The Azerbaijan Women's Leadership Program (AzWLP), a program of the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by Project Harmony, is currently building the capacity, confidence, unity, and relevant skills of active Azeri women to change the conditions that limit the participation of women in the political life of Azerbaijan. Project Harmony will build and expand upon the achievements of an existing nationwide coalition of women's advocacy organizations to bring more Azeri women into political participation. Through educational workshops, training seminars and hands-on community projects that focus on practical skills-building in the areas of political advocacy, democratic leadership, community outreach, and engaging with local, regional, and national political structures, AzWLP will provide women with frameworks for planning and action in the political sphere. This one-year program, running Sept. 2004 through August 2005, is being implemented in Baku, Sumgayit, Ganje, Lenkaran, and Nakhchivan.

The Azerbaijan Women's Leadership Program will directly prepare no less than 250 Azeri women to actively influence local and national political campaigns and decision-making. Project Harmony will create and facilitate Azeri-language online forums and a program website dedicated to sharing information and opportunities among politically active women nationwide, and to engage participants in online events and networking to supplement in-person training. More than 125 women will participate in five Civic Participation Training-of-Trainers Workshops. 80 women will take part in five Women's Leadership Institutes, facilitated by a leading US Visiting Trainer, focusing on building skills in effective communication, community and coalition building, political action and advocacy, strategic planning, facilitation, and community campaign planning. 80 participants will implement Community Advocacy Campaigns developed during Institute workshops, reviewed by a panel of local and international evaluators. Five women will be selected to participate in a 14-day US-based exchange program in the United States in Spring 2005 that will explore the relationships among advocacy, policy-making and political action. A final program conference will bring 80 participants together in Baku to form linkages and share best practices.

This program builds upon Project Harmony's previous Women's Leadership Programs in Georgia and Russia.

Official AzWLP website: http://www.wlp.az/

See also:
Baikal Women's Leadership Program (1999-2000)
Volgograd Women's Leadership Program (2000-2001)
Women's Leadership Program in Georgia (2001-2002)

For more information about the Azerbaijan Women's Leadership Program, contact Program Manager Tarana Jafarova tarana@projectharmony.az