The inception workshop of “Technical and institutional support to veterinary services in Armenia” Project was held  by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia.  

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Healthcare, State Service for Food Safety, “Veterinary-sanitary, food safety and phytosanitary center of services” SNCO, “Food Safety Risk Assessment and Analysis Scientific Center” SNCO, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, FAO International and National Consultants participated in the event and made presentations onbrucellosis prevention and  control activities in Armenia.  

The overall goal of the Project is to strengthen veterinary services, contributing to the improvement of the food safety system and sustainable agricultural development in Armenia. The Project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by FAO and Strategic Development Agency NGO (SDA). 

To ensure efficiency in project implementation and sustainability of project results, SDA and FAO will join their expertise in the course of this Project. FAO will provide technical assistance and capacity building of the veterinary services at the national level and in Syunik region, SDA will be responsible for the organization of field operations to assure maximum leverage and effective integration of this sub-project into the existing “Livestock Development Project in Syunik Region”. The Project will assist in building a more efficient system of controlling brucellosis in animals and therefore will limit the risk for infection in humans, in addition to serving as a useful model for a future sustainable National Brucellosis Control Programme.  

The total budget of the Project is USD 724,324.00. Direct beneficiaries are the farmers, and the population in rural communities of Syunik region. The Project impact at the social level will be increased incomes and improved public health standards of the rural population, including women and children.