Grant Program Announcement

The "Sustainable and Efficient Economic Development of Syunik: Agri-Processing" (SEEDS) project, implemented by the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) Foundation and funded by the European Union (EU) and the Austrian Development Cooperation under the Team Europe Initiative for Syunik

Recovery, resilience development (R2D Syunik), announces a grant program for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in agricultural food processing, as well as individuals with viable business ideas in the sector.

The grant program aims to strengthen food processing capacities within local market systems by providing support exclusively to agricultural product processing companies and individuals engaged in or planning to engage in food processing.

The call for applications is open to start-up micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the agro-processing sector in Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia, as well as individuals with a viable business idea.

In addition:

♦ Applicants who were rejected or not selected under the grant programs implemented by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation or the WINNET Goris are eligible to apply for the CARD Foundation's grant competition.

♦  Applicants who have already participated in the Entrepreneurship training organized by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation or the WomenNet Armenia Foundation, and who do not intend to apply for the grant competitions announced by those organizations, are also eligible to apply for the SEEDS grant program.

The following applicants are not eligible to participate in the SEEDS program:

♦ Individuals or organizations that have already received grants under EU and Austrian Development Cooperation-funded programs implemented by the Jinishian Memorial Foundation or the WINNET Goris. Double funding of the same beneficiaries is not permitted.

The program will give special consideration to women-led businesses.

Grant Conditions

♦ Under the grant program:

♦ Grants will be provided exclusively in-kind, in the form of machinery and equipment.

♦ Beneficiaries must provide a minimum 40% co-financing (own contribution) of the value of the equipment financed by the project.

♦ The maximum grant amount is up to EUR 8,000.

♦ In addition to grants, beneficiaries will receive training and capacity-building support. Information sessions will be organized in the target communities to assist applicants with completing application forms and to answer questions related to the application process. Dates and venues of these sessions will be announced through the official communication channels of the implementing organization and disseminated by local self-government authorities.

How to Apply

Step 1. Download the Grant Program Guidelines.

Step 2. Download and complete the application form in Armenian, and submit it by October 15, 2025 to card@card.am, indicating "SEEDS Grant Competition Application" in the subject line. Upon submission, you will receive a confirmation email.

♦ If you have any additional materials describing your business or activities (photos, videos, etc.), please attach them to your application.

Step 3. Applications that meet the SEEDS program requirements and receive preliminary approval will proceed to the next stage of evaluation, which includes a site visit by the project team.

As the number of available grants is limited, the selection process will be competitive, and only the most competitive applications will be selected. Applicants who are not selected will have the opportunity to participate in the training courses offered by the project.

For questions regarding the application process, please contact us at (+374 60) 440 550 or email card@card.am starting August 1, 2025.

* The project is co-financed by the European Union and the Austrian Development Cooperation.

** The "Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative" is a joint initiative of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the EU Member States Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, as well as partner country Switzerland. The initiative aims to promote the sustainable socio-economic and institutional development of the Syunik Province in line with local development priorities. Its initial budget for the first five years is approximately EUR 11 million, with the possibility of further expansion.