Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, Oxfam's focus is on health care, supporting people's livelihoods, and improving government transparency.
Adjusting to peace
Azerbaijan suffered a humanitarian crisis in the early 1990s when the Soviet Union collapsed and conflict erupted with its neighbour Armenia.
- 16 per cent of Azerbaijan's territory was lost in the war
- 600,000 people were forced to leave their homes
Today, thousands are still displaced or living in extreme poverty. Rich in natural oil reserves, the challenge for Azerbaijan is to use its potential wealth to build a prosperous and fair country, free from poverty and corruption.
How Oxfam is helping
We are working with the government to improve transparency and help keep local institutions accountable to their citizens.
Before, people thought of the municipality and its staff only as tax-collectors, but your project helped us to build a positive image of the local authority.
Javid Abdullayev, Khanarab Municipality
Rebuilding lives
In the mountainous regions and central plains of Azerbaijan, job opportunities are scarce. For those displaced by the conflict with Armenia, still living in temporary shelters, it can be especially hard to earn a living.
How Oxfam is helping
We have been providing poor people with low-interest loans to help them start-up or develop small businesses. These are particularly useful for displaced people who don't have the collateral to take out a bank loan.
- More than 2,800 people have now set up small businesses with our help. Their income has doubled as a result.
- Special workshops in business management are helping people maximise their skills.
You gave us financial support, but your moral support also convinced us that our hopes were achievable.
Sevinj Ahmedova, Mingechevir
Other development work
- Improving availability of basic health care
- Supporting disabled people
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