NEF and its partners continue to help create and expand sustainable businesses that are boosting the local economy and creating new opportunities for rural Armenians.
Since November 2011, 13 rural businesses have received financing from the partners’ startup fund. Today the businesses are operating and expanding successfully.
A lack of access to credit and finance prevents the rural poor - particularly women - from investing in the development of their communities, a crucial step to break the cycle of poverty.
Encouraging the development of women entrepreneurs is a specific focus of this project. In August 2012, a woman entrepreneur received 400,000 Armenian Drams ($980) in financing to increase the revolving funds in her clothing trade business in Gavar, Gegharkunik Marze. Two other women business owners have received support for their sheep breeding enterprise and souvenir shop, respectively.
In September 2012, an entrepreneur from Gandzak, Gegharkunik Marze received 300,000 Armenian Drams ($740) in financing to start a car repair center.
The Zartnir computer center franchise launched by the project continues to operate and develop successfully. Within the next few months, the renovated Noratus center plans to add notebooks, net-books and pads to the selection of computers it offers for sale and service. The center is also making arrangements with banks to start selling computers on credit, which would make computer ownership affordable for more people. Another computer center located in the Geghhovit community is planning to move to a new site to upgrade its facility.
Other small enterprises include agriculture, trade, and public services. Farmers in the Khashtarak village of Tavush Marze are engaged in cattle breeding. In the Vardenik community of Gegharkunik Marze, two beekeepers have produced 500 and 900 kg of honey respectively, and are expanding their businesses by increasing the number of bee families. One of the beekeepers increased the number of bee-families up to 20.
These small businesses are generating income for entrepreneurs and their families. With loans - like the ones made available through this project - they can expand their businesses, provide more services to the community, support their families, and stimulate the local economy.
The Near East Foundation and its partners, Business Pareta and the Gegharkunik Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are planning to expand this pilot project based on its positive impact in rural Armenian communities.
Your support is improving livelihoods in rural Armenian villages.
October 17th is a Bonus Day when Global Giving will match a portion of your gift. Please consider a donation to create economic opportunities for more rural Armenians. Thank you!
The rainy season in Sudan’s North Kordofan State lasts from approximately June to September of each year. Rains can leave the sandy environment covered with large puddles, and make roads impassable.
During this time, gum arabic farmers prepare for the planting season ahead. Crops and new seedlings are planted when the rains end.
This year, North Kordofan received good amounts of rainfall throughout the rainy season. As this arid region is frequently plagued by drought, farmers are hopeful that the extra rainfall will mean a good planting season and harvest.
The rains have recently ended, and we are currently working in partnership with the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture to distribute Acacia seedlings to farmers in four targeted villages. These seedlings will help to further expand forest cover, and contribute to increased production and income for gum arabic farmers.
Similar seedling distribution and support during the last planting season helped targeted farmers to increase incomes by an average of 200 to 350 Sudanese pounds per year.
We still support these farmers and their Gum Arabic Producer Associations. Our field team has seen how farmers continue to use knowledge gained through the project to increase forest cover and improve gum harvesting methods – thereby improving livelihoods for their families. Individuals in surrounding villages have also benefited from trainings, as farmers have shared their new knowledge.
Your support to vulnerable gum arabic farmers in North Kordofan helps build peace and promote sustainable livelihoods in Sudan.
October 17th is a Bonus Day when Global Giving will match a portion of your gift. Please consider a donation to support impoverished rural farming families in Sudan. Thank you!
NEF is helping to prevent further collapse of the food supply by supporting vulnerable livestock and crop farmers in northern Mali, where there are a growing number of internally displaced people.
Mali’s political instability, along with a poor crop harvest, has threatened food security for millions of people. State support for people in need in this area has been weakened because of its location on the front lines of the rebellion.
In July 2012, the Government of Denmark initiated a partnership with NEF for emergency relief in Mali that expands ongoing efforts to build food security in the region.
Currently we are providing a variety of essential support to farmers to meet their growing needs, including improved seed, fertilizer, and animal feed.
Emergency farming supplies arrive at a central warehouse before they travel to a distribution center.
We are reaching the most vulnerable farmers with help identifying them from local government leaders, chambers of agriculture, farm service agencies, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Warehouses in Madiama, Sira Koro/Soufouroulaye, and Mopti received 2,528 bags (182,100 kg) of rice seeds.
In Sevaré and Madiama, warehouses received a total of 260,600 kg of urea, a source of nitrogen in fertilizer, and 263,000 kg of diammonium phosphate (or DAP), a fertilizer with a high phosphorous content.
Warehouses in Sevaré, Djenne, and Bankass received a total of 750,000 kg of livestock feed.
Your gift is supporting our ongoing relief work during this time of crisis in Mali. Thank you!
October 17th is a Bonus Day when Global Giving will match a portion of your gift. Please consider a donation to help more rural farming families in Mali. Thank you!
