INTRODUCTION

The Program Spotlight for the month of October is focused on IRC's USAID/MCI-funded Children and Health Education (CHE) Program. The CHE program, May 1998-October 1999, is managed by Rick Neal and is principally focused on increasing the IDP community's capacity to identify and address priorities related to children, health and education. The goals of the program are to decrease health risks, improve overall health education and establish community processes to deal with children, health and education-oriented issues. Classroom exercises will be accompanied by community-level campaigns to contextulize disseminated information and increase the impact of the program. Over the course of the 18-month program the following topics will be addressed: malaria prevention; nutrition; food hygiene; personal hygiene; hygiene/sanitation; dental hygiene; and environmental awareness. The CHE program will also help to facilitate immunization campaigns conducted by the government and other NGOs.

39 schools have been identified to participate in the CHE program. These schools are spread across five regions - 12 in the Agcabedi Region, 5 in the Agdam Region, 10 in the Beylagan Region, 8 in the Fizuli Region, and 4 in the Imishli Region. Teacher trainers have been introduced to all 39 schools and Parent-Teacher Committees (PTCs) have been convened at all 39 schools. PTCs will provide a link to the wider community, take the lead in identifying educationally-oriented priorities, and offer evaluations on the efficacy of the CHE program.

Besides increasing individual and community-level awareness regarding children's health issues, the CHE program has three concomitant goals: the improvement of local teacher-training capacity including the on-going training of local IRC staff; the establishment of positive, open and constructively critical relations between IRC/Azerbaijan and IDP teachers and educational administrators; and the creation of a platform to build and expand IRC's education-oriented programs with the overall goal of improving the quality of education and the educational environment amongst IDP communities in Azerbaijan.

PROGRAM REPORTS

1. WOMEN AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM

A. Executive Summary:

• Continuing education with groups # 7 and # 8.
• Distributed condoms and contraceptive pills.
• Continued to design Reproductive Health training sessions for men.
• Continued Feldsher Reproductive Health Training in Agcabedi.
• Visited Children's Aid Direct in Mingechevir.
• Met with head doctor at Agcabedi Central Hospital and visited Reproductive Health Clinics.
• RI restarted Reproductive Health Days in Agcabedi and Beylagan.

B. Period Goals and Results:

Recruitment of Health Educators

The Women and Health Program continued training groups nine, ten, eleven and twelve. Group eight finished their training. The training sessions attended covered information on birth-control methods, abortion, STDs, female reproductive organs, male reproductive organs, puberty, menopause, birth-spacing, breast-feeding, pregnancy, infertility, blood pressure, nutrition, immunization, hygiene, dehydration/diarrhea and First Aid.

Condom and Contraceptive Pill Distribution

Condoms continue to be distributed to women and men in the settlements, as well as to pharmacies in the towns to distribute to IDPs and sold to the local people

IRC's Gynecologist continues to distribute the 5,000 contraceptive pills from the Baku Family Planning Center to IDP settlements where the IRC Woman and Health program works.

Reproductive Health Days

In October Relief International (RI) conducted Reproductive Health Days in Agcabedi and Beylagan in conjunction with IRC. 176 women were examined, 240 condoms were distributed, 92 contraceptive pills were distributed, two Depo-provera were injected and one IUD was inserted. The two organizations have planned bimonthly field meetings.

Outreach to Men

The Male Reproductive Health Specialist continues to design Reproductive Health training sessions to be used for training local feldshers. Six trainings were conducted with feldshers. Brochures and condoms are being distributed.

