On June 30, the closing event of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project was held, during which the results of the external evaluation were also presented.
In his welcome speech, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO, emphasized that livestock development has been a priority for the organization for over two decades. He noted that the “ Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project was a logical continuation of previous initiatives and highlighted the consistent and dedicated work of the project team.
Tatevik Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, commended SDA’s efforts and the project’s role in transforming and modernizing Armenia’s livestock sector.
Nora Alanakyan, Deputy Head of the Yerevan Office of the Austrian Development Agency, highlighted the importance of the project’s long-term impact and the integration of international best practices into Armenia’s livestock development strategies.
Vahe Hovhannisyan, Project Manager of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project, briefly outlined the interventions and outcomes, noting that the external evaluation was conducted by Avenue Consulting Group LLC.
The consulting firm’s experts, Paruyr Asatryan and Tatev Mkrtchyan, presented the evaluation findings, which focused on the effectiveness, sustainability, targeted resource use, and social impact of the program.
Key Results of the Project:
- Activities were implemented in 70 settlements across three regions: Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Syunik.
- Beneficiaries reported increased income and new employment opportunities as a result of improved animal health, better milk quality, and increased productivity.
- Several project interventions have been integrated into state support programs, including initiatives on smart livestock, productivity enhancement, feed production, and pasture infrastructure improvement.
- The project addressed cross-cutting themes such as environmental protection, climate change, gender equality, and support for vulnerable groups.
The project’s conclusion highlighted that thorough initial planning, active beneficiary engagement, sectoral collaboration, and strong public-private partnerships were essential to its success.
“Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project is implemented by “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and financed by the Austrian Development Agency, the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.