Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani government and the World Bank on Wednesday signed a loan agreement to provide $50 million under a new project aiming to provide about 185,000 Azerbaijanis displaced by the armed conflict with Armenia in the 1990s with better access to infrastructure, services and housing conditions.

The agreement was co-signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov and World Bank’s acting Country Manager Saida Bagirova, according to the WB office in Baku.

The loan will be provided by the International Reconstruction and Development Bank (IBRD). With the $28.5 million government contribution, the total financing for the Azerbaijan IDP Living Conditions and Livelihoods Project is $78.5 million.

The new project will build on the successful implementation of the previous IDP support projects funded by the World Bank under which more than 400 micro-projects were implemented benefiting more than 120,000 IDPs throughout Azerbaijan. This project will expand the community micro-projects, while strengthening the focus on improving housing conditions of IDPs living in public buildings and providing sustainable job opportunities to increase self-reliance of this group of population.

Objectives of the project will be achieved by a number of means, including investments in small infrastructure and services micro-projects which IDP communities identify as their priorities. An estimated 200 micro-projects will reach a beneficiary population of between 120,000 – 150,000 persons. The project will also help rehabilitate up to 95 collective centers and thus improve housing conditions of about 30,000 persons. About 1,400 young people will receive vocational training and grants to start-up their own business. Some 200 community groups will be supported with the training and resources to establish small enterprises. As part of the income generating activities approximately 1500 micro-credits will be extended to IDPs to start up or expand their businesses.