This is a Request for Information, RFI-111-18-000001, Rural Economic Development. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Applications (RFA) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any solicitation or Notice of Funding Opportunity, or ultimately award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this RFI, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this request. Agriculture is a key contributor to the Armenian economy and a major source of employment. Together with the associated agro-processing, agriculture accounts for about 21 percent of GDP, approximately 18 percent of export earnings, and more than 40 percent of employment. The sector ensured 6 percent growth over last 15 years. Exports of agricultural products, continuing the steady growth of recent years, showed strong growth during 2003-2015 - rising from US$79.1 million to US$398.0 million over the same period. While the sector has been resilient during last decade, it has been functioning at a low level of intensity and has not reached its full potential. Based on the work of USAID, and other donors, it is clear that Armenia has potential for growth with horticultural commodities. USAID/Armenia is interested in continuing to promote rural economic development and would like to gain better understanding of the horticulture sector, including viticulture. We would like to ask local organizations active in the sector to respond to the questions listed below: 1. Which sub sectors of horticulture have the best potential for growth? 2. Where is the weakest part of the value chain? 3. Where are the main impediments/bottle-necks for the development of the horticulture value chain? a. Why is this an impediment? b. What kind of interventions might address those impediments? 4. Do opportunities exist for rural hospitality to be integrated into the horticulture value chain? Please do not copy information from publicly available reports but you are free to include citations or references. Responses should not exceed a total of 6 pages. Please submit no later than October 24, 2017, 6:00 pm (Washington time), electronically to Mr. Armen Yeghiazarian at
[email protected] and Ms. Narine Sarkisian at
[email protected]