In pursuit of all-inclusive development

25 years ago, following wars and economic collapse in the region, Switzerland opened a regional office in Tbilisi and two programme offices in Armenia and Azerbaijan with the aim to end extreme poverty, curb inequalities, foster democratic institutions and contribute to government reforms. Impressive developmental achievements have improved the lives of many, but not all. People, especially those living in rural, remote, and mountainous areas do not equally benefit from development progress. Limited access to public or bank services, job markets, sanitation, and the inability to sustain livelihoods or pay for healthcare are just a few reasons for people to get left behind.

In 2015, Switzerland was one of the 193 countries to adopt the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and to commit to the principle of "leave no one behind", including rendering support to the three South Caucasus countries in their endeavour to implement the Agenda 2030. Since then, the focus of the Swiss cooperation in the region has been to eradicate multidimensional poverty by taking concrete measures needed to ensure that people, especially women and girls, left behind or at risk of being left behind are identified and provided necessary assistance to enable their full participation in economic, social, and political activities of their communities.

In the South Caucasus, one of the most vulnerable groups are women, with around 35% of whom are excluded from the job market, especially in rural areas. Many women work in agriculture, but mainly in informal family arrangements, which means they do not benefit from the protections as applicable to only employees in formal sector and do not have an income, which would contribute to their empowerment. In Armenia, poverty hits women particularly hard, since male (seasonal) migration is a widespread phenomenon in the country, leaving behind a high number of women-headed households, without appropriate skills to find employment.

At risk of being left behind

Meet Nura Moseyan, 32 years old entrepreneur and mother of three from Tsoghamarg village, Armenia. Located in the northwestern part of the country, Shirak province, Tsoghamarg is some 150 km far from the capital Yerevan and 22 km away from the second largest city Gyumri. Winters here are harsh, long-lasting, with cutting winds and constant fogs. Summers are warm and moderately wet. Tsoghamarg is home to about 150 families, whose main occupation is farming. 

“I studied to become a dental technician, but never got the opportunity to pursue a career,” Nura shares. Marrying at the age of 19, her main focus has been raising her kids and maintaining a household. Years later, with her two daughters starting school, Nura found some spare time on her hands in between farming and housekeeping, and started looking into sewing. Making her first steps in 2018, Nura produced small items, such as tea napkins and children clothing articles as a hobby.

Today, Nura runs her own small business, which she set-up at home. Equipped with a sewing machine, she takes orders of bedding, various types of clothing, eco bags and more. Most of Nura’s clientele finds her through social media, and her husband helps with delivering the orders to nearby cities and villages. 

Nura is one of the beneficiaries of the Swiss co-funded “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” regional project. Nura is among the 185 women benefiting from the project in Armenia who are employed or self-employed for more than six months thanks their improved skills and capacities. These women are mainly engaged in the following income-generating activities or sectors: sewing, beauty services, bakeries, agricultural production, dairy production, preschool education and hospitality. Launched in 2018, the project now is in its second phase with a Swiss contribution of CHF 3’900’000 and is being implemented by the UN Women mandated UNDP in Armenia the implementation in project in Armenia by means of an “UN Agency to UN Agency Contribution Agreement”. The project closely cooperates with the like-minded development partners active in the Armenia, such as the EU, UK, and Sweden.

The main goal of the project is to empower women, particularly poor and socially excluded, by informing them of their rights, by improving their entrepreneurial skills and by enabling them to develop a network. To this end, the project supports women and women’s professional groups through women’s local platforms that will offer trainings, counselling, mentoring, and networking to women. The project also offers small matching grants to selected women to start or expand their businesses in all three countries.

In 2019, Nura Moseyan participated to a “Business Planning” training organized by the project, which equipped her with the necessary information and skills to create her business and become self-employed. Additionally, the project assisted Nura in setting-up her workroom with a small grant. “Before starting my own business, I was stuck in my routine. Of course I love my orchard, my livestock, but having this corner, earning money on my own, has changed my life,” says Nura with pride. On average, Nura makes 40’000 AMD per month.

As a next step, Nura plans to move her workshop to a bigger space and expand the volume of her production. “With every new order my skills grow, I think I am ready to do more,” she says.