IOM Azerbaijan officially handed over rehabilitated kahriz to local community in Shemkir district

IOM Azerbaijan officially handed over rehabilitated Garaoghlanli kahriz located in the Irmashli village of the Shemkir district to the local community within the current IOM Project “Integrated Rural Development for IDP communities in Azerbaijan through Revitalization of Kahriz Water Supply System” financed by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). In addition, a water distribution infrastructure unit (a spring) was put into operation in the village, which will enable the villagers to use the water from kahriz in the household as well as for drinking purposes. The renovated kahriz will provide drinking water to 300 people.

Rashad Tagiyev, the head of the Executive Power of Shamkir District, who participated in the ceremony of handing over the kahriz, highly appreciated the organization's efforts to renovate traditional, sustainable supply systems and emphasized that the delivered kahriz will contribute to the provision of drinking water to people in the district.

Within the project, IOM Azerbaijan has already renovated 27 kahrizes in Agdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Goranboy, Goygol, Gazakh, and Shemkir districts.

The project’s overall objective is to contribute to the prevention of forced economic migration by enhancing access of rural communities in Azerbaijan to energy-free water resources as a means to increase agriculture productivity and livelihoods through the provision of water infrastructure, by providing opportunities for income-generating activities in link with Kahriz renovation.

The project implemented by IOM Azerbaijan contributes to Azerbaijan’s efforts to fulfil three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the provision of water for domestic and agricultural needs which has a direct impact on poverty reduction and food security (SDG 1), empowering and involving women into the decision-making process, increasing their role in the community in terms of leadership (SDG 5), and the rehabilitation of eco-friendly and sustainable water supply systems, kahrizes and enhanced access to safe drinking water (SDG 6).