The key target groups and beneficiaries of SIGMA are the households engaged in farming, small agribusinesses, and tourism businesses, and living in mountainous communities of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, and Gegharkunik regions.

Overall, 2’407 households are expected to directly benefit from the SIGMA Phase 1 resulting to increased income or new/better employment for 1’313 rural low-income households, 436 employees, and a further 658 households through crowding in. 

Outcome 1: Farmers, small agribusinesses, and tourism businesses increase their net additional income and employ more people.

Outcome 2: Market systems of selected value chains are strengthened and favour sustainable and inclusive economic growth at national and local levels.

Expected results:  

Output 1.1. Catalysts (primarily private companies) provide products/services to and develop new business linkages with farmers, small agribusinesses, and tourism businesses.

Output 1.2. Farmers, small agribusinesses, and tourism businesses in the target regions are capacitated and itegrated into domestic and cross-border market systems of selected value chains.

Output 2.1. Influencers (state institutions, business associations, etc.) support sustainable and inclusive rural growth and have capacities to take measures that improve the policy and operating environment.

Output 2.2. Market system linkages between actors are operational by ensuring that farmers, small agribusinesses, and tourism businesses increase their resilience to climate change, diversify and adopt climate-smart approaches, minimize their adverse environmental effects, and mainstream more inclusive practices.

Results from previous phases:   The inception phase of SIGMA shows that various socioeconomic factors, including inequalities among groups (e.g., women, youth, and displaced individuals), reliance on remittances, and susceptibility to environmental changes, are significant impediments for the development of market systems in Agriculture and Tourism value chains. The challenges are even critical across the eastern boarder of Armenia due to security threats. The assessment of market systems in each SIGMA-relevant region revealed various challenges and opportunities for development and helped to scope the respective interventions. The highlighted challenges are also in line with insights and lessons learned from the SDC-funded ongoing Living Landscapes for Market Development (LILA) project and the closed Livestock Development in Armenia (2006-2021) project.