C. Future Directions:

• Continue Health Educator Training Groups # 9, # 10, # 11 and # 12.
• Continue Reproductive Health Days in Agcabedi and Beylagan.
• Plan mid-wife training in Agcabedi.
• Continue to visit old Women's Groups.
• Distribute and sell Where There Is No Doctor.
• Continue to distribute condoms and contraceptive pills.
• Continue "Continued Education" with old Health Educator Groups.
• Continue to input data onto the new data bases.
• Identify new Women's Groups who want to build Women's Centers.
• Continue to Growth Monitor small children from Agcabedi settlements.
• Continue to collaborate with MSF Belgium, RI, and UMCOR while working in the same settlements.
• Attend monthly meetings in Baku, networking with the government health organizations and other NGOs.
• Continue to work on new graphs.
• Human Rights Training to take place in Beylagan and Agcabedi in the fall.
• IRC Water and Sanitation Training to take place in Health Educator Training.
• Begin to supply diaphragms and spermicide for the IDP women.
• Have a one-week free-clinic at the Agcabedi and Beylagan hospitals with the assistance of gynecologists from Baku Family Planning.
• Conduct Reproductive Health Training for IRC staff.
• Organize Reproductive Health Field Meetings outside of Baku.

2. CHILDREN AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM

A. Executive Summary:

• Began ongoing training-of-trainers process with new teacher trainers.
• Introduced teacher trainers to all 39 participating schools.
• Convened parent-teacher committees at all 39 participating schools.
• Conducted environmental awareness trainings with 271 teachers at all 39 participating schools.
• Laid groundwork for environmental awareness campaign.
• Distributed 4,752 copies of the October edition of Gunesh magazine and began coordinating the submission of materials for the January edition
• Distributed 500 copies of the August edition of Yuva magazine.

* Numbers not specified in project agreement.

B. Period Goals and Results:

Training-of-trainers for teacher trainers

Four teacher-trainers began working for the Children and Health Program on 5 October. Their role is: to provide a link between IRC and the 39 schools participating in the program; to conduct a series of training sessions on community development and health education topics for teachers; and to work with parent-teacher committees to identify and address priorities related to the schools and children's health.

The trainers participated in a four-day training-of-trainers (TOT) course during the first week of the month. This included: orientation to IRC and the Children and Health Program; observation of community development and reproductive health trainings provided by IRC; and planning for the rest of the month. By the end of the week, all trainers had been matched with eight to ten schools each. They will work with these schools over the life of the project - building relationships and trust while identifying and addressing community priorities together. TOT sessions continued once a week throughout the month and will continue for the duration of the project.

Introduction of trainers to schools

By the end of the third week of the month, all trainers had visited the schools, with which they will be working, and had met with parent-teacher committees at each school. Program Officer Ziba Guliyeva and Field Officer Zabila Bagirova accompanied the trainers on their first visits, drawing on their previous contact with the schools to introduce the trainers and provide a link with earlier activities.

Environmental awareness trainings

271 teachers at all 39 schools participated in a training session focusing on the environment during the last week of the month. Trainers conducted the trainings at the schools. The training session included an assessment by participants of the environmental conditions of their community, the sharing of information on the impact of the environment on health, information on the impact of our behavior on the environment, issues related to the protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources, and assistance with the development of classroom activities on the above-listed topics for students.

Gunesh magazine

IRC received 5,000 copies of the October edition of Gunesh at the beginning of the month. This edition contains four pages of articles, poems, stories, and artwork submitted by internally displaced children through IRC. 4,752 copies of this edition have been distributed so far to children in project schools. In addition, the trainers asked teachers and students to submit materials for the January edition, focusing on the subjects of winter, the new year, Mourning Day (on 20 January), and the month of Ramadan (which begins around 21 December). Teacher trainers also distributed 500 copies of Yuva magazine, produced by the Danish Refugee Council, at five schools.

C. Future Directions:

• Increase training, community development, and health education skills of the teacher trainers through weekly TOTs as well as special sessions during the mid-semester break during the first week of November.
• Develop and conduct two community development training sessions for teachers.
• Meet with officials from all education departments that administer schools participating in the program.
• Proceed with the environmental awareness campaign, including distribution and planting of fruit trees, if funding permits.
• Submit materials for the January edition of Gunesh and collect materials for the February edition.

3. REPATRIATE HOME REHABILITATION

A. Executive Summary:

• Finished construction of six additional new limestone houses in Ahmadalilar.
• Identified and registered 20 families for house rehabilitation under 1998-1999 Special Appeal.
• Hired and oriented new ex-patriate Reconstruction Program Officer.

