The new facility is the first pastry bakery in the area.
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More than 700 beekeepers from 40 villages of Lerik Rayon will benefit from the new honey processing facility.
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A new facility was needed to keep the sale of dried fruit profitable.
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Amazing things can happen when citizens come together to plan and implement development projects that address the economic issues facing their community. Despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, EWMI has continued to work with Community Development Councils (CDCs) in Azerbaijan through the USAID-funded Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) to bring citizens together to develop such projects.
For many members of the Balagusar community of the Gusar Rayon, the sale of dried fruit and berries traditionally has provided a significant portion of their income. More recently, this income generating activity has been under threat of abandonment because domestic methods of fruit drying and the lack of fruit drying facilities in the area made the products less competitive at market. With support from EWMI, the Balagusar community came together to establish a new fruit drying facility. The new facility consisting of a storehouse, water closet unit, processing room, drying room and technical room will have a positive impact on the Balagusar community and the development of fruit-growing in other communities in Gusar rayon.
In June 2020, the Piran community in the Lerik District officially opened a new honey processing facility. More than 700 beekeepers from 40 villages of Lerik Rayon will benefit from this facility, which consists of a honey storage tank, honey comb, honey dosing, capping, labeling and honey heating equipment.
In the in Yardimli District, with EMWI support, the Koryadi community constructed a new pastry bakery which will initially employ four local women. The new facility is equipped with a baking oven, kneader, cream mixer, and other modern bakery equipment, and is the first pastry bakery in the area. The new facility will provide new economic opportunities for the residents of Koryadi and have a positive impact on the community.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires and USAID Mission Director at the carpet-weaving workshop in Guba.
Alpan, Uzunmeshe, Kurkun and Susay villages, with a population of only 5,149, are located in a mountainous area of Guba in northern Azerbaijan. These communities have been a center of fine carpet weaving for centuries. Experts say these carpets, long renowned for their durability and unique designs, have a special shine and velvety texture, and a spectrum of sober classic colors that starts “flower” over time. One of the secrets of the beauty and longevity of Alpan carpets is the natural dyes used by carpet weavers since ancient times. However, this ancient art was in danger of extinction due to lack of appropriate infrastructure and necessary resources.
In 2017, EWMI’s USAID-funded Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) collaborated with the carpet weavers to help reinvigorate the traditional carpet weaving economy. With technical support from SEDA, Alpan village residents worked with their local and regional governments to construct a brand new facility for designing and weaving carpets and included a training hall to help pass on the ancient skills and techniques to newer generations.
Opened on November 7, 2017, today the carpet weaving center is flourishing. In addition to revitalizing Guba’s ancient carpet trade and giving women skills they can use the generate income, the center is also a place where women can come together and share ideas on addressing common challenges. The video below highlights what has been accomplished at the center since opening over two years ago.
EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and co-financed by the Government of Azerbaijan.
Before the bridge was built, makeshift wood planks and stones were used to help students cross.
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An opening ceremoney was held to celebrate the new bridge.
Residents of the Surra community in Shabran, Azerbaijan have long faced challenges safely crossing the river that divides their village to get to school, work and the nearest town. With support from EWMI’s USAID-funded Socio-Economic Development Activity in Azerbaijan (SEDA) and the Ministry of Economy, Surra residents came together to build a bridge to better connect their community. The bridge has become a symbol of the partnership and friendship between the American and Azerbaijani people.
Two new artesian wells will improve access to irrigation water for nearby hazelnut and fruit orchards.
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Yadigar Maharramov is confident that he will have double the hazelnut production during the next season.
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Agriculture is at the center of life for families of the Khaspoladoba community of the Khachmaz rayon in Azerbaijan. Growing primarily hazelnuts, the approximately 50 farmers from Khaspoladoba own and cultivate 75 hectares of hazelnut orchards. For 85-year old farmer, Yadigar Maharramov, a father of eight children, selling hazelnuts from his one-hectare orchard is his family’s main source of income. Sadly, water shortages and lack of access to irrigation water had severely limited his crop productivity. Like Mr. Maharramov, all of the farmers in the Khaspoladoba community were in desperate need of irrigation water for their land. Looking for solutions, the community members sought support from USAID’s Agricultural Support to Azerbaijan Project (ASAP) and EWMI’s USAID-funded Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA). Implemented by EWMI, with support from the Azerbaijani government, SEDA promotes cooperation between citizens, civil society organizations, and government to advance socio-economic development and improve the quality of life in rural areas.
