Baku - Representatives of IOM Azerbaijan and The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Azerbaijan visited the Aghdam, Goy Gol, Goranboy, and Fuzuli districts for monitoring the implementation of the Project “Integrated Rural Development for IDP Communities in Azerbaijan through Revitalization of Kahriz Water Supply Systems”. They had a meeting with beneficiaries and community members who are the potential beneficiaries of Kahriz rehabilitation project.

It should be noted that within the framework of the mentioned project, 15 kahrizes located in the territory of Aghdam, Goranboy, and Gazakh districts were rehabilitated and handed over, and the restoration of 5 kahrizes is currently ongoing.

The project’s overall objective is to contribute to the prevention of forced economic migration by enhancing access of rural communities in Azerbaijan to energy-free water resources as a means to increase agriculture productivity and livelihoods through the provision of water infrastructure, by providing opportunities for income-generating activities in link with Kahriz renovation.

The project implemented by IOM Azerbaijan contributes to Azerbaijan’s efforts to fulfill three Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through the provision of water for domestic and agricultural needs which has a direct impact on poverty reduction and food security (SDG 1), empowering and involving women into the decision-making process, increasing their role in the community in terms of leadership (SDG 5), and the rehabilitation of eco-friendly and sustainable water supply systems, kahrizes and enhanced access to safe drinking water (SDG 6).