05 Nov
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

Digital Transformation, Competitiveness and Sustainable Development: Insights from RECONOMY’s Regional Event

On 5 November 2026, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA), through RECONOMY’s Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness project, participated in People, Planet & Systems, a regional event organised within the framework of RECONOMY at the Megerian Carpets Factory in Yerevan.

Bringing together representatives of the public sector, international development organisations, academia and the private sector, the event explored how development approaches can move beyond conventional models to generate more inclusive, sustainable and systemic change.

Under the central theme “Development Done Differently”, discussions examined the interconnected dimensions of people, planet and systems, highlighting the importance of collaboration, responsible business practices, effective development approaches and long-term impact.

These discussions are particularly relevant to the objectives of the Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness Project, which recognises digital transformation as more than the introduction of new technologies. Digitalisation is a strategic driver of economic competitiveness: it can strengthen business capabilities, improve productivity, facilitate access to markets, support innovation and enable sectors to respond more effectively to evolving economic demands.

However, the benefits of digital transformation depend on more than technological availability. They require capable people, businesses willing and equipped to adopt new solutions, and enabling systems that support innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.

This is where the People-Planet-Systems perspective intersects with the project’s approach. Strengthening sectoral competitiveness requires connecting digital solutions with human capacities, business needs and the wider economic ecosystem, ensuring that technological progress translates into tangible and lasting development outcomes.

Participation in the regional event provided an opportunity to engage with these broader perspectives, exchange insights with different stakeholders and reflect on the role of digitalisation in advancing more competitive, resilient and sustainable economic systems.

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.

05 Nov
Uncategorized

Visit to MAVETA Project Partners and Apprentices in Syunik

As part of the MAVETA project, a delegation headed by Ursula Läubli, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia and Deputy Regional Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the South Caucasus, visited a number of project partner institutions and beneficiaries in Syunik. The delegation also included representatives of MAVETA’s implementing partners, GIZ Armenia and the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO, who joined the visit to review the project’s progress, achievements and impact on dual vocational education and training (VET).

The visit began at The Ranch, where Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO, welcomed the delegation. The guests toured the facilities, met apprentices pursuing veterinary medicine, and learned more about their training and practical learning experience. The visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding partnership between SDA and SDC, with Mr. Ayvazyan highlighting key milestones, areas of cooperation and achievements over the years.

At Goris Multifunctional State College, the delegation met Director Armine Kolyan and Dual Education Consultant Hasmik Khachunts. Discussions covered dual education achievements and challenges, growing interest in agricultural professions, particularly among young women, and progress on the college’s new building.

The next stop was a family-run livestock and horticultural farm, where the delegation met Farm Management apprentices and the farming family. Discussions explored the realities of agricultural work, farm management challenges and the difficulties facing Syunik’s livestock sector.

The final stop was the “Elola” dairy production facility, where the delegation explored the production process and met apprentices specialising in milk and dairy production. Discussions highlighted the value of workplace learning and the professional skills required by the industry.

The delegation also met Martun Minasyan, one of MAVETA’s success stories, who joined Elola as an employee before graduating from college. His experience demonstrates how dual education can create tangible pathways from vocational training to employment.

Throughout the visit, one message stood out clearly: when education is closely connected to the world of work, young people gain more than professional knowledge.

The MAVETA project is financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Government of Armenia.

The project’s implementing partners are the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Strategic Development Agency NGO, the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-HAFL).

02 Nov
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

COP17 Armenia: Reflecting on Our Participation, Experiences and Opportunities Gained

As COP17 Armenia came to a close, we look back on days filled with meaningful conversations, new connections, knowledge-sharing and opportunities to showcase what sustainable development means in practice.

For the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO, COP17 was an opportunity to reaffirm what has always been at the heart of our work: connecting environmental sustainability with economic development, empowering communities and creating opportunities for a greener, more resilient future.

Throughout COP17, SDA brought its projects, expertise and partnerships into the conversation, highlighting how development priorities can become tangible change on the ground.