In 2018, EWMI began work with the Khasploadoba community to establish and elect members to a Community Development Council (CDC) that would be able engage with all villagers to assess the socio-economic needs of the community. CDC members received training to better identify solutions to address these needs, develop proposals for community-driven socio-economic projects that EWMI could support through SEDA, and engage municipal officials in supporting their proposed project. After interviewing 140 community members, the Khasploadoba CDC identified the lack of irrigation water as the community’s most urgent need. While USAID’s ASAP helped the farmers in the Khaspoladoba community apply more modern techniques in growing hazelnuts, EWMI coordinated with ASAP to support the drilling of two artesian wells that would feed the irrigation canals in the hazelnut orchards. Community members willingly contributed 25% of total cost of the project.
Completed on March 1, 2019, the project’s launch turned into a day of festivities for the farmers. They are now able to irrigate their hazelnuts orchards by using the water from the new artesian wells. Having sufficient irrigation water available close by will increase the productivity of hazelnut trees and other fruit orchards, increasing income for local farmers. When asked about the new wells and irrigation system, Yadigar Maharramov stated that he is confident that he will have double the hazelnut production during the next season. “I have not been able to water my orchard for 26 years. Thanks to SEDA and ASAP that helped us to solve this problem. Now our lands are more abundant and our opportunities will be greater. Water is life, so this project has given us a life.”
Residents of the Niyazabad community of Khachmaz rayon celebrated the successful addition of two new rooms for the village school.
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The new classrooms will improve conditions for more than 200 schoolchildren.
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Representatives of the local ExCom and the municipality, MEI officials, and USAID representative gathered to mark the successful completion of the construction.
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Led by their volunteer Community Development Council, Niyazabad citizens joined forces with the SEDA project to improve the school.
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The rooms were constructed through joint funding from the governments of the United States and Azerbaijan as well as local municipality and community members.
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The additional classrooms will alleviate overcrowding issues.
The Niyazabad community in Khachmaz rayon, Azerbaijan, is home to one village school that is located in a building that belonged to the former village’s farm (sovkhoz) and consists of 13 rooms. The building was constructed in 1965 and does not comply with modern education and safety requirements. The classrooms are separated by panels instead of walls which hinder school children from concentrating on their lessons. Additionally, classrooms are over-crowded as rooms are too small and do not have enough desks for the 15-20 children in each class. In fact, the building itself is in a state of disrepair and no renovation has been done since its initial construction. The poor condition of the building, poor lighting, lack of sufficient space and the shortage of furniture have resulted in inadequate educational conditions for children of Niyazabad.
To address this issue, the Niyazabad Community Development Council worked with EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity in Azerbaijan (SEDA) project to construct two additional rooms and 1 corridor in the school which have significantly improved educational conditions for 210 pupils of the Niyazabad village with joint funding from USAID, the Government of Azerbaijan, the local municipality, and community members.
On September 10, residents of the Niyazabad community of Khachmaz rayon, representatives of the local government and the municipality, officials from the Ministry of Economy and Industry (MEI), and USAID representative gathered to mark the successful completion of the construction of two additional rooms for the village school for Niyazabad community. The rooms were constructed by a local NGO, UMID, and co-financed by the governments of the United States and Azerbaijan.
“The construction of these rooms made us realize how important it is to work together on something that will bring benefit to our children,”- said Donna Stauffer, USAID/Azerbaijan Acting Mission Director. She also thanked the community for their dedication to mobilize local resources to improve their living conditions.
Matlab Jafarov, the representative of the MEI in Guba-Khachmaz region, described various infrastructure projects in the regions financed by the Azerbaijani government for improving the living conditions of the population. Mr. Jafarov praised the cooperation with USAID under the SEDA project and emphasized its contribution to the State Program on Socio-Economic Development of the Regions.
