Baku, Azerbaijan, June 12
By Azad Hasanli – Trend:
Since 2011, the World Bank has provided grants to 3,100 IDPs in Azerbaijan so that they can start their own businesses, reads the WB report on the IDP Living Standards and Livelihoods Project.
This is the third IDP Living Standards and Livelihoods Project implemented by the WB in Azerbaijan. The main project’s cost was $78.53 million, including $28.53 million allocated by the Azerbaijani government.
Last year, WB completed financing of the main project. Now work continues within additional financing worth $66.7 million. WB has allocated $3.36 million of these funds as of now.
“Access to electricity, drinking water, roads, sanitation and social infrastructure has been improved for the more than 240,000 people living in communities benefitting from the 309 completed micro-projects,” the report said.
Overall project implementation is proceeding satisfactorily, the report noted.
Living conditions were also improved for 36,000 residents, and economic self-reliance has improved for 1,650 youths, according to the report.
The IDP Living Standards and Livelihoods Project was approved by the WB Board of Directors in October 2011. In total, the WB has allocated $153.2 million since 2001 and helped to improve living conditions and to increase income of more than 500,000 IDPs in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan joined the WB in 1992.