11 Dec
NEWSARM

INLIMA in Syunik: Advancing Innovation in Livestock Management and Pasture Governance

The team of “Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project conducted a working visit to Syunik Region to engage regional authorities and partners in a detailed discussion of the project’s components. The visit placed special emphasis on modernizing herding management systems and enhancing sustainable pasture use in one of Armenia’s most geographically complex regions.

During the meeting, the team met with Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan, Head of Sisian Community Hovsep Arakelyan, First Deputy Head of Goris Community Artyom Aghajanyan, and Sasun Manukyan, Head of the Syunik Regional Department of the Eco-Patrolling Service. These high-level discussions focused on upgrading mechanisms for herd movement management, establishing systematic approaches to pasture conservation, and improving oversight of grazing practices.

The discussions covered several strategic directions essential for strengthening the region’s livestock sector:

🔹 Deployment of innovative and context-appropriate livestock technologies

🔹 Development of robust community capacities for sustainable resource management

🔹 Strengthening of market linkages and supply chain resilience

🔹 Formulation of solutions tailored to Syunik’s environmental and socio-economic characteristics

Participants also delved into the realities shaping Syunik today – its rugged mountainous terrain, seasonal constraints in agriculture, and the socio-economic shifts of recent years. The Eco-Patrolling Service presented a set of operational challenges, ranging from terrain-induced access limitations to the complexities of monitoring livestock movement at scale. These insights guided the exploration of localized, practical solutions designed to help communities adopt and sustain the program’s innovations more effectively.

The meetings reaffirmed a shared understanding: close collaboration between state institutions, local communities, and INLIMA project team is essential for building a resilient, forward-looking livestock ecosystem in Syunik.

INLIMA remains committed to deepening these partnerships – uniting expertise, knowledge, and resources to drive meaningful change and deliver measurable improvements across Armenia’s livestock sector.

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

11 Dec
Uncategorized

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.

09 Dec
Uncategorized

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.

08 Dec
Uncategorized

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.

01 Dec
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

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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