About us
AzRİP is a project established and funded by the Government of Azerbaijan and World Bank and implemented by the State Agency on Agricultural Credits under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Republic to invest in the rural development of five regions (Mughan-Salyan, Lower Shirvan, Nakhchivan, North and North West) of Azerbaijan, particularly targeting community based infrastructure investments.
The six areas with their Rayons are:
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MUGHAN SALYAN |
LOWER SHIRVAN |
NAKHCHIVAN |
NORTH |
NORTH – WEST |
KARABAKH:
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Jalilabad |
Hajigabul |
Sadarak |
Ismayılly |
Aghstafa |
Aghdam |
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Neftchala |
Kurdemir |
Sharur |
Gabala |
Gazakh |
Fuzuli |
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Salyan |
Zardab |
Shahbuz |
Oghuz |
Tovuz |
Barda |
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Saatly |
Ujar |
Babek |
Sheki |
Gedebey |
Tar-Tar |
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Imishli |
Goychay |
Julfa |
Qax |
Samukh |
Aghjabedi |
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Bilasuvar |
Aghdash |
Ordubad |
Balakan |
Goranboy |
Beylagan |
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Sabirabad |
Yevlakh |
Kengerli |
Zagatala |
Shamkir |
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Astara |
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Guba |
Goy-Gol |
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Masally |
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Gusar |
Dashkesen |
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Yardımly |
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Khachmaz |
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Lenkeran |
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Aghsu |
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Lerik |
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Gobustan |
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Absheron |
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Siyezenn |
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Shabran |
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Khizi |
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THE OBJECTIVE
Is for rural communities to identify their needs and then openly prioritize, plan, build, monitor and manage infrastructure projects for their social benefit and increase use of infrastructure services
Is for rural communities to identify their needs and then openly prioritize, plan, build, monitor and manage infrastructure projects for their social benefit and increase use of infrastructure services
How does the AZRIP Work?
AzRIP provides financial and technical assistance to communities who are willing to invest some of their own time, labor and funds to improve the social well being of their communities. Projects may include such things as the rehabilitation or new construction of schools, health posts, hospitals, potable water facilities, irrigation systems, electrical and natural gas systems, roads, bridges, community centers, etc.
AzRIP builds up its operations based on two main documents:
1) Project Appraisal Document (PAD) – displays all issues regarding AzRIP like: project development objective, strategic context, project description, sustainability and risks etc. PAD is used by project staff in the performance of their official duties.
2) Operations Manual (OM) – contains all necessary guidelines, rules and criteria for Capacity Enhancement and Community Project implementation.
OM is build up of 5 volumes which include:
Volume I – Policy and Guidelines
Volume II – Operations Procedures
Volume III – Reference Manual
Volume IV – Public Information
Volume V – Financial Information
The Project has three components:
Component A – Infrastructure
This includes the identification, design, construction, rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of rural infrastructure, based on the priority needs identified by communities. The average size of Community Projects is US $ 55.000. Community Projects over US$ 85.000 will require prior review by the Working Group.
Component B – Capacity Enhancement
Communities, NGOs/CBOs and support service providers have their capacities enhanced through trainings, conferences, lessons learned seminars, consultations
Component C – Project Management
This component finances the administrative and operational project implementation and management costs including hiring of qualified personnel to undertake procurement, disbursement, financial management, as well as reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
Some of the key highlights of the project are:
1. Communities are selected on the basis of infrastructure needs, community assessments and their ability to organize themselves and implement and maintain projects.
2. AzRIP contributes up to 90% of the funds for projects. Communities must contribute at least 10%. At least 2% this must be in cash. The remaining 8% can be in their own labor or materials.
3. Communities selected participate in a Community Mobilization process facilitated by Project Assistance Team (PAT). PAT assist the communities in an open and transparent process of identifying their needs, prioritizing and selecting projects as well as electing a Community Project Committee.
4. PAT train the Community Project Committees along with members of the Municipalities, local ExComs and other community leaders in such things as leadership, management, planning, accounting, procurement, project implementation, monitoring and proposal writing.
5. Once the Community Mobilization and trainings are completed, communities, with the help of engineers they choose and with the assistance of the engineers of the Service Providers, design and plan their own projects and send project proposals to AzRIP for approval.
6. Approval of projects is bases on proper design, appropriateness of project, transparency of community approval and AzRIP’s site appraisal.
7. For projects under $15,000, communities may procure materials and do their own construction. For projects over $15,000 a contractor must be hired through an open competitive bidding process.
8. The community establishes a Maintenance Committee with community funds to maintain the project throughout its life.
Community has to make sure that, there is an arrangement either municipality, or CBOs to be a base for maintenance and sustainability as well as operation of CPs
