State Program on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2008-2015.

This State Program on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development is a national program with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Program is 8 years, between 2008 and 2015. The overall objective of the Program is to reduce poverty focusing on sustainable economic development, rural employment, social and economic empowerment of women, youth and low-income families with children, improvement of living standards, good governance and institutional reform.
The State Program emphasizes food security and access to safe drinking water of the population. Indications such as infant and child mortality, maternal mortality, food security and child nutrition will be monitored and measures will be taken ensure food security in accordance with the State Program on Reliable Food Supply to the Population. Safe drinking water supply and sanitation services will be improved.
Agriculture will be developed in an environmentally sustainable manner. In order to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, agricultural land use will be improved, irrigation system will be strengthened and adverse environmental impacts will be reduced to increase soil fertility. The pasture production will be improved with the aim of ensuring soil conservation and increasing their quality. The biodiversity will be protected by a) establishing new protected areas, b) creating biological stations and nurseries for animals, c) forest plantation, d) conserving aquatic biological resources. Afforestation activities will be promoted, forest resources will be registered and forest management will be strengthened to ensure sustainable forest development. Waste management will be improved and a Strategy for recycling will be developed. Water and sewerage systems will be reconstructed and rehabilitated.
Financial agricultural measures will be taken in line with the rural development strategy. Rural employment will be provided with a gender sensitive approach. A National Action Plan on Gender Equality and Family Issues will be developed. Women’s participation will be increased in decision-making processes. Information and communication services will be expanded and public awareness will be promoted. Capacity building will be provided by increasing skills and knowledge of farmers, including youth and women, through trainings, information sharing and agricultural research. Social protection system will be developed and activities will be implemented for social protection of youth, people with disabilities and vulnerable groups.
Seed growing, seedling, pedigree breeding and plant production will be developed. Pesticides and agrochemicals will be provided to farmers and manufacturers for plant protection. Veterinary and phytosanitary services will be improved. The export activities will be developed, certification system will be established and national standards will be set for quality control. In order to promote agricultural production, financial/credit services and agricultural machinery will be provided to smallholder. Agricultural market infrastructure will be improved through the involvement of the private sector. Agro-processing enterprises network will be expanded. Technical resources of agricultural science will be strengthened. In energy sector, efficient use of energy resources will be promoted and the use of alternative and renewable energy sources will be increased.
Measures will be taken to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on agricultural production. Summer and winter arability of pasture lands will be rehabilitated to combat erosion. Areas under risk of flood will be determined and mapped. A National Action Plan on desertification will be developed. The impacts of climate change will be assessed and risk reduction strategies will be applied on ecosystems and economy.
Legislative framework will be improved on environmental protection, use of natural resources, waste management and on use of GMOs. The financial resources of the State Program are funds to be allocated for these purposes from the State Budget, the State Oil Fund and the State Social Protection Fund as well as other sources not conflicting with legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.