Working at an altitude of more than 1500m, the project will aim at leveraging growth in niche areas where mountainous regions have a comparative advantage. Sectors such as rural agriculture, wild botanicals, rural tourism, agricultural technologies, which do not harm the environment and contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, will be consistently pursued.
The project’s geographic focus will prioritize the poorest regions in Northern Armenia, namely Tavush, Gegharkunik, Lori, and Shirak. Starting on May 23, 2022 with a tender process, it will have a preparatory phase of 17 months. After that, the phase of implementation will last at least for 10 years (December 2023- 2033), with Swiss funds amounting in total to CHF 12’000’000. During its first phase (2023 -2026), SIGMA will reach at least 3000 household, and further extend to 10’000 household by the end of its second phase. The project’s implementing partner will be selected through a Tender procedure, details on which are announced here.
The SIGMA project is highly synergetic with other SDC development interventions in Armenia and in the wider region, as well as with a number of Armenian state policies. In Armenia, the project will draw linkages with the Swiss funded projects: “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA), including linkages promoting sustainable and inclusive rural tourism; the “Improvement of Local Self-Governance in Armenia”; “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA); and the Regional “Women Economic Empowerment Programme” (WEE). In the wider South Caucasus region, the SDC sees a potential of upscaling SIGMA, going beyond the Armenian border, extending its synergies to the Swiss-funded Rural Development projects in Georgia.
For additional information, please contact Vardan Janazyan, Media and Communication Officer of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Yerevan.
Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia
Melik-Adamyan Street 2/1, 0010 Yerevan
Tel: +374 41 45 75 80
General: +374 10 52 98 60
Email: vardan.janazyan@eda.admin.ch