Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization and Free Economy Assistance Center conducted the project “Monitoring of Projects on Use of Oil Revenues and Public Discussion of Results”. According to the project coordinator, Mirvari Gahramanly (right), the project was aimed at defining the level of transparency and effectiveness in the use of oil revenues in Azerbaijan. (10-AUG-07)

Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku on the basis of Final Report of the Project

Implemented due to financial assistance of OxfamNovib, the project results were reflected in the Final Report with the goal to attract public attention to the existing problems in this sphere.

Project duties
The project duties included:
• Making of methodology on monitoring of use of oil revenues;
• Holding monitoring on the oil revenues use in 2 directions – projects ‘Reconstruction of Samur-Absheron irrigation system’ performed due to funds of SOFAR and ‘Construction of treatment and diagnostics centers’ implemented due to funds of SOCAR;
• Holding public discussions on monitoring results.

Works done
Within the project framework the following works were done:
• Made the Methodology on monitoring of use of oil revenues;
• Organized and trained the Monitoring Group;
• Sent the information inquiries to SOFAR, SOCAR and Melioration and Water Economy JSC;
• Held meetings with senior officials at SOCAR and Melioration and Water Economy JSC on the projects monitored;
• Held the press conference to protect rights of residents of Gulamli and Garabaglar communities impacted by construction of the reservoir’
• Held the public discussions.

Project results
The following results were achieved as result of project implementation:
• While implementing the project, partners achieved understanding, cooperation and dialog with state bodies that helped creation of discoveries based on fair and real information as a result of the monitoring. The monitoring subjects expressed their official attitude on the discoveries;
• Cooperation with mass media, participation of mass media in public discussions, coverage of the monitoring results on mass media assisted to deliver the information on use of oil revenues to the public;
• SOCAR disclosed for the first time the functional structure of social investments in its Annual Report 2006 that was delivered in July 2007;
• Melioration and Water Economy JSC created its Internet resources (Internet site www.stm.gov.az was launched in July 2007);
• The government made decision on reassessment of houses and land areas affected by construction of the reservoir.