Model Village Pilot Project: Revitalizing Karakert

Infrastructure | Economy | Health care | Social development

Economic development

COAF’s economic development activities aim to maximize social welfare and minimize poverty, thus improving living conditions for future generations. Each program or initiative promotes self-sustaining, long-term economic and community development. Through COAF’s economic development program, Karakert has been able to achieve self-sufficiency through innovative and comprehensive business plans developed and implemented at the grassroots level. The programs stress continued local involvement and decision-making, supported by partnerships among private and public entities, and intend to provide Karakert’s residents with the opportunity to increase family income critical for long-term success.

COAF’s current economic development programs include:

• Growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs);
• Improved competencies in business and management;
• Improved competitiveness and capacity to conduct business;
• Increased access and capacity to obtain financing.

Accomplishments

The agricultural development component of COAF’s economic development program aims to increase income generation opportunities in the agricultural sector through provision of agricultural inputs and intensive innovative trainings in gardening. These programs are expected to increase Karakert’s crops five-fold. Within the framework of these programs, COAF has accomplished the following:

• Distributed vegetable seeds to 1,026 households in the community;
• Provided fertilizers, agricultural tools and other necessary materials to be applied towards a new gardening method;
• Organized agricultural trainings in an innovative gardening method for 30 families in the community, with the aim of introducing efficient and profitable gardening methods and building agricultural capacity;
• Expanded cooperation with other organizations working in the agricultural sector to attract new income-generating projects to Karakert.

The skills and employment development component of COAF’s economic development program aims to generate income through local and foreign investments, creation of investment opportunities, development of business ideas and investment projects, promotion of foreign and local investments through identification of development opportunities in the region, and linkage of foreign and local businesses. Within the framework of these programs, COAF has:

• Facilitated the establishment of an Apricot Nursery business funded by foreign investor Bryan Bedrossian, creating 15-25 initial seasonal jobs, with the potential of expanding the scope of the project and creating more jobs;
• Helped a local entrepreneur to develop and establish a furniture production unit based on a comprehensive business plan, resulting in 15 permanent jobs and the production of high-quality furniture;
• Required that all construction companies contracted under the infrastructure rehabilitation program employ as many community residents as possible;
• Created jobs in construction for more than 100 local workers and unemployed persons;
• Implemented on-job training for the local workers involved in infrastructure rehabilitation projects.

Current Activities

• Provide foreign language and business development courses to help local entrepreneurs develop business plans and establish micro businesses;
• Offer free business consultancy and technical support to all active businesses in the community;
• Provide continuous support to farmers and the Farmers' Association to ensure that they have access to accurate and timely information on agricultural developments and to link them with governmental and international program agencies for support of future activities.