Support in Syunik: SEIRA Project Provides Sheep to Forcibly Displaced Persons from Nagorno-Karabakh

As part of the “Socio-Economic Integration of Refugees in Armenia” (SEIRA) project, forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh who participated in the short-term “Best Practices in Sheep Breeding” training held in Syunik in November-December received targeted assistance in the form of sheep.

The support was extended to displaced families residing in the Goris and Sisian communities, enabling them not only to acquire livestock but also to transform the practical knowledge and skills gained through the training into sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities.

This initiative represents a meaningful contribution to the economic integration, self-reliance, and long-term agricultural resilience of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh living in the Syunik region.

The “Socio-Economic Integration of Refugees in Armenia” (SEIRA) project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the Strategic Development Agency NGO and the UN World Food Programme.

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IADAAM Accurate Data for Sustainable Results

The teams of the “Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes” (IADAAM) Project and the Agricultural Extension Support Team (AEST) held a working discussion to coordinate the data collection process for updating the project’s indicators.

Together, the teams refined clearer mechanisms and timelines to ensure that measuring the project’s impact becomes faster, more accurate, and more useful.

This step is essential to ensure that:
Data becomes a real tool for informed decision-making,
Field-level information reaches the system in a timely manner,
The development of irrigated agriculture in Ararat and Armavir continues through an evidence-based approach.

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.

INLIMA: The Agenda for Innovative Livestock Development Discussed in Gegharkunik

The team of the Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding and Markets (INLIMA) project, led by Project Manager Vahe Hovhannisyan, met with Vahan Zaroyan, Deputy Governor of Gegharkunik Region and representatives of the Agriculture and Environmental Protection Department of the Regional Administration.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the project’s key directions, including:
• innovative approaches to animal weight gain and breeding,
• opportunities for sector modernization,
• and potential formats for cooperation with regional institutions.

The discussion covered the project’s investment and technical components, possible joint initiatives, as well as the steps that will support the competitive and sustainable development of the livestock sector in Gegharkunik Region.

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

LILA Project Partners’ Wrap-Up Meeting: A Joint Reflection on Shared Achievements

Together with our partners, we reflected on the journey of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project from 2022 to 2025 – with gratitude, pride, and already visible results.

The project was implemented by WWF-Armenia and the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

LILA’s Impact and Legacy

  • More than 600 people (50% women) gained employment or self-employment in tourism and hospitality, as well as in local food production and wild collection.
  • 31 regional businesses received comprehensive support, enhancing their competitiveness and service quality.
  • Close cooperation was established with Armenia’s leading inbound tour operators and tourism institutions, promoting the economic benefits of sustainable and nature-based tourism.
  • Dozens of professional trainings were conducted across regions, covering eco-tourism, gastro-tourism, safe and responsible tourism, as well as training and upskilling for regional guides.
  • Local products and services have gained strong recognition and stable market demand. Today, they are successfully supplied to the tourism and hospitality sectors, increasing the visibility and appeal of local production.

The experience of the LILA project demonstrated that nature-based economic models can become pillars of sustainable rural development and community resilience.

The project’s achievements show that nature conservation and market development must be seen as a unified policy priority within the context of building a green and inclusive economy in Armenia. When communities become stewards of nature, and nature becomes their key development resource, a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future is formed – where every landscape is truly alive.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all partners, communities, and project beneficiaries for believing in our shared vision of nature conservation and strengthened community resilience, for your irreplaceable contributions, and for being part of this shared commitment.

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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RECONOMY Engaged in the Armenia–Sweden Technological Dialogue

RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” Project Manager Mher Sahakyan participated in the meeting hosted at the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), where H.E. Eva Sundquist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Armenia, was received.

During the meeting, UATE Director Sargis Karapetyan presented the latest developments in Armenia’s technology ecosystem and the Union’s key areas of work. The discussion also touched upon opportunities to expand cooperation between the Armenian and Swedish high-tech communities.

The strength of Sweden’s technology ecosystem was highlighted through impressive indicators, including:

  • 200,000 R&D engineers, among them 16,000 PhDs;
  • 47 unicorn companies;
  • Globally recognized products and brands such as Spotify, Loveable, and Ericsson.

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.