"Strengthening current and future employment and self-employment programmes through sustainable value chain management systems under the Migration Resource Centres and Local Centres of the State Employment Agency" project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Swedish Public Employment Service, and an Integrated Expert from the Centre for International Migration and Development under the support of in partnership with the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. The project is administered by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).----------------------BACKGROUNDEmpowering labour migrants, their families and active labour force through innovative solutions is vital for Armenians who migrate to achieve financial goals. In parallel, highly effective management in stimulating return and reintegration of Armenians living abroad as well as those who have returned successfully demonstrating impact of their return to their homeland is needed.------------------------------------------------OVERALL PROJECT OBJECTIVESTo maximise the contribution of Armenian circular labour migrants to the development of Armenia through the repatriation of skills, experiences and financial capital from the Country of Destination to Armenia. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT- Mapping the existing needs to foster contribution of circular labour migrants to Armenia, and revealing the knowledge-basis of competent Armenian authorities for future interventions;- Training the Labour Migration Unit (LMU), Migration Resource Centres (MRC) and Local Centres of SEA to provide high-quality services supporting reintegration of skills, experiences and financial capital from the country of destination to Armenia- To equip the LMU and selected MRC and Local Centre staff members of SEA with a Community Development Investment Standard Operating Procedure.------------------ACTIVITIESINCEPTION PHASEA preparatory study providing a detailed needs-analysis for the project.CAPACITY DEVELOPMENTThe project focus is to setup an advanced management capacity within the State Employment Agency, its Labour Migration Unit, Local Centres and Migration Resource Centres. Two training packages will be employed: - MITOS (Migration Tools - Options for Sustainability), 1) MiInvestment Opportunities, 3) Business Creation (Start-up), 4) Circular Labour Migration information via Smartphones and Tablets;- FREDI (Financial Literacy for Remittances and Diaspora Investments), 1) Increasing Awareness and Competition on the Remittance Market, 2) Converting Remittance Senders and Recipients into Clients of Financial Institutions, 3) Investments to Promote Business Development and Entrepreneurship, 4) Investments by Armenians abroad in Armenia.INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTCDIS (Community Development Investment System) An IT-system for effective management of community development investments will be established and integrated into the LMU's iMigrant" (Intelligent Migrant) platform, based on a voluntary smartphone survey data from labour migrants and their families, reaching rural populations. Target groups:circular labour migrants, their families and communities;diaspora and/or Armenians who live abroad and are searching for ways to move virtually, temporarily or permanently to Armenia with the intention to invest in clusters, value chains, businesses and start-ups. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------CLUSTER INITIATIVES AND CLUSTER DEVELOPMENTLinking community development investment businesses and value chains to a larger system for linking entire value chain businesses to cluster initiatives. In this way it's also possible for SEA and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to enable community development investment, bridge value chains, and add value for the labour market.