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NGO Umbrella
Grants
Azerbaijan Humanitarian
Assistance Program (1998-2004)
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps |
Under the Azerbaijan Humanitarian Assistance Program, Mercy Corps
provides subgrants for programs in both urban and rural areas that
organize and mobilize communities to address self-identified needs.
The program focuses on development of communities and community-owned
and managed "assets", including schools, health facilities,
community centers and water and sanitation systems. Special efforts
have been made to improve the quality of, and access to, local health
services.
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Photo:
Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
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The $45 million program
has provided 32 subgrants to international NGOs, serving over 600,000
participants in 500 communities since its inception in 1998. The project
has three major components: building the capacity and the means by
which communities can engage with their government on key issues;
improving the economic environment through access to financial and
business development information and services; and upgrading health
care through clinic infrastructure repair, medical in-service training
and introduction of sustainable clinic support practices such as local
community management and cost recovery programs.
Between April 2000 and
March 2003, the program had organized 1,896 community groups, disbursed
17,028 loans, and created 3,588 full-time jobs. A recent survey found
that 126 of the 153 community health facilities now meet selected
standards of the World Health Organization, and that 96% of the health
workers trained through the project are now actively applying their
new skills in their jobs.
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