GUBA – Today, thanks to joint efforts between Azerbaijan and the United States, residents of Guba district’s Zardabi village celebrated the completion of water access improvement project in the community. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Economy, the local Executive Committee, and the municipal government representatives attended the event. USAID and the Government of Azerbaijan co-financed the project, which was managed by the East-West Management Institute (EWMI).

“The United States is committed to partnering with Azerbaijan. By working together, we can achieve stability, democratic progress, and economic prosperity,” USAID Technical Office Director Randall Olson said during the opening ceremony. “A primary goal of the United States Agency for International Development is to help the Azerbaijani people come together to create solutions for themselves. And the residents of Zardabi can be proud that they have done just that. It is because of their efforts we are here today opening this new water improvement system.”

The project will improve water access for nearly 4,000 residents in the village, helping resolve long-standing non-potable water shortages. Women and children no longer need to carry water from distant wells. With technical support from EWMI, the Zardabi community installed 3,800 meters of new pipes to benefit 750 families.

In total, EWMI has implemented 91 community projects in 80 Azerbaijani communities benefiting more than 127,000 people. Through USAID’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) program, EWMI promotes cooperation between citizens, civil society organizations, and government to advance socio-economic development and improve quality of life in rural areas.