B. Period Goals and Results:

New limestone houses

As material costs turned out to be less than originally anticipated, it was possible for IRC to construct additional six new limestone houses in Ahmadalilar under the UNOCAL grant. The construction started the first week of October and all six were finished on October 22nd.

Registration

After receiving funding from the UNHCR Special Appeal, 20 contracts were signed with returnee beneficiaries. All units to be built or reconstructed are in Ahmadalilar. These 20 families were de-registered from various settlements and re-registered in the Fizuli Region in the last week of September.

C. Future Directions:

• Identify and rent a new warehouse.
• Additional national staff will be hired to support the new ex-patriate Reconstruction Program Officer.
• Continue registering returnees under the Special Appeal.
• Continue building and reconstructing limestone shelters under the special appeal.
• Distribute kerosene stoves and fuel under UNOCAL-funding.

4. MUD-BRICK SHELTER

A. Executive Summary:

• One Single Shelter Unit (SSU) in each of 16 Community Sectors under construction.
• SSU material distribution completed.
• 261 SSUs closed out following quality-control inspections
• Agcabedi Executive Committee projects for ex-Turkish camp identified.
• Community Action Plan developed for Agcabedi Turkish camp.
• Latrine material distribution begun in Agcabedi Turkish camp.

B. Period Goals and Results:

To Date

Next Month

Contract Signing/Mud Brick Cutting/SSU Construction

The construction of SSUs in the Agcabedi ex-Turkish camp was completed during the past month. The next target area will be in Terter.

SSU Material Distribution completed

The material distributions for the construction of SSUs were completed. The Project Clients have received the following items:

• 400 - gloves, hay, plastic and brick molds.
• 400 - foundation materials and doors and windows.
• 400 - roof materials.
• 400 - floor materials.

Construction Close Out

261 SSUs have been closed out, the process whereby the shelters are given the final inspection by the project monitor. The primary purpose of the inspection is to account for the full use of materials, completion of construction, and quality control measures.

Agcabedi Ex-Com Infrastructure Projects

IRC met with the State IDP Committee Representative in Agcabedi to discuss the schedule of infrastructure projects to be implemented by that office in the ex-Turkish camp. The projects include: repair to roads within the settlement, relocate electric posts, repair electric wiring to all SSUs, destroy and fill in communal latrines no longer being used, repair broken artesian water lines, and create a drainage system. At the time of the meeting, one of the roads had been repaired with another scheduled to be repaired within the month. Relocation of electric posts, repair of electric wiring and destroying communal latrines were also scheduled to be completed within the month; however, none of these projects have been implemented. Repair to the artesian water lines and creation of a drainage system are not expected to be done before the end of this year.

Community Action Plan developed

Two Collective Meetings were held in the Agcabedi ex-Turkish camp to discuss and develop the Community Action Plan. Collective Meetings are attended by all Community Action Team members. The meetings are intended to be a platform for IRC to pass information to all action team members and for the members to collectively voice concerns about the program. In the first two meetings the action team members participated in an exercise whereby they developed a general plan for infrastructure project implementation. The exercise included: identifying needs in the settlement, setting objectives to be accomplished by the plan, determining how the projects will be implemented, identifying resources available for project implementation as well as possible constraints, and how to evaluate the projects. The projects implemented by IRC as part of the Community Action Plan will be individual latrine distribution, hand pump installation, development of a drainage system, trash disposal site installation, and internal electric wiring repair for the SSUs.

Latrine Material Distribution

The first project to be implemented under the Community Action Plan is the distribution of latrines. Prior to the distribution, the Community Action Teams and Sector residents are trained on proper installation of the latrines. After the distribution, the Field Officers make an inspection to insure proper use of materials and installation. To date 40 latrines have been distributed.

C. Future Directions:

• SSU Close Outs to be completed.
• Latrine distribution to be completed.
• Begin distribution and installation of hand pumps.
• Continue Collective Meetings and development of the Community Action Plan.

