Today, Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Azerbaijan, Dr. Jaidev Singh, joined residents of Khudat and Gusar to celebrate the completion of two new projects implemented under the Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) funded by USAID with support from the Ministry of Economy. 

In Khudat’s Fidanlar community, residents worked with their government representatives to fully renovate the local kindergarten. The renovated kindergarten will now provide a warm, safe, and healthy learning environment for 55 of the community’s children. 

In Gusar’s Chilagir community, residents worked with their government representatives to construct a concrete water tank and lay 770 meters of new polyethylene pipes. The new system will improve the irrigation water supply for 280 families engaged in agriculture. 

“These projects are examples of what can be achieved when ordinary citizens and local governments come together to invest in and improve their communities. We are proud to work with the Ministry of Economy to support community-led initiatives like these that improve local livelihoods,” said USAID Mission Director Dr. Jaidev Singh. 

USAID’s Socio-Economic Development Activity is implemented by the East-West Management Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy. Since 2011, SEDA communities have implemented over 160 projects that improve rural livelihoods including small food processing facilities, animal feed-grinding facilities, medical clinics, roads in rural areas, water and irrigation systems, and local kindergarten and school renovations, benefiting over 300,000 people.