Public Sector Landscape Assessment in Armenia: Trends and Challenges in Agriculture and Tourism Sectors

Public Sector Landscape Assessment (PSLA) was aimed at exploring the dynamics among the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture and tourism sectors in Armenia. The objectives of the PSLA were:

1. Review and summarize relevant USAID/Armenia private sector engagements, with a focus on the aspects of USAID’s assistance to MSMEs that are most impactful for these firms.

2. Analyze the current private sector landscape in each target sectors and explore the characteristics of Armenian MSMEs that have the potential to expand their business.

3. Study the potential partnership intentions and approaches that USAID/Armenia may consider with a broader strategic lens.

4. Inform USAID/Armenia’s future programming on economic recovery through understanding the impacts on MSMEs of COVID-19 and economic disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.

The PSLA was conducted with application of mixed-methods design including primary and secondary data collection and analysis. The primary quantitative data was collected through a survey among 619 MSME representatives of the targeted sectors, while the qualitative data derived from 4 focus group discussions and 43 key informant interviews with USAID technical staff, implementing partners, decision makers, sectorial experts and MSME representatives of agriculture and tourism sectors.