Implemented by the East-West Management Institute with support from the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the Council for State Support to NGOs, SEDA promotes fuller participation of citizens, civil society organizations and local and central government institutions to advance socio-economic development in their communities.
EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and co-financed by the Government of Azerbaijan.
Dereck Hogan, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baku during the ribbon cutting ceremony in Garalar village, Sabirabad.
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Medical Point in Agammadli village of Imishli region provides medical care for 1182 inhabitants.
In December 2014, news spread among citizens of the Aran region that their access to quality medical care was about to improve with the inauguration of three new Medical Points – two in Imishli and one in Sabirabad. The new Medical Points, rebuilt with support from EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) in Azerbaijan, will provide nearly 3,000 people with easier access to improved health care facilities and services. Each Medical Point consists of two rooms for medical services and one corridor for waiting patients.
Prior to the construction of the new Medical Points, residents of Agamammadli, Aliyetmezli, and Garalar villages could not access adequate medical care due to either the complete absence of facilities or the longstanding poor condition of existing Medical Point buildings and old, broken equipment. Children and the elderly especially suffered from the lack of basic medical services.
“The construction of this facility is a clear example of successful cooperation between the governments of the United States and Azerbaijan to assist local communities address important needs,” said Mr. Dereck Hogan, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baku. He also thanked the community for their dedication to mobilize local resources to improve their living conditions. Zumrud Tagiyeva, a member of Aliyetmezli community, is passionate about improving opportunities for people to receive the necessary medical care. “Every person may face a time in their life when they are in need of medical attention,” she says. “Receiving quality medical care is that person’s human right. One of the difficulties we were en-countering was the absence of a refrigerator in the former Medical Point for storage of medications, so community members were obliged to travel to the regional center to purchase medications.”
Mr. Yengibar Huseynov, Agamammadli Community Development Committee (CDC) Coordinator, remarked: “I want to express my deepest gratitude to SEDA for the implementation and funding of this wonderful project. Finally, our dream has come true. After years, the Agamammadli village community has a newly constructed Medical Point that will serve the entire village.”
Residents of the communities, representatives of the local Executive Committees and the municipality, officials from the Ministry of Econo-my and Industry, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, and USAID/Azerbaijan Mission Director participated in the opening ceremonies of new medical facilities.
The Socio-Economic Development Activity in Azerbaijan is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and co-financed by the Government of Azerbaijan.
The road repair project jointly funded by USAID, Government of Azerbaijan, local municipality, and community members improved the day-to-day living conditions of over 1,400 people in Arzu community.
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A broad network of local input companies, dealer networks, and farmers groups advocated successfully to improve the seed registration process in Azerbaijan.
EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity in Azerbaijan (SEDA) project has led several high impact initiatives these past few months with very promising outcomes. SEDA brought better roads to a small town in Khachmaz, raised awareness and improved services for the elderly and disabled, and finally helped support advocacy groups in applying pressure to reform the local seed registry in Azerbaijan.
Building New Roads to Opportunity
During the initial EWMI-supported community meeting to identify the community of Khachmaz’s needs, the majority of community members expressed the need for the construction of a school building and repairs to the community’s often impassable roads. Good news came quickly when the Community Development Council (CDC) announced that the government planned to build a new school in the community in the near future. In the meantime, EWMI began construction on the rehabilitation of the community’s roads, breaking ground in June of 2013. The roads have been recently completed, and the construction of the secondary school is well underway. This was a dream come true for many of Khachmaz’s community members. “For years we have been dreaming that our children could safely walk through repaired roads to a community school. Now we are very excited that this year both problems were addressed,” said Gulesmer Abbekirova, CDC Coordinator.
Advocacy Outreach on People with Disabilities and Social Workers
EWMI’s SEDA Civic Engagement Grant program, along with the Society for Humanitarian Research (SHR), recently secured support for Azeris with disabilities by starting a dialogue with civil society organizations (CSOs), relevant state bodies, and ministries on some of the issues this group faces. Gunel Hasanova, an active participant of the advocacy campaign, stated, “Prior to SHR’s activities, there was a lack of information … I think this project is a successful step forward in terms of informing people of different levels of ability through this project and defining and supporting those who are interested in social work.” In addition, SHR led an effort to conduct special training courses, and they also reached out to young people to involve them in their advocacy campaigns for people with disabilities. “We hope these initiatives will improve the relevant legislative framework” and “deepen the interest in social work,” stated Teyyub Mirgasimov, Director of the Regional Cooperation and Community Development Center.
