Economic Development

CREATING INCOME, BUILDING FUTURES

For over two decades, AAAS has been working in Armenia, transforming lives and building a sustainable future. Our solidarity-based development approach is rooted in a deep conviction: empowering vulnerable individuals is the most powerful lever for building a resilient and prosperous society. Through economic development, we support hundreds of individuals each year in their pursuit of independence and fulfillment.

Income-generating activities

At the heart of our mission lies an essential objective: enabling the most vulnerable populations to regain their dignity through economic activity. In close cooperation with the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AFSD) and its partners, we implement an income-generating activities (IGA) program targeting two priority groups.

AAAS program beneficiary creating income-generating activity in Armenia with OFII support

Migrants

Men and women who return to Armenia after often difficult migration journeys face numerous obstacles: prolonged absence from the country, lack of startup capital, professional networks to rebuild.

The French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) conducts a voluntary return program that supports migrants in creating income-generating activities, in cooperation with our partner, the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AFSD). This support offers them much more than simple financial assistance. We guide them in developing viable projects, train them in entrepreneurial skills, and provide personalized support throughout the critical first years of their activity.

As part of this cooperation between OFII and AFSD, over 400 income-generating activities (IGAs) have been created by migrants, enabling them to rebuild their lives on solid and sustainable foundations.

Women

Our second target group includes women war victims and refugees, whose economic vulnerability is often compounded by deep psychological trauma. For these women who have lost everything, financial autonomy represents much more than a means of subsistence. It is a path toward personal reconstruction and reclaiming their place in society. More than one hundred of them have been able to launch their own activities thanks to our program, becoming actors in their own development and role models for their communities.

Women entrepreneurs trained by AAAS and AFSD developing their microenterprises in Armenia

A Growing Impact Each Year

In total, over 500 income-generating activities (IGAs) have emerged through our action with the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AFSD) and its partners. Year after year, we expand our circle of intervention, enabling more vulnerable individuals to access economic stability and reclaim their place in society.

Each business created generates jobs, energizes the local economy, and inspires other initiatives. Yesterday's beneficiaries become tomorrow's mentors, creating a chain of solidarity and development that durably transforms vulnerable communities.

Our Impact in Numbers

0+

IGAs created by returning migrants

0+

IGAs created by vulnerable women

0+

microenterprises supported

0+

beneficiaries accompanied

To learn about all our partners' initiatives, we invite you to visit the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development (AFSD)