05 Sep
Uncategorized

The official opening of the “Poonj” canned foods tasting room

Within the framework of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) project the official opening ceremony of the “Poonj” canned foods tasting room took place in Vernashen settlement of Vayots Dzor marz on September 4.

Ursula Läubli, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland to Armenia and Deputy Regional Director of Swiss Cooperation South Caucasus, Levon Aghasyan, the Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Armenia Office, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, Alla Ghazaryan,  LILA Project Coordinator and tour operators and guests participated in the ceremony.

In her welcoming speech, Ursula Läubli, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland to Armenia, and Deputy Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation South Caucasus highly appreciated the long-term cooperation with the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, the importance of the LILA project in terms of supporting natural rural businesses and farmers and creating new jobs.

In his speech, Levon Aghasyan, Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Armenian office, highlighted the project’s intervention in the field of rural development, agriculture and biodiversity policy management, consistent development of the value chain based on natural resources.

Alla Ghazaryan,  LILA Project Coordinator, highlighted the collaboration and project support with the “Poonj” canned factory during her presentation to the guests, remarking that the tasting room is the first of its kind in Armenia. She also emphasized that this business serves as a great economic stimulus for the community development by creating new jobs for the local villagers and purveying a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and wild produce from the residents of other communities of the region.

Edgar Beglaryan, Director of “Poonj” canned factory, mentioned the support received from the LILA project in terms of capacity improvement and technical re-equipment, which helped to expand the family business and bring new ideas to life.

Later, the guests took a tour and had a unique and interesting tourist experience of the “Poonj”, having the opportunity to taste high-quality preserves.

LILA project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by the WWF Caucasus in Armenia (WWF-Armenia) in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO.

03 Sep
Uncategorized

Information tour in Georgia within the RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” Project

Within the RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project, implemented by the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, the Georgian Agritourism Regional Association, a beneficiary of the project, organized a two-day informational tour in the Guria region to explore the potential of Georgian agritourism on August 22-23.

On the first day, the group visited “Komli,” where they experienced a tea tour and stayed in a hotel featuring rooms designed in the traditional Georgian “kasri” style.

In the evening, there was a presentation of the Agrogate.World platform, providing detailed information on how the platform operates. The group included influencers from across Georgia as well as local women entrepreneurs.

The second day featured a visit to the “Dumbo Eco Camp,” where the group enjoyed a river tour.

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.

30 Aug
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

Discussion on the Challenges and Obstacles in VET Programs

Within the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, implemented by the “Strategic Development Agency” (SDA) NGO, a meeting-discussion was held on the topic of “Challenges and obstacles arising during the development of educational programs” on August 29 in Yerevan.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, MKUZAK, partner colleges of the project and the private sector.

In her speech Lilit Hovhannisyan, MAVETA project manager mentioned that by bringing together educators, industry experts and interested parties, they aim to adapt the curriculum to the needs of the sphere, promote the effective involvement of interested parties, and study the theoretical and practical content of the programs to balance innovative approaches.

Through group work, the participants of the meeting tried to provide solutions to the problems arising during the organization of the educational process in case of limited resources, when integrating new technologies and their compliance with educational standards and regulations.

Attention has been paid to the establishment of robust evaluation mechanisms and the promotion of interdisciplinary integration with the aim of creating a dynamic and adaptable curriculum that meets both local and international requirements.

The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).

30 Aug
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

Technical Support to MAVETA Project Partner College

Within  the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, technical assistance was provided to the Stepanavan State Agricultural College, a project partner, on August 28.

In her welcoming speech, Lilit Hovhannisyan, the MAVETA project manager, emphasized the project’s ongoing commitment to addressing institutional capacity development and the technical re-equipment of colleges, with the goal of making vocational education and agricultural professions more attractive to students.

Armenuhi Poghosyan, Head of the Department of Primary (Vocational) and Secondary Vocational Education at the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, highlighted the importance of collaboration with the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and emphasized the MAVETA project’s role in advancing the dual education system in Armenia.

Ara Chobanyan, the director of the college, along with private sector partners and students, also addressed the attendees at the event.

The ceremony concluded with Lilit Hovhannisyan and Ara Chobanyan signing a handover/acceptance act, followed by the official transfer of equipment.

The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).

27 Aug
NEWSENG

Job fair in Angeghakot

Within the framework of the “Modernizing vocational education and training in agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, a job fair was held in Angeghakot settlement on August 23.

A number of MAVETA project partners from the private sector and agricultural colleges, other employers participated in the fair with separate booths, presenting their products and job vacancies.

In her welcoming speech, Lilit Hovhannisyan, MAVETA project manager emphasized that the purpose of this festival was to bring employers and job seekers of the agricultural sector to one platform, as well as to encourage agricultural professions.

Anna Karapetyan, deputy head of the Sisian community, Armenak Markosyan, the head of Angeghakot settlement, and Naira Sargsyan, head of the social work and employment programs department of the Sisian regional center of the United Social Service, also welcomed the attendees.

In cooperation with the unified social service, the participation of unemployed and job-seeking citizens of Goris and Sisian communities was ensured, more than 70 people.

The fair was accompanied by a cultural program. Sisian’s folk instruments orchestra, dance groups, and singers performed at the event. At the end, a competition of traditional games was held.

‘Elola’ company won in the “Best designed booth” category. The supporters of the organization of the event were awarded prizes.

The fair was organized by the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO in cooperation with the Sisian Municipality of Syunik Marz.

«‹4849505152›»