UNDP, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, and UK Government open new Women’s Resource Centre in Barda

The event was attended by the Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova, the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Charu Bist, and head of Barda Executive Committee Vidadi Isayev.

The new Women’s Resource Centre located in Barda was opened as part of the “Empowering and creating equal opportunities for vulnerable, conflict affected women in Azerbaijan to overcome barriers towards greater economic and social participation (ECEO)” project implemented by UNDP in partnership with SCFWCA and with the support of the UK Government. The project’s long-term goal is to increase the resilience of conflict-affected women to conflict and trauma. It aims to serve vulnerable women, refugees and IDPs, local executive authorities and municipalities; private sector businesses and local communities, government institutions responsible for family, children and women affairs, labour and social protection, private sector, businesses and local communities.

“Established as part of a joint project with our international partners, this Women's Resource Centre will support the implementation of activities for vulnerable, conflict-affected women, as well as help increase their employment, knowledge and skills. We will continue our activities in this area” – said Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Bahar Muradova.

“We believe that Women’s Resource Centres will become a platform for change bringing together women from different backgrounds. Services offered in Women’s Resource Centres will increase professional skills of women and contribute to the female entrepreneurship” – said British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp.

“Gender equality is one of the most important UN sustainable development goals that Azerbaijan committed to achieve. The country has made significant progress in the Gender Development Index. Yet progress is to be made in a number of areas, including reducing the gender wage gaps. The main purpose of establishing Women’s Resource Centres is to support women to stand on their own feet, ensuring stable income. We must also ensure women are active agents of peace and security in the region and that we Leave No One Behind”- said UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Charu Bist.

The project will last until 2024 and envisages the involvement of 360 women in trainings to develop business skills, the participation of more than 540 women in vocational training, and provision of psychological support to more than 800 women and legal support to 600 women.

With the new Center in Barda and WRCs in Agjabadi and Terter the project will ensure it follows Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and secures women’s participation in peace processes, peacebuilding and security.

The new Centre in Barda builds on the successful model of 15 Women Resource Centres implemented by UNDP and the SCFWCA in the regions of Azerbaijan since 2011. The main mission of these Centres is to help strengthen rural women’s entrepreneurial skills and advance their competitiveness in the labour market, empowering them to overcome the many socio-economic challenges faced by women living in rural areas.