5. MICRO-ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

A. Executive Summary:

• Information sessions were conducted in three settlements.
• Training was conducted in five settlements.
• 264 IDPs in seven settlements received loans.

B. Period Goals and Results:

Individual Business Information Sessions

Information sessions were conducted in 3 settlements - Imishli (Vocational School), Beylagan (city and surrounding area) and Agdam (Ergi and surrounding area).

Training Program

Registration/training was conducted in 5 settlements - Beylagan (Ashigli-1 and the Cotton Settlement) and Agcabedi/Lachin wintergorunds (Vagazin 1, Vagazin 2 and Finga). Registration was conducted and training started in Imishli (Vocational School).

Registration was initiated in Agdam (Garadagli) but there were not enough IDPs interested in the program to conduct a training session (only 6 attended registration). Consequently, the sessions in Garadagli were canceled. Alternate means, however, will be pursued to provide training sessions to the next individuals from Garadagli who are interested in receiving loans.

Loan Disbursement

• I05 - Imishli, Vataga Station - loans were disbursed on 6 October. 12,000,000 manat was disbursed to 15 IDPs.
• F03 - Fizuli, Boyuk Bahmanli - loans were disbursed on 13 October. 37,100,000 m. was disbursed to 57 IDPs.
• B03 - Beylagan, Ashigli 1 - loans were disbursed on 22 October. 56,800,000 m. was disbursed to 75 clients;
• B04 - Beylagan, Cotton Settlement - loans were disbursed on 23 October. 35,200,000 m. was disbursed to 44 IDPs.
• A03 - Agcabedi, Lachin Vagazin 1 - loans were disbursed on 28 October. 19,800,000 m. was disbursed to 25 IDPs.
• A04 - Agcabedi, Lachin Vagazin 2 - loans were disbursed on 28 October. 34,000,000 m. was disbursed to 43 IDPs.
• A05 - Agcabedi, Lachin Finga - loans were disbursed on 30 October. 11,400,000 m. was disbursed to 15 IDPs.
• 264 loans disbursed = total of 206,300,000 manat.

Collections

Collections continued in 11 settlements in Agcabedi, Agdam, Imishli, Beylagan and Fizuli. Collections for September totaled 75,064,754 manat.

Future Directions:

• Disburse loans in Imishli, Beylagan, and Agdam.
• Choose next settlements for training program (in Agcabedi, Beylagan and Agdam).
• Plan training schedule for December and January.
• Hire 1 additional trainer.
• Implement 3rd Round of Loans at ECHO settlements.
• Visit ECHO settlements to determine interest level in an additional round of loans.

6. SELF-RELIANCE, INCOME GENERATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Executive Summary:

• Women's groups completed seven weeks of skills training.
• UNHCR vocational administrative training program ended earlier this month.
• Collection of repayments for new small businesses expanded to 38.
• Eight new small businesses were started during the month of October.

Period Goals and Results:

Small Business Initiatives

IRC IG staff evaluated and selected eight new businesses. New businesses started included an engine overhaul shop and a sewing workshop. Collection of repayments increased to 38 businesses for the month of October. Currently, repayments are in the process of being collected. Late payments have been made by two IRC clients, with penalties.

Women's Centers

Monitoring for the twelve Women's Centers that received 2nd credit continued during the month of October. All twelve made their second repayment, which totaled 2,680,000 manats. One old women's center, "Near the Mosque," received 2,500,000 manats in second credit for the purchase of sheep. This particular group had problems at one point. IRC resolved the problem by extending their monitoring requirements but at the same time allowed them to keep their business. This year's women's groups have neared the completion of the training program. In the past month, they have covered topics including recordkeeping and group management. They have selected their future income generating activity and have written their business plans.

Vocational Training

49 students completed vocational administrative training. All students at the end of training participated in a ceremony complete with food and dancing. Students received a Window's 95 computer book translated into Azeri as a graduation present.

