Azerbaijan Internally Displaced Persons Youth Support Project RUNNER UP BEST ADDRESSES POLITICAL ECONOMY AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES EXPERIENCES FROM THE FIELD 2013

Azerbaijan Internally Displaced Persons Youth Support Project Creating jobs, raising income, building hope for internally displaced youth.

Context Up to 600,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan, living in protracted displacement, unable to return nor fully integrated into their new residences; 20.6% of IDPs are aged between 15 – 24 and have grown up in IDP settlements; Large government resettlement program houses IDPs in New Settlements where living conditions are improved but are remote with few economic and social opportunities.

Project Activities Community mobilization and selection of candidates; 242 young people offered vocational training in a trade of their choosing; National accreditation exams; Business training and accreditation exams; Support to develop a business plan; Small grants for tools and equipment; Ongoing support in starting a micro- enterprise; Introduction of young people to micro- credit agencies.

Project Results The Project increased employment  Among participants employment rates increased 80%; among the control group employment rates increased only 11% over the same period; The Project increased the diversity of occupations  Pre project participants worked on two vocations; post-project participants found work in 17 vocations; The Project increased income  Pre=project average income was 40AZN; post project the average income of participants was 166AZN  At project end 85% of the participants were earning more than 99AZN a month; compared to just 14% of the control group The Project empowered participants  65% of project participants believed it very likely that their employment status would continue to improve after the project; compared to none of the control group believing this. “Now that we are independent we can secure our own privileges. We can earn money and be free. We have found new friends through this training and we have a better outlook on life.”

Recommendations for Improvement Improve participation and benefits for girls; Offer stronger ongoing support to young people as they start up their business including:  Stronger use of value chain analysis  Creation of peer support networks Simplify training materials; Develop additional financing resources for business expansion to bridge the gap until young people can qualify for micro-credit financing; Explore collaboration with local authorities to help young people secure premises for their micro- enterprise. The project is being scaled up to reach 1300 young people by 2016.

Contacts Azerbaijan: Namig Ibrahimov, Kamran Agamaliyev Washington: Jo de Berry