Project Name:

Microfranchising in Rural Armnenia

Funding Organization:

 GTZ / GCCI/ Near East Foundation

Dates of Project:

2010 to Present

Project Description:

The main aim of the project is to find 20 women in rural communities of Gegharkunik marz, to have training with them in business planning and organizing sphere and finally help them to establish small businesses in their communities using repeatable micro franchising model in IT sphere. The usage of micro franchising model will allow us to have shared insurance of quality.
 
The IT sphere is chosen as it has a very big role of local economy development process. And the same time the government has a project called “A computer to each family”. But unfortunately the 80 % of the families in rural sector have no knowledge of using a computer and other tools, utilities. This really prevents information distribution in rural villages. Knowledge of the IT sphere and internet could enable us to explore the problems and potentials of constitutional democracy worldwide, to learn lessons of that and apply this knowledge in constitutional, business, administrative and other reforms so essential for further development and strength of our country.

Project Name:

Gegharkunik Advocacy and Assistance Center

Funding Organization:

 MAAC

Dates of Project:

2009 to Present

Project Description:

The main aim of the project is to find 20 women in rural communities of Gegharkunik marz, to have training with them in business planning and organizing sphere and finally help them to establish small businesses in their communities using repeatable micro franchising model in IT sphere. The usage of micro franchising model will allow us to have shared insurance of quality.
 
The IT sphere is chosen as it has a very big role of local economy development process. And the same time the government has a project called “A computer to each family”. But unfortunately the 80 % of the families in rural sector have no knowledge of using a computer and other tools, utilities. This really prevents information distribution in rural villages. Knowledge of the IT sphere and internet could enable us to explore the problems and potentials of constitutional democracy worldwide, to learn lessons of that and apply this knowledge in constitutional, business, administrative and other reforms so essential for further development and strength of our country.

Project Name:

Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage (PACA)

Funding Organization:

ProSME / GTZ / GCCI

Dates of Project:

2004 - 2007

Project Description:

The main aim of the project is to find 20 women in rural communities of Gegharkunik marz, to have training with them in business planning and organizing sphere and finally help them to establish small businesses in their communities using repeatable micro franchising model in IT sphere. The usage of micro franchising model will allow us to have shared insurance of quality.
 
The IT sphere is chosen as it has a very big role of local economy development process. And the same time the government has a project called “A computer to each family”. But unfortunately the 80 % of the families in rural sector have no knowledge of using a computer and other tools, utilities. This really prevents information distribution in rural villages. Knowledge of the IT sphere and internet could enable us to explore the problems and potentials of constitutional democracy worldwide, to learn lessons of that and apply this knowledge in constitutional, business, administrative and other reforms so essential for further development and strength of our country.

Project Name:

“Successful Start”

Funding Organization:

ProSME / GTZ / SME Development National Center

Dates of Project:

November 2003 to Present

Project Description:

Entrepreneurship is extremely important in rebuilding the economy of Gegharkunik. GCCI was the first organization to pioneer the Success Start model in Armenia.  The program provides new entrepreneurs with the proper training and information to begin their businesses.  The program provides the necessary support and strives to help the beginner business persons to become successful, self sustaining business people.

GCCI had substantial success with the “Successful Start” program.  GCCI has implemented the program 8 times trained more than 160 businessmen in Gavar, Martuni, Sisian, Dilijan and Aparan cities. 

The GCCI professionals have logged over 2000 hours of training in the “Successful Start” program.  The trainers know the common problems faced by new entrepreneurs when building their businesses and can quickly help them solve the problems that arise.

Project Name:

“Successful Start” Investment Fund /GCCI Startup Fund

Funding Organization:

GTZ

Funding Amount:

15,000 Euro

Dates of Project:

November 2004 to Present

Project Description:

To aid the development of small business, GCCI partnered with GTZ created an investment fund that provides startup capital to entrepreneurs who complete the “Successful Start” and other business development programs of GCCI.  This fund is managed by the staff of GCCI.  During 5 years about 35 businesses were financed by this found.

Project Name:

Local economy development in Sarukhan and Vardenik villages of Gegharkunik region

Funding Organization:

Near East Foundation and Armenian Fond USA

Dates of Project:

March 2009  to August 2009

Project Description:

The first phase of the project was the assessment of the community’s potential using PACA methodology. As a result the competitive advantages of the communities and potential developing economic fields came to light. Based on them the value chains were purposed and presented to the communities. At the same time the business ideas were purposed for the local market.
In the second phase of the project applications were collected for participation in the business planning process based on purposed value chains and business ideas. From each community were collected more than 70 applications. 18 businessmen were selected in Vartenik with the 22 business ideas. In Sarukhan village 17 businessmen were selected with the 17 business ideas.  The experts from GCCI facilitated the businessmen for developing their business plans. Totally 15 business ideas from two villages were selected for having investment from GCCI’s Start up fond (4 business ideas) and from Safe international credit company (11 business ideas).

Project Name:

Local economy development in 6 villages of Tavush region and Shushi city.

Funding Organization:

All Armenian Foundation.

Dates of Project:

March 2009  to August 2009

Project Description:

Now GCCI is doing the same project (see “Local economy development in Sarukhan and Vardenik villages of Gegharkunik region” noted above) in 6 villages of Tavush region and in Shushi. The project was finished in Tavush. 9 business ideas of 20 were selected for gating loan from Safe international credit company. At the same time the general assessment of Tavush marz and the finding of micro-franchising opportunities were done by our experts. Now our experts are working in Shushi city.

Project Name:

Social economy self-development project in rural villages

Funding Organization:

European Union

Dates of Project:

May 2009 – May 2012

Project Description:

GCCI collaborated with Armenian Caritas is doing social economy self-development project in 5 villages of Gegharkunik region.
The main aim of the project is development of public, business spheres and government structures of those villages using  participatory model of community involvement.

Project Name:

“Business in the Border Villages”

Funding Organization:

WCC ART

Dates of Project:

2003

Project Description:

The border villages of the Gegharkunik region are extremely disadvantaged.  The project intended to build human capital in the region so that better businesses can be involved in improvement of the local economy.  GCCI organized various business skill training seminars that helped over 75 entrepreneurs to improve their businesses.