Over
a period of 26 years, "Umid" SSD, as a leading consultant in capacity
building, institutional development and community development in the
country, has cooperated with the government of Azerbaijan, BP, USAID,
UNHCR, EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, World Bank and has participated in
provision of consulting services and implementation of development
projects. Through the long-term cooperation with these organizations,
the organization has made great strides, has led a push for improving
public welfare through its innovative community approaches such as
organizing information-consulting services on community development,
providing trainings, information sessions, coaching, on-the-job
trainings, Training of Trainers for target groups, development and
improvement of value chains, sharing experience in conducting
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the evolving methodology of Community
Development Micro-Projects, Apprenticeship method, Community
Participatory Assessment, etc.
During its operation period, "Umid"
SSD has supported the mobilization of more than 300 local rural
communities covering most regions of Azerbaijan, formation of Community
Groups, capacity building, stakeholder involvement, participatory
organization, networking and transformation of those communities into
transparent, self-sustaining community-based organizations.
"Umid"
SSD is one of the first national organizations who successfully
completed a one-week USAID's Detailed Planning Training in Kiev and
developed a Strategic Plan with the support of USAID and received
training courses from INTRAC (Oxford) for Monitoring and Evaluation.
"Umid"
SSD won the Caucasus Network for Children (CNC) Strategic Plan
Competition announced by Interkulturelles Zentrum (IZ) based in
Vienna/Austria, trained the members of the NGO Network on South Caucasus
Education in Tbilisi and Vienna on the development of the Strategic
Plan, and facilitated the development of the network's Strategic Plan.
Last but not least, "Umid" SSD provided evaluation process of the
project titled "Care to Early IDP Children through the training and wide
community participation” (Child Development Centers) implemented within
the framework of ECCD Program of UNICEF, as well as, evaluation of the
impact of "Food Security” project, implemented by Acción contra el
Hambre (ACH) in Aghjabadi & Beylagan rayons, on the beneficiaries.
The
project titled "Improvement of Potable water provision in communities
along BTC/SCP” (implemented jointly with BTC/SCP Co. funding
shareholders) gained the organization to be the national winner of "The
2007 World Award for Sustainability” – the Energy Globe. "Umid" SSD’s
practice in the Community Water Management project was shared in
UNESCO’s Regional Conference in Support of Global Literacy, Addressing
Literacy Challenges in Europe with a sub-regional focus, named "Building
Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches”, in 2008, Geneva;
there the organization’s representative presented the effective practice
of "Umid" SSD on raising literacy on health through this project.
"Umid"
SSD has developed guidelines on community development, community
project management, has published related articles (Role of Community
Development in Shaping the Economic Development Model of Azerbaijan
(based on examples), Increase of Economic Development and Employment
Opportunities in Communities), has developed a methodical aid titled
"Role of Community Management (Development) in the Development of Civil
Society” and a curricular program titled "New Trends in Community
Development and Public Relations”. In addition, "Umid" SSD is the author
of research and policy documents on Corporate Social Responsibility in
Azerbaijan, Social Entrepreneurship, NGO Management, and has developed
study materials, programs, and textbooks in these areas.