Through LILA, we have demonstrated how nature conservation, sustainable tourism and responsible use of natural resources can go hand in hand with stronger rural livelihoods and local economic opportunities.

Through MAVETA, we are investing in the future of agriculture by strengthening vocational education, connecting colleges with employers and equipping a new generation of professionals with practical knowledge and green skills.

Through INLIMA, we are promoting sustainable livestock mobility, restoring traditional animal migration routes and improving pasture management to reduce pressure on ecosystems, protect natural landscapes and strengthen the resilience of rural communities.

Through RECONOMY, we are promoting digital transformation and inclusive green solutions that help businesses and communities become more competitive, resource-efficient and sustainable.

Through IADAAM, we are advancing more sustainable irrigated agriculture in the Ararat and Armavir regions, promoting efficient water management, climate-resilient farming practices and a stronger connection between agriculture and healthy landscapes.

These initiatives reflect a belief that sustainability is not a standalone objective. It is about how we manage water, cultivate land, protect biodiversity, develop skills, support businesses and create opportunities for people.

COP17 reminded us that meaningful change happens when global ambitions meet local knowledge, when partnerships turn into action, and when communities are at the centre of development.

As we move beyond COP17, SDA remains committed to turning these shared ambitions into practical solutions – working alongside communities, public institutions, businesses and international partners to build stronger communities and a greener future for Armenia.

The conversations may continue elsewhere, but the work goes on.

29 Oct
Uncategorized

Austrian Federal Minister Visits INLIMA Partner Farm to See Austrian Cattle-Breeding Practices in Action in Armenia

On 29 October 2026, Norbert Totschnig, Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management of Austria, visited the farm of Khachik Hovsepyan to learn how Austrian cattle-breeding expertise is being applied in Armenia. The Minister was accompanied by Robert Gershner, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Armenia, and Erwin Kuenzi, Head of the Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation in Armenia and Georgia, Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

The Minister was welcomed by Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO, and Vahe Hovhannisyan, Project Manager of Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding and Markets (INLIMA) project.

During the visit, Mkrtich Ayvazyan presented the INLIMA project’s objectives, key areas of intervention and ongoing activities. He also highlighted the longstanding partnership between SDA and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), as well as their joint initiatives in the agricultural sector. The farm’s operations were presented, followed by a discussion in which the Minister raised questions about the farm’s specific characteristics and the acquisition of pedigree cattle.

The visit showcased a tangible example of Armenian–Austrian cooperation in practice. Alongside his career in information technology, Khachik Hovsepyan is developing his family’s farming business. Through a study visit to Austria organised within the framework of INLIMA, he gained first-hand exposure to Austrian cattle-breeding practices. Building on this experience, he subsequently acquired 32 of the 64 Fleckvieh cattle imported from Austria to Armenia.

The study visit to Austria also laid the groundwork for broader sectoral cooperation. As part of these efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, SDA and Cattle Breeders Austria to strengthen cooperation between Armenia and Austria in the field of cattle breeding.

Khachik Hovsepyan’s farm is a practical example of how international knowledge exchange, access to high-quality breeding stock and professional partnerships can contribute to the development of pedigree cattle breeding in Armenia.

“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.

27 Oct
NEWSENG

SDA Representative Takes Part in International Conference on Skills Mobility in Dublin

Lilit Beglaryan, VET Consultant at the Strategic Development Agency (SDA), participated in the international conference “Unlocking Skills Mobility: The Role of European Transparency Tools to Drive the Skills Portability Initiative and Talent Mobility,” held in Dublin, Ireland, under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.

Invited by the European Training Foundation (ETF), Lilit joined experts and representatives from more than 40 countries for three days of discussions and knowledge exchange on qualifications recognition, skills portability, labour mobility, and micro-credentials.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to explore European approaches to making qualifications more transparent and recognised across borders, strengthening skills development, and responding to evolving labour market needs.

SDA values opportunities for international cooperation and professional exchange that contribute to advancing vocational education and training and strengthening Armenia’s skills development ecosystem.

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