Future Directions:

• Selection of small businesses under SV 98 will continue.
• IRC IG staff will monitor the progress of apprentices participating under the SV program. Staff will verify their personal information, wages, and skills learned.
• Women's Center skills training will be completed in two weeks. Business plans will be evaluated and credit will be disbursed.
• The second phase of women's center skills training will commence in three weeks.
• Both groups of participants under the technical and administrative programs will be monitored for the next few months. The main indicator of the outcome of the programs will be jobs obtained by the students and apprentices.

7. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

A. Executive Summary: 

• Training continues for women's and men's village committees.
• Monitored nine community projects currently being implemented.
• Reviewed new project proposals generated by village committees.

B. Period Goals and Results:

Village Committees (women)

The third and final training sessions on NGO development and project proposal writing has been completed in all the settlements in the Lachin Winter Ground. Due to the return of most families from areas in the northeast of Azerbaijan to their fall and winter homes in the Lachin Winter Ground, a need was felt to reconstitute the Village Committees in most settlements. Training sessions on IDP/ Human (especially women) rights began in most settlements and two sessions have been completed.

Village Committees (men)

Training sessions on IDP/Human rights have been completed. Nine infrastructure projects are near completion. Below is a detailed summary of projects per settlements under progress.

Shalva settlement

1.Water system rehabilitation: The laying of 682 meters of pipe with a diameter of 50mm, 86mm and 100mm to the settlement has been completed.

2.School construction: The construction of the building, roof, and ceiling has been completed. Work is in progress on the fixing of doors, windows, wall plastering and the concreting of floors.

Farash - Ardushlu settlements

3.Water system rehabilitation at Shaumian: Laying of 3,000 meters of distribution pipe with a diameter of 63 mm and construction of a tap stand and animal drinking trough has been completed. Erection of a tower structure and a steel tank of capacity 5m3 (5,000 liters) is in progress. The construction of another tap stand at the water yard vicinity has also been completed.

Finga settlement

4.Water system rehabilitation: Construction of a tap stand, animal drinking trough, and the laying of 2,300 meters PVC pipe with a diameter 50 mm has been completed.

Ardashavi settlement

5.Water system rehabilitation: Construction of a tap stand and fencing of the settlement has been completed.

Vagazin settlement

6.Clinic Construction: The construction of the building, roofing, fixing of doors and windows has been completed. Interior wall painting and concreting of floor is in progress.

7.Electric system rehabilitation: Purchase electric wire of length 4,800 meters together with accessories.

Sheilanli settlement

8. School Construction: The construction of the building, roofing, windows and doors has been completed. Work is in progress on wall plastering, painting and floor concreting.

Gushchu settlement

9. Irrigation pump repairs: Spare parts for the pump cylinder head have been installed and a pump test is currently being conducted.

Future Directions:

• Continue to monitor Focus Group activities in the ECHO settlements.
• Monitor current community infrastructure projects under implementation.
• Review at least fifteen new community project proposals.
• After review, begin implementation of at least 10-15 selected community projects.
• Continue village committee sessions.
• Prepare a manual for trainers in water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Conduct a one day seminar on an improved version of shallow lift handpumps for Mud Brick Shelter Program Field Officers.
• Hire an engineer to assist in the training of operation and maintenance.

8. LOGISTICS/WAREHOUSE

A. Executive Summary:

• Distributed material for Mud Brick Shelter Program.
• Received and distributed toilet kits.
• Prepared 400 packets of nails.
• Received materials from discontinued warehouse in Fizuli.

B. Period Goals and Results:

The IRC warehouse team finished distributing material for Mud Brick houses. 400 toilet kits were received and distributed. Equilibre materials were delivered to DRC and the remainder was transported to the Agcabedi warehouse. The Field Coordinator continues to inspect the Agcabedi warehouse on a regular basis.

C. Future Directions:.

• Continue search for new warehouse in Fizuli.
• Continue to support field programs through receipt, preparation and distribution of materials.

Report Prepared by Andrew Robarts, Program Manager, IRC-Azerbaijan