Refugee Response Window

Refugee Response Window for Armenia - Part of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line in Armenia

The EBRD, in partnership with the EU, has established the “Refugee Response Window for Armenia” (the “RRWA”) under the SME Competitiveness and Inclusion Programme in the Eastern Partnership (the “Programme”). It targets individuals, who migrated to Armenia during the period of the 27th of September 2020 and the 23rd of September 2023 and are considered as beneficiaries under displaced people support programmes of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (the ‘Refugees’).

This initiative offers tailored support to:

Entrepreneurs forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh
Businesses in Armenia that hire and support forcibly displaced individuals

The objective is to foster inclusive economic growth by helping refugees integrate into the Armenian economy and enabling local businesses to contribute to social cohesion.

Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs)

The support under the RRWA components is available through the following partner financial institutions:

[Insert logos of PFIs here—Araratbank, Ardshinbank, Armswissbank, Inecobank]

RRWA1: Support for Refugee-Founded Businesses	RRWA2: Support for Businesses Employing Refugees
Objective Support forcibly displaced entrepreneurs to rebuild and expand businesses in Armenia.Who It’s For Additional support is intended for businesses whose founder(s) (50% or more) were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh between September 27, 2020 and September 23, 2023 and established a company in the Republic of Armenia. This exclusive offer is aimed at supporting forcibly displaced entrepreneurs by helping them strengthen and expand their businesses. Objective Encourage local businesses to hire and train forcibly displaced individuals and adopt inclusive HR practices. Who It’s For Armenian businesses that: · Have employed (or commit to employ) forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Sept 2020–Sept 2023) · Have at least 10% or 10 employees (whichever is fewer) who are forcibly displaced · Maintain refugee employees for a minimum of 6 consecutiveEligibility Requirements Business must be legally registered in Armenia Founder(s) must be verified forcibly displaced persons Activity and investment must meet general programme eligibility criteria Benefits Additional incentive grant of up to 20% of the eligible sub-loan amount (in addition to the standard 10-15% incentive, bringing the total to up to 35%) · Advisory services via EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses Programme, with up to 100% grant funding, in areas such as: Marketing & branding o IT systems & digitalization Quality management systems Business planning & strategy Etc.	Objective Encourage local businesses to hire and train forcibly displaced individuals and adopt inclusive HR practices.Who It’s For Armenian businesses that: Have employed (or commit to employ) forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Sept 2020–Sept 2023) Have at least 10% or 10 employees (whichever is fewer) who are forcibly displaced Maintain refugee employees for a minimum of 6 consecutive months at the time of application for incentive Implement or commit to implement inclusive HR policies, including training and onboarding Activity and investment must meet general programme eligibility criteria Benefits An additional grant of up to 15% of the loan principal (total grant support up to 30%, with a maximum cap of €60,000 per borrower for the additional 15% grant). Provision of the Inclusive HR Policy Guide and relevant HR templates by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through its Advice for Small Businesses program. Free online training for HR officers provided by the EBRD through its Advice for Small Businesses program. Training or capacity building for employees from Nagorno-Karabakh hired by the company, in directions specified by the company, with up to 100% grant financing, offered through the EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses program. Business development group advisory services (for several companies) in various fields such as marketing, quality management systems, IT solutions, etc., provided with 90% grant support by the EBRD through its Advice for Small Businesses program.
Application & Verification Eligible businesses must apply through a PFI under the standard loan procedure. Verification of refugee status, employment, and policy commitments will be required before disbursement of additional incentives. Each sub-project must be verified as completed and compliant by a designated Verification Consultant (VC).required

RRWA1: Support for Refugee-Founded Businesses

RRWA2: Support for Businesses Employing Refugees

Objective
Support forcibly displaced entrepreneurs to rebuild and expand businesses in Armenia.Who It’s For
Additional support is intended for businesses whose founder(s) (50% or more) were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh between September 27, 2020 and September 23, 2023 and established a company in the Republic of Armenia. This exclusive offer is aimed at supporting forcibly displaced entrepreneurs by helping them strengthen and expand their businesses. Objective Encourage local businesses to hire and train forcibly displaced individuals and adopt inclusive HR practices. Who It’s For Armenian businesses that: · Have employed (or commit to employ) forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Sept 2020–Sept 2023) · Have at least 10% or 10 employees (whichever is fewer) who are forcibly displaced · Maintain refugee employees for a minimum of 6 consecutiveEligibility Requirements

Business must be legally registered in Armenia
Founder(s) must be verified forcibly displaced persons
Activity and investment must meet general programme eligibility criteria

Benefits

Additional incentive grant of up to 20% of the eligible sub-loan amount (in addition to the standard 10-15% incentive, bringing the total to up to 35%) ·
Advisory services via EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses Programme, with up to 100% grant funding, in areas such as:
- Marketing & branding o
- IT systems & digitalization
- Quality management systems
- Business planning & strategy
- Etc.

Objective
Encourage local businesses to hire and train forcibly displaced individuals and adopt inclusive HR practices.Who It’s For
Armenian businesses that:

Have employed (or commit to employ) forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Sept 2020–Sept 2023)
Have at least 10% or 10 employees (whichever is fewer) who are forcibly displaced
Maintain refugee employees for a minimum of 6 consecutive months at the time of application for incentive
Implement or commit to implement inclusive HR policies, including training and onboarding
Activity and investment must meet general programme eligibility criteria

Benefits

An additional grant of up to 15% of the loan principal (total grant support up to 30%, with a maximum cap of €60,000 per borrower for the additional 15% grant).
Provision of the Inclusive HR Policy Guide and relevant HR templates by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through its Advice for Small Businesses program.
Free online training for HR officers provided by the EBRD through its Advice for Small Businesses program.
Training or capacity building for employees from Nagorno-Karabakh hired by the company, in directions specified by the company, with up to 100% grant financing, offered through the EBRD’s Advice for Small Businesses program.
Business development group advisory services (for several companies) in various fields such as marketing, quality management systems, IT solutions, etc., provided with 90% grant support by the EBRD through its Advice for Small Businesses program.

Application & Verification
Eligible businesses must apply through a PFI under the standard loan procedure. Verification of refugee status, employment, and policy commitments will be required before disbursement of additional incentives. Each sub-project must be verified as completed and compliant by a designated Verification Consultant (VC).required

Refugee Response Window

Refugee Response Window for Armenia - Part of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line in Armenia

Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs)

EU4BUSINESS-EBRD CREDIT LINE

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