PROJECT TITLE

Unlocking Sustainable Finance for Nutrition-Sensitive, Climate-Smart Food Systems Transformation in Armenia

Armenia’s food system faces interconnected challenges, including high rates of poor diet affordability, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and fragmented policy frameworks. The national food systems pathway and the Food Security Strategy outline priorities around sustainable production, improved nutrition, and climate resilience. To address these, the government is strengthening cross-ministerial coordination and preparing to host CBD COP17 in 2026, positioning Armenia as a regional leader in biodiversity-positive food systems. The Joint Programme supports this agenda by reinforcing seed systems, climate-resilient dairy value chains, sustainable agri-SME finance, and healthier consumer choices across Shirak and Syunik regions.

• Strengthening climate-smart seed and dairy production systems to increase resilience, productivity, and access to healthier diets.
• Enhancing policy coherence and enabling the integration of food system priorities into biodiversity and climate frameworks.
• Mobilizing impact-oriented finance to channel new investments toward agri-SMEs and smallholders.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Ministry of Economy; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Health; private dairy processors; farmer organizations; academic institutions.

• Operational Food Policy Lab and Food Systems Innovation Incubator supporting coordinated, evidence-based governance and implementation.
• Pilots of climate-resilient seed banks, pasture restoration sites, and agroecological practices across targeted regions.
• Design and validation of the Dairy Development Impact Bond as a results-based financing mechanism.
• Strengthened market access through biodiversity-positive value chains and green procurement, including integration into school feeding systems.