Baku - On 3 June 2022, Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Azerbaijan participated at the round table on “Results of lessons and needs assessment to support IDPs’ income opportunities” organised within the project “Research, Analysis and Capacity Building for Restoration and Peacebuilding in Azerbaijan.” The project which aims to increase knowledge about the current socio-economic conditions of the IDPs and to identify effective approaches to meet their needs. This project is implemented with the financial support of the World Bank and the organizational support of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

During the round table, participants had opportunity to share and obtain the necessary information on past and current programs, initiatives, statistics and various projects in the field of attracting IDPs to the country’s labour market, and how in future IDPs can be supported for self-employment and income generation activities.

The Chief of IOM Azerbaijan, informed the participants about the Mission’s initiatives and projects to support IDPs. He focused on Kahriz Rehabilitation project and its main component of the Integrated Rural Development - one of the Mission’s main projects funded by KOICA which objective is to contribute to the prevention of forced economic migration by enhancing access of IDPs’ communities in Azerbaijan to energy free water resources as a means to increase agriculture productivity and livelihoods through provision of water infrastructure, by providing opportunities for income generating activities in link with Kahriz renovation. The project also implements a community-driven approach, paying specific attention to cross-cutting issues such as gender, governance, and environmental sustainability.

“IOM Azerbaijan is actively supporting IDPs through its various projects, in close collaboration with relevant international and local partners and we will continue to carry out our essential role in providing assistance to the IDPs in a variety of contexts,” said Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Azerbaijan.