Friday, March 22 2024 20:39

ArmInfo.Switzerland announced the launch of the "Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Mountainous  Armenia" (SIGMA) Program with a total budget of CHF12 million.  The program aims to reduce poverty in the mountain villages of Shirak, Lori, Tavush and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia through the application of inclusive, innovative and environmentally friendly approaches in agriculture and agritourism.

During a conversation with reporters, head of the SIGMA team, Karen  Gevorgyan noted that, what is noteworthy about the project is that  the support will not be provided to the final beneficiary, but will  be aimed at developing market mechanisms in mountainous areas, the  support will not be as a result of which residents will be able to  develop their activities and enter the market.

Answering a question from an ArmInfo correspondent, he noted that the  program will be implemented in 2 stages over 10 years. At the first  stage of the project, it is planned to implement 5 projects with a  total budget of CHF4 million. The implementation of the second one is  scheduled for the end of 2026.

"Projects implemented within the framework of SIGMA will contribute  to the opening of new jobs and have a stable source of income,"  Gevorgyan emphasized, noting that the program will be implemented  jointly with the private sector.

In addition, he said that the main approach of SIGMA is to involve  women, citizens with limited opportunities, as well as forcibly  displaced Artsakh residents.

As Armen Zakaryan, responsible for the implementation of the SIGMA  program, explained, a number of projects have already been developed  that will be implemented in Lori and Gegharkunik regions. In  particular, he spoke about plans to build a grain seed cleaning  station in the Vardenis community (Gegharkunik region), and a  scientific, industrial and educational center will be opened in  Margahovit village (Lori region), which will provide comprehensive  services for beekeepers, etc.

Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland to Armenia Werner Thut, in turn,  emphasized that Switzerland, year after year, starting from the  devastating Spitak earthquake (1988), has increased its support for  Armenia and its involvement through the implementation of programs,  especially over the past 5 years.  Referring to Switzerland's rich  experience of decentralization, especially in terms of population, Mr  Thut noted: "We consider it wrong when the population is concentrated  in big cities, so we chosethe  highland villages, where we were able  to successfully carry out decentralization works in Switzerland. Now  we are trying to apply this experience in Armenia."

The  program is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and  Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the international company DAI  Global UK (DAI) and its Armenian branch in collaboration with AM  Partners Consulting Company.

Within the framework of SIGMA, cooperation will develop between  "catalysts" ensuring growth in rural areas and between small  businesses and farmers. 

According to the Swiss Embassy in Armenia, the "catalysts" could be  investors, buyers, larger farmers, suppliers of agricultural goods  and inputs or tourism-related enterprises.

It is expected that as a result of the implementation of the program,  areas such as agriculture, wild plants, agritourism, and agricultural  technologies that do not harm the environment and contribute to  adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its consequences will  be consistently developed. 

The SDC is a department at the level of the Swiss federal  administration and is part of the Federal Ministry of Foreign  Affairs. Together with other federal departments, the SDC is  responsible for the overall coordination of Swiss activities in the  field of international development and cooperation with Eastern  Europe, as well as for humanitarian assistance.

The goal of development cooperation is to reduce poverty. SDC  contributes, in particular, to strengthening economic and political  self-reliance, contributes to improving working conditions, assists  solve environmental problems and promotes increased access to  education and basic health services.