2019-2026 – “Rural Economic Development-New Economic Opportunities” program

The “Rural Economic Development-New Economic Opportunities” program (RED-NEO) is being implemented by CARD with the Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO, AM Partners Consulting and Hicks, Burnham and Williams LLC.

RED-NEO program builds upon current and previous projects, initiatives and activities that the government of Armenia, the U.S. government and USAID, and other donor and non-governmental organizations are implementing to address the economic challenges in rural Armenia.

RED-NEO activities promote inclusive, sustainable economic security and economic growth by supporting at least 100 businesses in at least 60 communities. The program accelerates the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises (including farms and cooperatives) in the regions; facilitates market linkages between producers and buyers; and establishes networks to promote local economic development. It fosters the development of a competitive agriculture sector by improving the performance of rural businesses and cooperatives, and their ability to meet quality standards.

AWHHE conducted Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safe Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) update in 2019. The PERSUAP is an analysis of crops that could be supported, pests of those crops, and an analysis of all possible pesticides registered in 2018 for import and use in Armenia. The PERSUAP will be updated in 2022.

Trainings for PERSUAP will be conducted among 100 farmers. As well, environmental impact assessment of 100 proposals will be conducted.

“IPM AS A WAY TO REDUCE THE USAGE OF PESTICIDES” trainings in communities

“Women Leading Rural Entrepreneurship in Armenia (WoLeRE)”

“Women Leading Rural Entrepreneurship in Armenia (WoLeRE)” was a component of RED-NEO project, which aimed to strengthen gender focus of the project and increase the access of women agripreneurs by supporting them to improve knowledge in financing, market opportunities and promote policies and practices for them to establish and grow competitive businesses. Main beneficiaries of the WoLeRE component were women from the same target communities of the RED-NEO program, who have established businesses in agriculture or those who had plans or ideas to start their career as agripreneurs.

AWHHE was responsible to implement 2 activities:

• Activity 1.2: Introductory trainings for 3000 women in rural areas
• Activity 1.3: Advanced trainings for 2000 women agripreneurs.

The aim of the introductory training course is to equip women in rural areas with the essential knowledge and skills on entrepreneurship to increase their understanding and awareness of the process of initiating new business ideas or improve the established business in the agriculture sector. About 3223 women were trained.

The main purpose of this training is to help the existing women agripreneurs, who intend to establish an agribusiness and women employees in the agricultural sector to upgrade their knowledge and expertise which will bring to business growth, access to new markets and eventually boost their incomes. About 3149 women were trained.