VZCZCXYZ0233
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0118/01 0501409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191409Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2407

UNCLAS BAKU 000118 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PGI, EUR/ACE 
 
E.O. 12958: NA 
TAGS: KWMNPREL KPAO PHUM AID COM TSY AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: S/GWI FY2010 PROJECT PROPOSALS 
 
REF: (1) 09 STATE 132094  (2) 10 BAKU 24 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Per reftel, this cable summarizes the three 
prioritized Post proposals addressing (1)prevention of 
gender-based violence through public awareness in IDP 
populated areas in the outskirts of Baku; (2) legal 
empowerment of women through education and individualized 
legal support in isolated communities of Nakchivan and 
Goranboy; and (3) political empowerment of young women in 
Gazakh, Tovuz and Ganja through leadership skills' 
coaching to promote gender equity in local political 
processes. 
 
¶2. BACKGROUND: Violence against women, besides being a 
violation of fundamental human rights, is also an 
obstacle to development.  Not surprisingly, in Azerbaijan 
the fault lines of development, which can be found around 
and beyond the capital city of Baku, coincide with an 
almost total absence of prevention and response 
activities to the issue of violence against women.  Lack 
of financial opportunities, community reproach and blame, 
fear of losing children or not have the means to care for 
them, lack of available support systems all deter a woman 
from leaving a violent relationship.  Lifestyles in the 
country's interior are based on culturally traditional 
values that shroud the issue of violence against women 
with a veil of silence or shame, making awareness of 
women's rights a compelling priority.  This situation is 
ever more critical for women displaced from their 
original communities who lack any supportive network, 
guidance or orientation. Public awareness of the gender 
based violence issue and legal education on women's 
rights and counseling go hand in hand in alleviating 
these women's dilemma. In addition, political empowerment 
of young women through leadership skills' coaching is a 
key contribution towards a more equal and active 
political representation of women in local political 
processes and to introduce them as stakeholders in the 
pursuit of women's social advancement. 
 
¶3. Proposal No.1: "Public Awareness and Prevention 
Initiatives on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
-Implementing organization: local NGO WARD (Women 
Association for Rational Development) dedicated to 
education for women's empowerment and equal participation 
and with extensive international donor experience. 
-Total Funding Requested: $50,000 (total project costs 
are estimated in $56,000, from which WARD's contribution 
is $6,000) 
-Project duration: 9 months (April 1st-December 31, 2010) 
-Project goal: improving protection of women through 
overall -public awareness and community based campaigns 
on sexual and gender-based violence and strengthening 
women's capacity to responQthrough vocational training. 
-Project sites: nation-wide prevention campaign and self- 
reliance initiatives with a major focus in 14 target 
areas heavily populated by IDPs in the outskirts of Baku 
(Sumgayit, Bilesuvar) and in the regions (Agjabedi, 
Agdam, Fizuli, Gabala, Yevlakh, Barda, Ganja, 
Mingechevir, Imishli, Saatli, Beylagan). 
 
-Project description/activities and budget: 
 
(1) Publishing and hanging posters, bills, stickers, 
street banners and billboards in highly visible site 
areas ($20,000)--visibility materials were designed for a 
previous SGBV campaign which reduces costs; 
 
(2) Conducting 50 community-based workshops in IDP 
dormitories in the outskirts of Baku ($2,000) -- 
Materials for distribution were produced for a previous 
SGBV campaign in Baku, thus only small reproduction fees 
are necessary. In addition, an 18 minute documentary 
"Life Betrayed" on SGBV and human trafficking (with 
awareness-raising elements) will be showed at the 
workshops.  This film was produced by WARD in 2008 and 
has proved an effective visual aid in raising awareness; 
 
(3) Preparing and broadcasting an awareness-raising TV 
reel on SGBV. It will be 3-5 minutes long, and will be 
produced and launched during the project period ($4,000); 
 
(4)Organizing public events on occasion of central 
Azerbaijani calendar dates such as Women's Day, Refugees' 
Day, Human Rights' Day, etc. ($4,000) -- a variety of 
formats (joint conferences, round tables) of public 
events will ensure coverage of different audiences and be 
a space for distributing printed materials on awareness; 
 
(5) Organizing 10 vocational training courses on 
hairdresser skills for women in IDP and refugee 
communities in the outskirts of Baku (Sumgayit), where a 
minimum 100 women will be beneficiaries and will also 
receive a kit that contain the essential tools of the 
trade (special combs, hair scissors, hair dryer, clips, 
etc.) ($20,000). 
 
