CDA Community Lobbies for Development Assistance
Tuleguvan, in Azerbaijan’s Astara region, joined the Community Development Activity (CDA) Program in January 2007 at the encouragement of neighboring CDA villages of Ojakeran and Tese-Kend. The village quickly began participating in CDA trainings on community mobilization and needs assessment. Newly-acquired skills were promptly put to use as news of a visit from a Member of Parliament spread throughout the region.
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| Tuleguvan community members gathered in the school room to meet with their parliament representative |
The Tuleguvan Community Development Council (CDC) requested a meeting to discuss local needs and priorities with MP Vasif Aliyev and representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Regional Executive Authority. Aliyev's willingness to meet with his constituents provided an exciting opportunity for Tuleguvan and neighboring villages to communicate their concerns and exercise their rights.
Ojakeran's CDC leader opened the constituent meeting by describing the success of the CDA projects in their community and their overarching social and economic impact on the neighboring village of Tuleguvan. Leaders and representatives from Tuleguvan commented that their community felt as if it had been forgotten by the government and other development initiatives. However, bolstered by Ojakeran's success, Tuleguvan leaders expressed an expectation that government officials be more responsive to their issues.
Citizens challenged their MP to advocate for and champion their community needs for vital basic infrastructure, such as village gas lines project and road rehabilitation. Inspired by his constituents' activism, Aliyev committed to consult with local government departments about addressing Tuleguvan's priority needs. For the community, the meeting marked a big step toward strengthening cooperation between its citizens and their government.
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