Local Seeds for Growth in Azerbaijan
The current Seed Registration Law in Azerbaijan falls short for many Azeri farmers. The price of imported seeds is high, making it difficult for many farmers to purchase them. Without an established registry of local seeds as another option, many farmers find themselves in a difficult position, which incites many of them to call for tougher regulations and simplified procedures on the current Seed Registration Law. A simpler seed registry with tighter regulations can also help restore the country’s seed selection tradition and spread existing local varieties. Mursal Gurbanov, a farmer from Aghdam rayon asserts, “I believe that seeds can be sold to farmers at a reasonable price once the registration process is simplified.”
To address this issue, EWMI began to support the advocacy efforts of AKTIVTA, a local CSO. As a direct result of AKTIVTA’s advocacy efforts, the State Seed Testing Commission involved farmers in testing seed varieties in its regional testing centers for the first time. The Commission is planning to continue to regularly conduct seed variety testing with farmer participation and is also committed to simplifying the seed registration procedures. Finally, AKTIVTA republished a new version of state seed varieties, which provides valuable information to local seed importers and international seed companies, and even submitted recommendations on seed variety registration procedures to the “Seed Policy Paper,” a report prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Volunteers from Beylagan YESDPU help the elderly people in their communities with day-to-day domestic activities.
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Community residents in Yukhary Aran in Beylagan are involved to the implementation of Inter-Community Road Rehabilitation project funded by Social Development Fund of IDPs.
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Schoolchildren in Aliyetmazli community in Imishli planting trees in their schoolyard within the Civic Engagement Grant program executed by “Dalga” Ecology and Nature Protection Public Union.
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Students from Khajavan IDP Settlement in Beylagan are in the group session of CV Writing training conducted by Beylagan YESDPU.
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“Dalga” Ecology and Nature Protection Public Union conducts environmental survey in those communities located on the bank of Araz and Kura rivers.
EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) in Azerbaijan includes a grants program that supports organizations that engage in advocacy on socio-economic development at local and regional levels. Poverty reduction, participatory water management, environmental protection, improved social services, and efficient seed registration procedures are among the initiatives that civil society organizations (CSOs) have launched with grants from EWMI SEDA.
On August 10, 2012, EWMI awarded more than $85,000 to six CSOs in the Aran region for their innovative projects. Internally displaced persons, farmers, youth, the elderly and people with limited physical abilities are among the more than 30,300 citizens who have benefitted already from the implementation of these projects from September 2012 to June 2013.
“SEDA-supported projects address real problems in our village,” said Malik Azimov, Chief of Shahverdili municipality in Imishli rayon. His village was among 30 communities where 300 citizens were surveyed about local environmental issues. Dalga Ecology and Nature Protection Public Union, a EWMI SEDA grantee, is collaborating with citizens, local authorities, and schools to identify solutions for the environmental issues concerning the Araz and Kura rivers. “We believe that this project will result in better waste management systems in Shahverdili community,” Azimov said.
“The grant we received from EWMI SEDA is supporting our advocacy initiative for the simplification of seed variety registration that will directly benefit 93 members of our association and the people that work with them,” said Farid Firidunov, Director of AKTIVTA. “This will result in decreased seed prices for all community members.”
Other EWMI grantees have initiated equally important efforts within their communities. Aran Humanitarian Regional Development Organization from Barda rayon has brought together citizens, Limited Liability Companies, and local officials to improve water management systems. The Youth Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union from Beylagan rayon has involved the elderly to identify their needs and supported them to get access to social support benefits. The Society for Human Research and Regional Cooperation and the Community Development Center in Goychay rayon have collaborated to improve access for people with disabilities to social services. Progress Social Research Public Union from Imishli rayon is supporting local authorities to implement the UN Millennium Development Goals for Azerbaijan. Over the next four years, EWMI will provide $500,000 to support these and other trade, professional, and farmers associations in furthering socio-economic development at the community and regional level in Azerbaijan.
