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Consultants in frame of World Bank project attracted in Azerbaijan

Business Materials 1 September 2012 13:29 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept 1 /Trend A.Akhundov/

Social Fund for the Development of internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan announced a tender for consultancy services in the frame of the World Bank (WB) project to improve living conditions and incomes of displaced persons in Azerbaijan, the Fund said on Saturday.

Consulting services are involved to work to mobilize people and communities aimed at improving the experience in this field, needs assessment, collection of preliminary data on various social indicators.

Bids must be submitted to the fund until September 17, 2012.

The WB allocated its first loan for $10.7 million in 2001 to promote the economic development of IDPs. The sum included $10 million of WB loan and $700,000 from the Azerbaijani government, Hasanov added. The loan was spent on financing 199 projects of the IDP communities and the project benefited 175,000 refugees.

Some $12.6 million was granted on the implementation of a second project, $11.5 million of which was allocated through a loan from the WB. However, the funds allocated for the second project was not enough, so there was a need for additional funding. Some $24.19 million allocated on completion of the project, $15 million of which fall on the WB and $8.69 million from the government.

These funds are allocated to implement 250 projects of displaced communities. About 189 micro-project financing was completed, with 32 were under execution, and 53 on the appraisal process for early 2011 in the frame of the project. As the results of a survey conducted by the bank in 2010, 87.4 per cent of beneficiaries were satisfied with the results of micro-projects.

The third WB project on improving the living conditions and income of IDPs in Azerbaijan was approved in 2011 and funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD is part of the WB). The share of government involvement in the project is $28.5 million. Thus, the overall funding of the project is $78.5 million. Azerbaijan and the World Bank (WB) signed a credit agreement in Baku on Nov.16, 2011.

Under the project, there will be over 200 micro-projects carried out that will cover 120,000-150,000 people. It will also contribute to improving the living conditions of about 30,000 people. About 1400 young people will be able to get training and grants to start their own business. In addition, about 1500 micro credits will be given to the displaced to open or expand a business.

In total, about 185,000 IDPs in Azerbaijan will have greater access to infrastructure services, to improve their living conditions and earning potential under the new WB project.

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