On 7 September 2021, IOM Azerbaijan with project stakeholders, experts, guests from different Ministries, State bodies (President Administration, Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Ecology, State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs,  Azerbaijan Amelioration and Water farm OJSC, AZERSU OJSC) and Academia held the second online workshop on National Master Plan for kahriz renovation to deeper discuss kahriz concept, its socio-economic and legal aspect, and necessity of including it into national water management policies within the frameworks of the general discussions on efficient use of water resources in the country. 

During the workshop participants were updated on the kahrizes renovation (since the 1st workshop on 25 June 2021), activities of Kahriz Research and Information Center, and Kahriz engineering course at the ASAU. The online workshop was followed by the presentations of the bilingual National Atlas on the kahrizes in Azerbaijan and the draft National Master Plan (for the new participants) developed by the independent experts in close cooperation with the project team.

Following the presentations, participants used the opportunity to ask detailed questions and discussed the project activities, Atlas, and National Master Plan. 

Summing up the workshop Chief of Mission of IOM Azerbaijan Mr. Vladimir Gjorgjiev highlighted the importance of activities carried out within the “Integrated Rural Development for Internally Displaced Communities in Azerbaijan through Revitalization of Kahriz Water Supply System” project implemented by IOM Azerbaijan with financial support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the country. 

“We hope in near future we will see Kahriz water systems (traditional, newly renovated or build as completely new) to be part of the National Water Management Policy for the future benefit of the people of Azerbaijan. With the current project that is supported by KOICA, the right conditions, such as the creation of Kahriz Research Center, relevant website, study book on Kahrizes, National Atlas on Kahrizes, and the National Master Plan, are created to include Kahrizes into the state policy and future water management strategy,” said Gjorgjiev. 

The Project has 6 main components, which are developing NMP, kahriz rehabilitation, capacity building for kahriz engineering and kankans, supporting small business among IDPs in target regions, and increasing community awareness on Kahriz Maintenance and Efficient Use of Water.