Azerbaijan International Development Agency

The program of the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB) continues in 2019. Within the framework of the strategic partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) implements the joint program of the “Alliance to Fight Avoidable blindness” (AFAB) in a number of African countries. As a part of the cataract campaign implemented both in Chad and Niger in 2019 more than 10,000 patients were examined and up to 2,000 people were operated free of charge.

According to the United Nations, 24 million people need humanitarian assistance in Yemen, where the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe is occurring and 250,000 people suffer from acute hunger. In order to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the population suffering from the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the Republic of Azerbaijan provided financial assistance to the Republic of Yemen.

In 2019, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) submitted a “Regional Assistance Plan for 2019-2020” to the member states in order to provide assistance for the implementation of the intended activities. In response to the appeal, the Republic of Azerbaijan helps refugees suffering from the crisis in Burundi.

In October 2018, the Republic of Azerbaijan provided assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is currently facing serious financial difficulties.

One of the world's largest food security emergencies of recent history happened in Yemen as a result of the conflict. In response to the appeal of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the international community, the Republic of Azerbaijan, through AIDA, provided financial assistance in the framework of the UN High-level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2017.

Millions of people, especially children and women, faced famine threats in Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north-eastern Nigeria as the result of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in 2017. Urgent and targeted actions were needed in order to address this humanitarian crisis. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the international community for the assistance for the affected people to eliminate the risk of famine. Upon this request, AIDA provided financial aid to these countries via the United Nations.

Thousands of people died, 5.2 million people became refugees, 13.5 million are in need of humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011 in Syria. AIDA also contributes to supporting Syrian people that became refugees as a result of this conflict and have sought refuge in Jordan. The Agency assisted them through the provision of humanitarian aid in the form of food and first need goods in 2015 and in the form of financial assistance in 2012.

On 4 May 2014, the Heydar Aliyev Water Supply Scheme, implemented on the initiative and under the auspices of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Mrs.Mehriban Aliyeva, launched in the Tank district of the Dera Ismail Khan area of Pakistan which historically suffers from the heavy water shortage. The Project was supported by AIDA and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan.

AIDA conducted humanitarian aid campaigns in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Chinniot, Naroval, Sargodha, Mandi Baha-ud-Din, Sialkot, Jhang and Hafizabad cities of Pakistan in 2014, for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to the people affected by flood in Southern Punjab and Kashmir provinces of Pakistan. 25000 flood-affected people benefited from this humanitarian aid provided by AIDA.[1]

Since 2012, within the frame of strategic cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, AIDA is co-sponsoring the campaign on "Alliance to fight avoidable blindness" in the African countries. Under the initiative of AIDA, Azerbaijani ophthalmologists participate in the campaign. During 2012–2014, on an annual basis, the campaign was successfully carried out in 9 African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali, Libya and Niger where free eye cataract operations were performed. In general, more than 10000 people who have partially or completely lost their eyesight re-gained their health within “Fight Avoidable Blindness Campaign”. The campaign is scheduled to be continued in the future.

In 2014, AIDA provided assistance to Gaza for recovering the destructions in the result of the armed clashes. The aid was provided via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Earlier, in response to the United Nations Security Council statement of November 21, 2012 on situation in Gaza,[2] which stressed the urgency of suspension of clashes and prevention of sharp deterioration in humanitarian situation by calling upon international community to assist in restoration of peaceful life and to provide humanitarian aid in order to relieve hard living conditions of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to satisfy their vital needs, Azerbaijan through AIDA agency provided direct financial aid (US$100,000) to the population of the Gaza Strip.[3]

In 2014, the Government of Azerbaijan, through AIDA, provided financial assistance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in order to eliminate the adverse consequences of floods resulted from heavy rains for the agriculture, energy and other sectors of the country's economy.

In 2013, the Government of Azerbaijan helps to the Philippines for the recovery of the devastating consequences of the Typhoon Haiyan that resulted in the loss of thousands of human lives, hundreds of destroyed houses and a severe shortage of food, water and other necessity goods. The aid was provided via the UN World Food Programme and the above-mentioned amount was spent on meeting the immediate food needs of the affected population.

In 2012, AIDA provided direct financial aid to improve living conditions of Syrian refugees, who were forced to leave their homes and found refuge in Amman, Jordan.

"Fight avoidable blindness" campaign in Chad

In 2012, AIDA provided financial aid to Cuba to eliminate the consequences of the hurricane Sandy.

Financial aid was delivered to Panama for the liquidation of the consequences of the humanitarian crisis arising from heavy rains in November 2012.

In 2011–2012, in connection with the humanitarian crisis occurred in Burkina Faso in a result of drought, AIDA provided financial aid to Burkina Faso in order to alleviate food shortage and relieve associated crisis in this country after the respective appeal by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

“The Educational Grant Programme for the Citizens of the Member Countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation” and “The Educational Grant Programme for the Citizens of the Member Countries of the Non-Aligned Movement” were approved by the Decree No. 3457 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 6, 2017 and Decree No. 3567 on January 10, 2018,

Since 2018, in order to support human development in developing countries, AIDA organizes the capacity-building courses in Azerbaijan named “Advanced Foreign Service Program for Foreign Diplomats” for diplomats from a number of Asian and African countries within the framework of cooperation with the ADA University. The next phase of the program will be held on November 10–30, 2019.

In close cooperation with UNDP, AIDA assists Afghanistan in building the system of E-government in order to increase efficiency of governmental agencies in this country.[4][5][6]

Within the scholarship program for foreign students, AIDA provides students from developing countries ample opportunity to get an education at the high-ranking universities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and all their relevant expenses are met by the Agency. The program is expected to be continued and broadened, and thus, more foreign students will have the opportunity to receive education in Azerbaijani universities.

AIDA, together with Azerbaijan's universities, scientific and research institutes arranges capacity-building courses and workshops in various areas for specialists from developing countries to facilitate the growth of human capital in those countries.[7]