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New Economic Opportunities Programme Starts for Baku Communities

Release date:
8 November 2007

 

BP on behalf of its co-venturers in Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG), Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Shah Deniz (SD), and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) projects is pleased to announce the award of major grants in support of an Economic Opportunities Programme (EcOP) for the Baku region. The programme is aimed at supporting enterprise development and job-creation by providing access to high quality training and micro-credit opportunities.

 

The EcOP is designed to support communities following the demobilization of our major construction projects. It builds on the sustainable social and economic development opportunities offered to communities along and around BP-operated facilities during the construction phase. This new initiative will target communities along the ‘Baku corridor’ from the Sangachal terminal to districts beyond the Zykh construction yard, where the Shah Deniz platform was built.

 

The programme covers the Xatai, Sabayil and Garadagh districts of Baku and directly involves at least 17 communities including those in the Sangachal, Umid, Sahil, Shikh, Bibi-Heybat, Bayil and 20-ci Sahe settlements, as well as the individual communities Etimad, Ugur, Ulduz, Nargila, Hagigat, Sama, Dogru Yol, Inam, Tokhuju, and Birlik.

 

The EcOP consists of four projects forming an integrated community development tool in which each project supports and complements the others.

 

Following a competitive selection process, grants to the total amount of about one million dollars have been awarded to the following partners for implementation of the four sub-programmes.

  • Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) International Inc for Access to Finance. The value of the grant is $423,000. The programme will provide loan capital and micro-credit packages and services tailored to meet the differing needs of urban, semi-urban and rural consumers. The programme will target the poorest entrepreneurs – especially women – which make up nearly 50% of clients.
  • “Umid” Humanitarian and Social Support Center for the Apprenticeship programme. The value of the grant is $189,000 The programme is aimed at providing practical skills trainings that allow successful candidates to create new opportunities for themselves and ultimately expand their businesses
  • Junior Achievement Azerbaijan (JAA) for Economics and Business Training. The value of the grant is $151,000. The programme will provide economics and business curriculum for high school students including participation in the Global Business Plan competition . As part of this programme economics and business planning and skills training may also be provided to community-based entrepreneurs.
  • “Madad” Humanitarian Organization Public Union for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) programme. The value of the grant is $142,000 The programme will provide equipment and training in computer skills for high school students, teachers, and interested adults via Internet-linked computer centres located in schools.The duration of implementation of these programmes is from one to two years.

 

 

For further information please contact:

Tamam Bayatly, BP Baku Press office, telephone: +994 12 599 4557