Our Achievements

🔹 Overview

“Umid” Support to Social Development Public Union (Umid SSD PU), with 26 years of experience, has become a leading advisory organization in Azerbaijan in the fields of capacity building, institutional development, and community development.
The organization has cooperated with local government bodies, the State Agency for Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, BP, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan, and the World Bank, providing consultancy services and participating in the implementation of various development projects.

Within the framework of these collaborations, Umid SSD PU has carried out the following key activities:

  • Provision of community development-related information and consultancy services;
  • Organization and implementation of training sessions, awareness-raising events, coaching, and on-the-job trainings for target groups, including the development of modular training programs tailored to specific themes;
  • Conducting Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions to build the capacity of local professionals;
  • Organization of social and cultural festivals, public dialogue platforms, and participatory events involving interest groups within the project framework;
  • Establishment and development of value chains aimed at expanding economic opportunities in communities;
  • Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis methodologies for community-based initiatives and sharing of practical experience in this field;
  • Promotion of skills transfer through the "Master-Apprentice" approach in vocational learning;
  • Development of participatory approaches for community needs assessment, planning, and monitoring;
  • Implementation of initiatives to encourage youth engagement, empower women, and promote social inclusion;
  • Strengthening community capacities in self-governance, transparency, and accountability.
As a result of these activities, communities have evolved from mere beneficiaries into proactive agents capable of addressing their own challenges.

🔹 Empowering Communities

Throughout its activities, Umid SSD PU has mobilized over 200 rural communities across various regions of Azerbaijan.

In this process:

  • Community Groups were formed, educated, and their skills were enhanced;
  • Stakeholders were engaged and participatory approaches to local organization were promoted;
  • Support was provided to facilitate networking among communities and their transformation into transparent, self-sustaining community-based organizations.

🔹 Scientific and Practical Contributions

Umid SSD PU has developed a wide range of training and methodological resources, including:
  • Manuals on community development and project management;
  • Scientific-practical articles such as:
    • “The Role of Community Development in Shaping Azerbaijan’s Economic Development Model”
    • “Enhancing Economic Development and Employment Opportunities in Communities”;
  • A methodological guide: “The Role of Community Management in the Development of Civil Society”;
  • An academic syllabus: “New Trends in Community Development and Social Relations”.

🔹 Tangible Impact Through Projects

Since 2000, Umid SSD PU has implemented dozens of social development projects, leading to the following key outcomes:
  • Over 1,000 young people have enrolled in vocational training programs;
  • 800 youth have gained employment;
  • Multiple small enterprises have been established;
  • Community infrastructure has been improved, including:
    • Milk collection points in 6 communities;
    • Access to drinking water in 37 communities;
    • Improved access to healthcare services in 10 communities;
    • Road infrastructure in 59 communities;
    • Enhanced facilities in educational institutions across 47 communities.

These projects have had a direct and meaningful impact on the well-being of hundreds of thousands of families.

🔹 Impact of Large-Scale Programs

Under the USAID/CHF-supported “Community Development in Azerbaijan” Program, Umid SSD PU successfully implemented 156 community and cluster projects.

Key outcomes include:

  • Installation of drinking water supply systems;
  • Construction and installation of new transformers and electric lines;
  • Building and rehabilitation of irrigation channels;
  • Repair of school gymnasiums and rooftops;
  • Construction of playgrounds and renovation of health centers.

In total, 240,357 people have directly benefited from these initiatives:

🔸 139,197 women
🔸 101,160 men

🔹 Recognition and Awards

  • In recognition of its active participation in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Baku from November 11–22, 2024, the Executive Director of Umid SSD PU was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev.
  • As a result of the “Improving Access to Safe Drinking Water along the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan / South Caucasus Pipeline Route” project, implemented in partnership with BTC Co. and CQB Co., Umid SSD PU was selected as the national winner of the “Energy Globe Award for Sustainability” in 2008.
  • In 2010, Umid SSD PU submitted its application for consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Based on the recommendation of the UN Committee on NGOs, consultative status was granted during the ECOSOC Substantive Session in July 2011 and officially confirmed on August 1, 2011.