WARD will contribute an estimated $6,000 to cover 
indirect costs such as transportation ($1,350), 
communications ($1,350), office space ($1,440), office 
supplies ($1,170) and bank expenses ($690). 
 
¶4. Proposal No.2:"Women for women Legal Support Project 
in Nakchivan and Goranboy" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
-Implementing organization: Women's Bar Association 
-Total Funding Requested: $24,000 
-Project duration: 4 months 
-Project goal: to educate women on their privileges and 
freedoms, on how to defend their rights and to provide 
them with access to justice via legal advice on specific 
cases. 
-Project site: Nakchivan and Goranboy 
-Project description/activities: 
 
(1) A total of six seminars will be delivered (three at 
each site) on the topics of gender equality (your rights 
under the Law); domestic violence and early marriages; 
and trafficking in persons. At least 150 participants are 
expected ($7,800); 
 
(2) After each seminar, the Women's Bar Association (WBA) 
will provide pro bono advice to women with specific 
issues and will refer them to lawyers, shelters and other 
services available, providing follow up via telephone, 
email and on subsequent visits to the regions.  At least 
80 women will receive this service ($7,800); 
 
(3) During the seminars, three female community leaders 
in ech region, who will serve as liaisons with the WBA 
will be identified and invited to participate i a 
training of trainers' at WBA's Baku headquarters 
($4,200); 
 
(4) After completing their training, the trainers will 
jointly coordinate and conduct a one day comprehensive 
gender seminar in their respective local community 
($4,200) 
 
Nakchivan is perhaps the most geographically remote and 
politically constricted enclave in Azerbaijan. This 
activity would grant a very valuable opportunity to 
support civil society presence in a severely constricted 
political freedom space. 
 
¶5. Proposal No.3:"Political Leadership Program for Girls 
in the Western Region of Azerbaijan: Gedebey Summer camp" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
-Implementing organization: "Garb Resurs" 'West Resource' 
-Total Funding Requested: $75,900 
-Project duration: 12 months 
-Project goal: to develop leadership skills in young 
women-students (17-23) and channel their leadership into 
politics. 
-Project sites: Gazakh,Tovuz and Ganja (Western 
Azerbaijan) 
-Project description/activities: 
 
(1)Ten four-day workshops to be held in Universities, 
Colleges and NGO and political parties' institutional 
facilities, (6 in Ganja and 2 each in Tovuz and Gazakh) 
for 25 participants each ($16,500); 
 
(2)A round table organized for 25 active girls selected 
among workshop participants to discuss summer camp rules 
and schedule (cost included above); 
 
(3)A two-week summer camp including a community service 
project, field trips and recreational activities with 
hands-on leadership experiences in group and individual 
projects and activities ($14,000); 
 
(4)During the summer camp, a theater show will be played 
by the girls and will encourage them to apply their 
recently acquired knowledge and leadership skills 
($4,000); 
 
(5)A website will be created to disseminate information 
on the project and to share detailed information on the 
experience to contribute impact measure ($1,500) 
 
(6) All previous staff preparation and training, workshop 
announcement campaigns and participant selection 
activities as well as monitoring and evaluation reports 
are bundled here as a single activity along with indirect 
costs: salaries ($7,800), honorariums ($16,600), 
equipment ($4,000), in country travel ($6,000) and 
administrative costs ($4500) and bank expenses ($1,000) 
for a total of ($39,900). 
 
¶6. All these local organizations have a good tracking 
record of efficient and effective implementation of 
previous assistance projects with the Embassy and other 
international donors.  The Executive Office's Assistance 
Coordinator will be responsible for monitoring and 
reporting on project implementation and has also based 
the selection of these proposals on their alignment with 
post's assistance policy priorities, as coordinated with 
USG stakeholders represented at post, and the specific 
recommendations provided by the Women's Issues officer at 
post contained in reftel BAKU 24.  Potential extension of 
the vocational training program to other geographical 
areas will draw upon the results of the project.  To 
ensure this, the Embassy's Front Office will take the 
lead in coordinating potential future programmatic 
interventions in an inter-agency working group fcusing 
on Women Issues. 
 
¶7. Please contact Assistance Coordinator, Silvia Taylor, 
at TaylorSL@state.gov or (994-12)498-0335, Ext.4633, for 
further reference and information on these proposals. 
 
¶8. Post appreciates the Department's consideration of our 
prioritized proposals and welcomes the opportunity to 
contribute advancing women's political, economic and 
social rights in Azerbaijan. 
 
LU