinator at WWF-Armenia, shared progress on the second component, focusing on environmental protection efforts. Her remarks underscored activities related to the sustainable use of natural resources, climate change mitigation, and enhanced adaptation strategies.

Victoria Burnazyan, Vice Chairwoman of the Ecolur Information NGO, along with project beneficiaries and community leaders, shared reflections on the project’s impact at the local level.

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.