From 10th to 16th April, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNDP organized a study tour for members and active farmers of Tashir+, Lorva Dzor, Gandzor, Aghstevi Hovit, and Tsili Tsov Local Active Groups (LAGs) as part of the EU-LEAD4Lori and Tavush Regions project. Representatives from the project implementing agencies, UNDP and FAO, also joined the visit.

The study tour took place in Georgia, where project beneficiaries visited communities in Tbilisi, Tetritskaro, Dedoplistksaro, Lagodekhi, Tsalka, and Akhalkalaki to learn about their successful experience in applying the LEADER methodology at the community level. The tour provided an opportunity to witness the positive impact of LAG initiatives on farmers, as well as foster networking and the exchange of ideas between the study tour participants and their Georgian counterparts.

The Lead Coach for Local Action Groups Hermine Gasparyan said: “The opportunity to witness the application of the LEADER methodology in neighbouring Georgia proved to be a valuable learning experience. We were able to identify both the similarities and differences between their programme and our own, and gain important insights into their successes and lessons learned. This information is crucial in guiding the effective implementation of programmes in Armenia. We were particularly impressed by the agricultural, social, and educational programmes we observed, which brought the stakeholders together to address common challenges and to promote local economic development.

During the study visit, I was once again reminded that the keys to success are people's kindness, diligence, transparency, and accountability in their work.”

This is the third study tour organized by the FAO and UNDP for the project beneficiaries. The first two groups had the chance of exploring the best practices and lessons learned of applying the EU LEADER methodology in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.

LEAD programme

This initiative is part of the EU LEAD4Lori and Tavush Regions project funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in close cooperation with Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. The project also works with the Ministry of Economy.

The  project  is implemented in Lori and Tavush regions of Armenia as part of the European Union’s LEADER / Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) concept with the following objectives: a) mobilise, capacitate and incentivise local actors to define community needs-driven strategies in Lori and Tavush regions, b) build supporting infrastructure to prioritise, implement and sustain local-grown initiatives in Lori and Tavush regions and c) improve the capacity of the relevant ministries and other bodies and develop policy mechanisms at the national level for successful piloting and sustainability of the LEADER approach in Armenia.