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The irregular economic
migration from rural regions in Azerbaijan
including Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic driven
by a lack of access to potable and irrigation
water induced IOM to design and implement
projects for the renovation of traditional
underground water systems called kahriz. These
water systems are proven to be sustainable and
eco-friendly and require no external energy to
be operated. The Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation (SDC)>has been supporting IOM in
its efforts to rehabilitate these traditional
water systems through different project
interventions since July 2001. IOM during these
years has gathered a lot of experience and
technical expertise on the renovation of these
systems.
Beginning in September 2004 IOM began to
implement a three-year project, the
Community-Owned Sustainable Water Use and
Agricultural Initiatives (COSWA) project in
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) and in the
western regions of Azerbaijan; namely Goranboy,
Khanlar, Samukh, Shamkir, Tovuz. The aim of the
project is to improve prospects for rural
livelihoods by providing potable water for
communities and irrigation water for subsistence
agriculture.
Upon the completion of the project, a total of
18 kahrizes will be renovated and handed over to
the communities. Particular attention has been
given on gender equity, formation of legal basis
on the ownership, use and protection of the
water systems, developing opportunities in
awareness raising among the authorities and
public, and training specialists in kahriz
construction.
During the project implementation 65 young
people have received comprehensive training on
kahriz engineering and construction, who were
certified as kahriz constructors or ‘kankans’
and provided with jobs; 99 potentially
recoverable kahrizes in Azerbaijan have been
mapped; a documentary movie that covers
historical and architectural elements,
socio-economic impacts, technology and its
preservation, security and safety rules/measures
has been prepared; a hand book called the
‘Kankan Memory Book’ and ‘Kahriz Calls’ brochure
were published and disseminated among all
stakeholders.
Kahriz Resource Center (KRC) in Nakhchivan city
was established on 1 November 2006. The KRC is
currently engaged in mapping of kahrizes,
collection and compilation of information and
resource materials on the kahriz systems. It is
planned to further enhance the capacity of the
KRC to expand its scope for popularization of
the kahriz among young generation and be engaged
in introduction of technologies, developing the
training facilities, etc.
Experience sharing workshops on “Renovation of
Kahriz Water Systems in Azerbaijan: Experiences,
Best Practices and Perspectives” in Nakhchivan
and Baku were organized respectively on November
23, 2006 and June 14, 2007. The workshops
pursued consolidation of experiences, lessons
learnt and best practices accumulated during the
implementation of environmentally sustainable
and energy efficient water projects in
Azerbaijan. They facilitated sharing of the
accumulated experiences and acted as a venue for
extended dialogue on the potentials of chaheriz
water systems for possible expansion to other
regions of Azerbaijan. Stakeholders and other
participants of the workshop discussed new ideas
and models that could be adapted and replicated
for the renovation and sustainable management of
water resources in potential communities.
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