REC project in Armenia

Nov

Call for Demonstration Project Proposals – Precision Agriculture

Progress IKI

Business case / Demonstration projects selection criteria and processes

Implementation of demonstration projects introducing precision agriculture technologies and solutions in Armenia’s fruit, berry, and nut sectors

Context

The Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus of Armenia (REC Caucasus Armenia), within the framework of the regional project ‘Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries’ (PROGRESS), funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Natural Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC), the European Business Association (EBA) Moldova and the Institute for Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IEF), supports demonstration projects aimed at promoting precision agriculture solutions that foster climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable farming practices in Armenia. These solutions may include digital monitoring, smart irrigation, data-driven crop management, and climate adaptation technologies.

Objective and Expected Results

The objective of the Call for the Development and Implementation of Demonstration Projects is to select innovative, practical, cost-effective and scalable demonstration projects that introduce precision agriculture technologies improving efficiency, sustainability, and climate resilience in Armenian farming systems. Projects should aim to optimize input use (water, fertilizers, energy), improve yields, reduce GHG emissions, and strengthen resilience to climate change. These projects should be grounded in principles of climate-smart agriculture and digital innovation, fostering sustainable agriculture and environmental-friendly practices and resource management. Project proposals should clearly show the link between the precision agriculture and the improved environmental performance, economic benefits, and export readiness. Project proposals incorporating digital tools, AI/Machine learning or digitalization components to enhance effectiveness, monitoring, or scalability will be considered a strong advantage.

Expected results include:

Demonstration of precision agriculture technologies and its field application (e.g., sensors, drones, remote sensing, smart irrigation, digital platforms, service provision using digital tools).
Enhanced capacity of farmers, cooperatives, and agri-businesses in applying precision tools.
Documented efficiency gains (e.g., reduced water/fertilizer use, improved yields).
Minimum 10% co-financing from applicants (cash or in-kind).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include registered businesses, CSOs, research institutions, social enterprises, farmers’ associations or cooperatives and consortia legally operating in Armenia with activities related to agriculture, agri-tech, precision farming, agri-digital solutions, or climate-smart practices.

Eligible applicants must:

Be legally registered in Armenia;
Operate in sectors related to agricultural production, agri-tech and innovations, agriculture, agri-processing,
Propose projects focused on precision agriculture technologies, climate-smart farming, and data-driven practices;
Provide at least 10% co-financing (cash and/or in-kind).

Priority Areas

Proposals must explicitly address one or more of the following topics:

Soil and crop monitoring technologies (drones, IoT sensors, remote sensing (RS), satellite data).
Multispectral analysis of agricultural crops and fields followed by targeted spraying actions to optimize pesticide and fertilizer application (farmer contracting during the implementation is an additional asset).
Implementation of Variable Rate Technology (VRT) for precision input management, ensuring efficient and site-specific use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water.
Precision irrigation, fertilization or fertigation approaches.
Data-driven farm management platforms (GIS and RS -based decision tools, mobile applications).
Climate-resilient production methods and adaptation measures (e.g., drought or frost resistance, soil health improvement, agricultural crops health etc).Additional asset is reduction of food losses, yield prediction, prevention of soil erosion, data acquisition and publicity etc.
Additional asset is improving market access and export readiness while complying with food safety and EU standards.

Project Duration and Budget

Each project must be implemented within a maximum of 24 months, concluding by November 2027.

Applicants may request funding between EUR 5,000 – EUR 25,000 (in AMD equivalent). Each applicant must contribute at least 10% of the total project budget through co-financing (cash or in-kind). Applicants should be committed to ensuring that the equipment provided will support farmers and agribusinesses. Public benefits should be guaranteed. The applicants will share their experience with relevant beneficiaries, organize trainings, and possibly share sustainable practices and benefits with the general public.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Projects will be assessed using the following weighted criteria:

Criterion	Scoring Description	Scoring Range	Weight (%)
Beneficiary Inclusion	Assess whether the provided data is realistic and inclusive of both direct and indirect beneficiaries.	1–10: 1 (Low inclusion) to 10 (High inclusion).	15%
Primary Topic Relevance	Rate the project’s alignment with the primary thematic focus (e.g., climate resilience, sustainability, climate adaptation).	1–10: 1 (Low relevance) to 10 (High relevance).	15%
Secondary Topic Relevance	Rate the project’s contribution to secondary thematic areas, enhancing alignment with broader program goals.	1–10: 1 (Low contribution) to 10 (High contribution).	5%
Government Interest and Synergy	Evaluate the project’s alignment with government strategies, policies, and its synergy with ongoing initiatives.	1–10: 1 (Low alignment) to 10 (High alignment).	15%
Replicability Potential / Sustainability	Assess the likelihood of the project being adapted or scaled to other contexts or regionsi.	1–10: 1 (Low potential) to 10 (High potential).	15%
Support Structures	Evaluate the relevance and strength of support structures available to implement the project successfully.	1–10: 1 (Weak structures) to 10 (Strong structures).	5%
Enabling Environment	Assess how well the enabling environment (policies, infrastructure, and human resources) supports the project.	1–10: 1 (Weak environment) to 10 (Strong environment).	5%
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Adaptation	Evaluate the project’s potential to enhance environmental sustainability and promote climate adaptation.	1–10: 1 (Low sustainability) to 10 (High sustainability).	20%
Gender Sensitivity	Evaluate how well the project addresses gender inclusivity and promotes equal opportunities for women.	1–10: 1 (Low sensitivity) to 10 (High sensitivity).	5%

* Innovation; Based on Good Available Practice; Enhancing Employment will be considered as advantage

Optional Criteria	Innovation	Assess the novelty of the project in introducing new technologies, processes, or methods.	1–10: 1 (Low innovation) to 10 (High innovation).	10%
	Based on Good Available Practice	Evaluate how well the project aligns with or builds upon existing good practices.	1–10: 1 (Low alignment) to 10 (High alignment).	5%
	Enhancing Employment	Assess the project’s contribution to creating or improving employment opportunities.	1–10: 1 (Low impact) to 10 (High impact).	5%