Ms.Nabat Aliyeva from Alinazarli village of Beylaqan recently registered to receive social services.
For almost 10 years, Nabat Aliyeva has lived alone in her home in Alinazarli village in Beylagan rayon. She has an oncological disease. Remarkably, Nabat was not aware that social services are available for elderly people living alone in her area.
“Recently I heard from our community leader that an organization held a meeting about social services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the elderly and people living alone in Beylagan,” Nabat Aliyeva said.
The community leader informed her about a roundtable meeting on “The Community’s Role in Providing Social Services to the Elderly and IDPs,” organized by the Youths’ Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union in Beylagan. The discussion was organized as part of their efforts to enhance public and social services for the elderly and IDPs. The meeting was made possible by a grant awarded by EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) in Azerbaijan, which is co-financed by USAID and the Government of Azerbaijan.
During the roundtable, Faik Mehdiyev, a leader of Aliyetmezli community, informed participants about an elderly woman in his village who was in dire need of social services. Participants from the Center of Social Protection of the Population carefully took notes. They agreed that social workers from the Center would visit Alinazarli village, talk to the elderly woman and try to offer assistance with her domestic issues.
The next day, a representative from Youths’ Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union visited Nabat Aliyeva. They explained her social rights and services available to her. After the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population registered Nabat Aliyeva for receipt of social services.
“Currently, a social worker visits me once a week,” said Nabat Aliyeva. “I gradually have begun to forget that I am alone. Previously, I gave up thinking about treating my disease, but a few days ago I changed my mind. I visited a doctor, and I am now receiving proper treatment. This was possible thanks to the psychological support provided by the social worker who motivated me to live a full life. I am grateful to the people and organizations who work to identify lonely people and enlighten them about their rights in society.”
Nabat is among 37 elderly persons in Beylagan rayon who have registered to receive social services thanks to the Youth Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union’s awareness-raising and close collaboration with the Center of Social Protection of the Population.
With support from EWMI’s SEDA program, the Union has identified social problems faced by the elderly and IDP youth, made these issues public and advocated for municipalities and communities to resolve these issues. They continue to assist women like Nabat in realizing their rights, while involving local businesses, institutions, municipalities and government in resolving such issues faced by citizens.
Sevara Ulfanova, a teacher and newly elected CDC member in Ahmedabad village, says that SEDA gave her hope.
Sevara Ulfanova is a young teacher whose family left Uzbekistan as refugees in 1989 to settle in Ahmedabad village in Sabirabad. She grew up warmly accepted as a member of the village. Sevara’s love for her adopted village compelled her to become a teacher in the same secondary school from which she graduated.
When EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activities (SEDA) in Azerbaijan facilitated Community Development Council (CDC) elections in Ahmedabad in July 2012, Sevara was the first to arrive. She was excited to learn about the new opportunities that SEDA offered citizens. “I had never participated in solving any problem in our village, or in any elections,” she said. “I always refrained from sharing my thoughts with others. I never thought that they would be important.”
Although she was nervous, Sevara summoned her confidence and courage, requesting to be nominated to the CDC.
“Surely, you will succeed,” the other women encouraged her. “You are energetic and active.” Men agreed that Sevara’s name should be on the candidate list.
When a majority of community members raised their hands, voting for Sevara, her heart swelled with pride. “SEDA gave me hope, and I am grateful,” she said. “They also raised my self-confidence and enabled me to be part of this open and transparent election process in Ahmedabad.”
Sevara is among 75 women and 95 men elected to serve voluntarily on 18 CDCs. SEDA has provided the opportunity for 3,571 citizens, including women, men, youth and the elderly, to come together in a participatory process to identify community socio-economic development priorities and propose solutions to address them.
“I keep thinking about the problems in our village and identifying ways to resolve them,” Sevara said.
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development’s local offices and local ExComs, SEDA selected 25 communities. Project Evaluation Commissions have identified the first five community socio-economic projects that will receive SEDA support. SEDA plans to support 150 community socio-economic projects in the next four years and 12 cluster community projects that affect several communities.
