Fellows and Research

Mr. Aghayev received his master's degree from Azerbaijan State Economic University, the Department of Finance and Credit and is now a PhD student at the Department of Finance, Money Turnover and Credit. Aghanemat Aghayev’s articles have been published in various local journals and newspapers; he wrote 2 books and co-authored 3. He actively participated in several international scientific and practical conferences.

Overview:
The purpose of this research is to investigate the future opportunities of the teen-agers leaving orphanages in Azerbaijan. According to the main research hypothesis, the life level of the orphan alumni is below the poverty line. The above-mentioned hypothesis has been researched through surveys and interviews conducted in two orphanages.

Final Report, Presentation

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Azar Alasgarov is the head of Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy division in Monetary policy Department at the National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA). The author of more than eighty publications and op-eds that appeared in different local journals and newspapers, he has conducted research in former Soviet republics and participated in various academic and practitioner conferences world-wide. Mr. Alasgarov holds master’s degree in Regulation of Economy from Azerbaijan State Economic University, where he is currently working on his doctoral dissertation

The Impact of Microfinance Services on Poverty in Azerbaijan
Azar Alasgerov will research the impact of microfinance loans on poverty reduction in Azerbaijan and assess the future of microfinance programs in the country. In particular, the fellow will examine whether the effectiveness of small scale loans in reducing poverty depends more on the direction of these loans than on their amount. In other words, the fellow will investigate whether investment oriented micro loans have greater impact on the welfare of poor borrowers than consumption oriented micro loans. The fellow will undertake a comprehensive literature review and analyze the existing quantitative data. This analysis will serve as a foundation for a survey, which the fellow will carry out among two hundred borrowers in Nakhchivan and Lenkeran, ten in-depth interviews and a focus group with experts and staff of microfinance institutions (MFIs). The findings and recommendations of this study will be submitted for publication to Socio-Economic Review, The Review of Economic Studies or International Economic Review. This study aims to bring about substantial improvement of microfinance programs in Azerbaijan as well as serve as a foundation for further research on this microfinance.

Final Report, Presentation

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Dr. Rafael Hasanov is currently heading the Center for Evaluation of Education and Social Research at Azerbaijan State University of Languages and has taught sociology related subjects in a number of universities in Azerbaijan for more than ten years. The fellow of the Regional Scholar Exchange Program (ACTR/ACCELS), Faculty Development Program (OSI) and Civic Education Curriculum Development Project (OSI), he has authored more than fifty publications in political science and sociology. Dr. Hasanov holds a Doctor of Sociology degree from the Institute of Philosophy and Law, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan

Social Capital, Civic Engagement and the Performance of Local Government in Azerbaijan
Rafael Hasanov will study the role of social capital in civic engagement in the municipalities in three regions of Azerbaijan - Baku, Khachmaz, and Lenkeran, specifically investigating how the norms and networks of civic engagement are linked to the quality of public life and the performance of local government. The fellow will test the hypothesis that weak community building skills and low levels of mutual aid, cooperation and trust among the people in these districts are the main factors explaining their weak civic engagement. The fellow will conduct a survey among 100 respondents in each of the regions and three focus groups with different categories of population. The survey and focus group data will be complemented by interviews with representatives of the Center for Work with Municipalities at the Ministry of Justice, different NGOs and municipality members, as well as by a comprehensive literature review, content analysis and analysis of legislation that will precede the field data collection. The fellow plans to submit the findings and recommendations to Demokratizatsiya, Central Asian Survey or Europe-Asia Studies as well as Ekho daily. Additionally, this study will form a chapter in the fellow’s forthcoming handbook on political sociology. The research is also expected to form the basis for further municipal reforms and policies of relevant government agencies and international organizations dealing with municipalities in Azerbaijan, such as the Center for Work with Municipalities at the Ministry of Justice, USAID, UNDP, the World Bank, Oxfam, and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES).

