ADB, UNDP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY CLINCH CITIES ALLIANCE GRANT AGREEMENT
From Azerbaijani side the document was signed by Minister of Economic Development Heydar Babayev, head of the ADB office in Azerbaijan Matthew Westfall, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Azerbaijan Mr. David Eizenberg.
The project aims to enhance the strategic planning, governance, and resource mobilization capabilities of Azerbaijan’s cities and towns to contribute to economic growth and urban poverty reduction.
The City and Regional Development Strategy project in Azerbaijan will be the first of its kind in the southern Caucasus.
The project worth $548 thousand will be implemented in the pilot cities of Ganja, Sheki and MingechevirCombined with related ADB cofinancing, the project will leverage $3,573,000 for this innovative pilot project.
The project will also introduce geographic information system (GIS) technology and satellite-based imagery, which will enable the Cities Alliance team to carry out rapid land use, resource and poverty mapping
The Embassy of Israel is also participating in the Cities Alliance project, offering training and capacity building for urban and rural development through their MASHAV program
“Introducing the CDS process into Azerbaijan at this important juncture of our development and transition seizes a unique opportunity to build upon the Government's commitment to regional development, to assist key secondary cities, and to promote decentralized municipal planning and management”, said Heydar Babayev, Minister of Economic Development.
According to him, once finalized, the CDS strategic plans will be linked to ADB’s lending and technical assistance programs in the areas of social infrastructure for regional towns, urban water supply and sanitation, microfinance, support to internally displaced persons (IDPs), energy and transport, as well as to the new national poverty reduction strategy (SPPRED 2006-2015) now being formulated by the Government with ADB and UNDP grant assistance.
M. Westwall, David Einzenberg, ambassador of Israel Arthur Lenk noted that UNDP and ADB would help the Economic Development Ministry to promote regional development and reduce poverty in cities outside of Baku. This project will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Azerbaijan.
The project, 18 months in duration, will be implemented by the State Program for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development (SPPRED) Secretariat.
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