All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Project Presentation Empowered Rural Women for Sustainable Agriculture in the South Caucasus Tbilisi, February 20, 2014

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Goal: to contribute to the empowerment of the rural population in the trans-boundary region of Armenia and Georgia, especially of women, and to their increased awareness about the importance of sustainable agriculture in the South Caucasus. Aims of the project are: 1.to create additional income sources for farmers by establishing cheese production cooperatives; 2.to support the engagement of women in tackling environmental and agricultural issues in their communities. Objectives Balichi/Kazreti RWC,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Key data & partners Funding:Austrian Development Agency Project Management:Hilfswerk Austria International Project coordination: in Georgia:CENN in Armenia: “Green Lane” Agricultural Assistance NGO Duration:2 years (June, 2013 – May, 2015) Budget: EUR 183,800 Target regions: in Georgia: Kvemo Kartli, Bolnisi municipality In Armenia: Shirak marz, Amassia municipality

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Target areas of the Project Georgia, Kvemo Kartli, Bolnisi municipality Akaurta Balichi Disveli Kveshi Rachisubani Ratevani Tandzia Armenia, Shirak marz, Amassia municipality Aregnadem Amasia Byurakn Gtashen Meghrashat Voghchi

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Project activities Rural Women Councils (RWCs): Mobilization of RWCs; Tailor-made trainings for RWC members on agricultural and environmental issues; Training of Trainers (ToT); Study visits and experience exchange; Round table meetings and coaching; Support for the development of strategies for problem solving, projects and local action plans, advocacy, cooperation with local authorities and media etc. Organization of a transboundary fair: Presentation of project results Cross-activity exchange Cheese production cooperatives: Assessment of farmers’ and market needs; Tailor-made trainings for local farmers on sustainable agriculture and cooperation; Study visits and practical demonstration sessions; Organizational support for the founding of dairy / cheese production cooperatives; Workshops on local value chains; Establishment of pilot production sites; Organization and start of the pilot production; Marketing of the products.

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Assessment of farmers’ and market needs Disveli, Ratevani,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Assessment of farmers’ and market needs Key Problems of local communities in target regions Land fragmentation and lack of cooperation; Lack of knowledge of modern methods of sustainable agriculture management; Low capacity; Animal husbandry management issues: veterinary/disease control, genetic stock, poor grazing management and availability of animal feed; Extremely low yields; Seasonality of dairy processing; Lack of agricultural know-how; Food safety issues. Ratevani,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Key problems of local communities in target regions Poor infrastructure: drinking water, irrigation system, gas, roads; High unemployment rate; Weak civil society and lack of joint initiatives; Low public environmental awareness; Gender inequality. Assessment of farmers and market needs Disveli, Akaurta,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Expected Results The project aims to attain 4 main results: Result 1:Rural Women Councils (RWCs) in trans-boundary communities are established and their capacities and skills strengthened. Result 2:Cheese production cooperatives in trans-boundary communities established and their capacities and skills strengthened. Result 3: Cheese from trans-boundary production cooperatives become available in local markets and both countries’ capitals/centers and income from cheese producers increased. Result 4: Local agricultural and environmental problems are commonly identified and jointly solved with the participation of RWCs, local authorities and the wider community.

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Akaurta Balichi/Kazreti Disveli Rural Women Councils (RWCs): 32 women Achievements ‒Mobilization of women and establishment of RWCs ‒Tailor-made training on Leadership for RWC members (13 Balichi/Kazreti RWC members trained) ‒Workshop on problem identification and coalition building (10 RWC members attended ) Informational event, Kazreti, RWC meeting, Disveli, Leadership training for RWC, Ratevani,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Disveli Cheese production cooperative Achievements ‒Mobilization of farmers (meetings, multi-stakeholder roundtables on agriculture and rural development); ‒ Needs assessment; ‒Tailor-made training for farmers on principles of cooperation (25 farmers were trained); ‒Establishing of cooperation with Rural Economic Development (RED) Programme supported by Denmark and Switzerland (leveraged co-investment in amount of EUR 59,113 and bank financing - FIAB/SELF of EUR 21,888) Informational meeting, Ratevani, Training on principles of cooperation, Disveli, Stakeholders’meeting, Bolnisi,

All rights reserved / CENN 2014 CENN.org Achievements Cooperation with Rural Economic Development Programme (RED) foresees from the RED site: Co-investment of EUR 59,113 for equipment purchase; Bank Financing - FIAB/SELF of EUR 21,888 for dairy building construction The project foresees construction and renovation of the production site, purchase of equipment for cheese production, building capacity of the beneficiaries by provision of trainings on topics related to agriculture, commercialization and gender. Cheese factory site, Disveli, Cheese factory Santa, RED assistance

Thank you ARMENIA CENN 16 Heratsi Str. 0025, Yerevan t/f HEAD OFFICE GEORGIA CENN 27, Betlemi Str. 0105, Tbilisi t / 04 f AZERBAIJAN CENN 124/128, Gara Garaev Ave AZ1119, Baku t , f All rights reserved / CENN 2013 CENN.org