| Overview : ANNOUNCEMENT INNOVATION CHALLENGE FOR WOMEN IN TOURISM BUSINESS UNDP “Integrated rural tourism development” project in cooperation with UNDP Women in Local Democracy (WiLD 2/ phase 2) project hereby announces the third wave of Innovation Challenge Call of tour products development, with focus on the women empowerment in four marzes of Armenia. We are inviting all interested companies of Armenia led by women to submit “Application 1: Description of the Main Idea” and implement tourism-related business projects in four Marzes of RA. Geography- Lori, Syunik, Tavush, and Vayots Dzor Marzes of RA About the Projects The UNDP WiLD 2 / Phase 2 project supports advancement of women leadership and gender equality in regions/communities of Armenia through enhanced knowledge and mechanisms for progressive realization of women’s rights at the local level. One of the objectives of the project is to support women to advance their leadership potential and skills through economic empowerment models and this joint initiative is coming to support this objective. WiLD 2 /Phase 2 is implemented in cooperation with RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development with financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation/ the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) within the framework of the “Local Governance Program in Armenia”. The UNDP Integrated Rural Tourism Development project offers an intervention strategy for the development of rural tourism in Armenia with the objective of creating sustainable income-generating opportunities as supplemental income source to bring down the level of rural poverty, contribute to equal territorial development and shape conducive environment for rural development. The project has three main components: planning of sustainable integrated rural tourism, increase income level through diversification of tourism products and services in the community and sustainable destination management. The project is financed by the Russian Federation and is implemented by UNDP in close cooperation with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development. Application process The application process is organized in two stages: (a) Stage 1: Submission of Application 1: “Description of the Main Idea”, and (b) Stage 2: Development of Business Plan in close cooperation with the project team. Under the current Expression of Interest, ALL tourism related women-led entities are invited to submit the “Application 1: Description of the Main Idea”. The application shall be performed exclusively ONLINE on the www.am.undp.org platform, which is available in English and Armenian. “Application 1: Description of the Main Idea” should be submitted with provisions stipulated in the Applicant’s Guidelines, in English or in Armenian. Apply only if you are eligible. How to apply: The Application form can be found and downloaded here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=51270 The application deadline for the “Application 1: Description of the Main Idea” is 20 November 2018, 17:00 Armenian time. Only pre-selected applicants will be contacted. Please send the “Application 1: Description of the Main Idea” to tourism.am@undp.org or ruzanna.hayrapetyan@undp.org. If you have any questions, please call: 060 530000 (185, 190). | 