Final Report, Presentation

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Elvin Afandi is a Project Associate for Asian Development Bank’s project on technical assistance to Azerbaijan. Previously, he worked as a Senior Expert at the Center of Economic Reforms (CER) at the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan. He also teaches Economics at Khazar University and has been part of research teams within USAID, UNDP, Open Society Institute, and CER projects. Mr. Afandi has authored over ten publications in economics, particularly focusing on poverty issues. He holds master’s degree in Economics from Azerbaijan State Economic University and is currently a PhD Candidate at CER

Analysis and Comparison of Subjective Well-being and Its Determinants in the South Caucasus
What are the determinants of subjective well-being in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia? What is the impact of education, place of residence and household head’s sex, among other variables, on subjective well-being? Why do these factors have different effects on subjective well-being across the three countries of the South Caucasus? Elvin Afandi will seek answers to these questions by undertaking a complex regression analysis of CRRC’s annual Household Survey (Data Initiative) dataset. The fellow advances a number of hypotheses to be examined during this six-month study. For example the researcher posits that the household head’s age has lower impact on subjective well-being as compared to education and sex of the household head; that the type of settlement (rural/urban) has more impact on subjective well-being in Azerbaijan than in either Georgia or Armenia. This study aims to provide an important benchmark for policymakers and the development community in the South Caucasus by allowing them to compare the officially reported well-being of their citizens with their subjective satisfaction that varies in relation to different factors. This would enable them to focus on more adequate and effective policy measures to reduce poverty. The final paper will be submitted for publication to the Journal of Social Policy, Eastern European Economics, or Journal of Poverty.

Final Report, Presentation

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Ilham Abbasov is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, Political and Legal Studies at Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and expert with “Novator” Social Research Center. The author of several academic publications and editorials, he has consulted a number of local and international organizations in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative studies. Dr. Abbasov holds an MA in Sociology from Baku State University and PhD in Social Philosophy from the National Academy of Sciences

Nationalities Policy and its Institutionalization within the Ethnic Communities of Azerbaijan
Ilham Abbasov will investigate the institutionalization patterns of four ethnic minorities in post-Soviet Azerbaijan—Russian, Lezgin, Talysh and Avar, against the background of the nationalities policy that has evolved in the country during the last two decades. The researcher will examine the role of ethnic community activists and diasporas in shaping the public discourse around ethnicity and how they represent the interests of their respective communities. The fellow advances the hypothesis that the minority elite’s formal representation of their communities’ alleged interests reduces the trust toward public institutions among ordinary minority members because most elites have not been democratically elected. This can have an adverse effect on democratization in the minority-dominated regions of Azerbaijan, since it is likely to alienate ordinary citizens from taking part in decision making. This study specifically aims to disentangle ordinary actor perspectives and to compare them with the official discourse. Different discourses and patterns of institutionalization within the four ethnic communities will be compared with each other. The researcher will conduct participant observation in each minority-dominated region, over a hundred problem-oriented interviews with selected representatives of the four ethnic groups, twelve interviews and two focus groups with various activists and government representatives, and primary source analysis. The researcher envisages publishing his findings in Diaspora, Central Asia and Caucasus or East-West: Dialogue of Civilization and presenting his recommendations to the academic and practitioner communities. This study is expected to contribute to modifying nationality policies regarding ethnic minorities drawing on the experience of democratic countries.

Final Report

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Dr. Fuad Mammadov is a Professor of Cultural Studies at The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is the author of more than 150 works on history and theory of culture and science, including monographs, manuals and edited volumes.

The Role of Ethics and Current Attitudes toward Prisoner Women: Society and Family Context

On the photo: Research assistant Ms. Khayala Mammadova moderating a focus group discussion in Lenkeran.

Fuad Mammadov studied the relations of prisoner women in Azerbaijan with their families, examined the attitudes and norms existing in the society, separately among women and men towards them and researched availability of opportunities and normal conditions for prisoner women to start a new phase of life after their release. The fellow and his team conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with female inmates and held surveys among individuals, different NGOs working in the field of women problems and family groups in society. The survey covered both men and women over 18 in a proportional way. The researcher identified the socialization problems of former inmates in society and the degrees of acceptance of prisoner women by their families and society as a whole. One of the main goals of the project is to contribute to understanding of how smooth integration of female inmates into the society can be ensured.

This study is expected to contribute to public debates on gender issues by bringing forth this previously neglected issue as well as to form a reference for future research and policies on re-integrating female convicts into society. The seminar with discussion over the problems of prisoner women, current available opportunities in our society for them, new suggestions to solve their problems, stimulate the improvement of their situation and the level of necessary conditions to return prisoner women to normal life after their release was held on August 17, 2007 at CRRC-Azerbaijan office. The research results will be distributed through the mass media, the CRRC website and sent to all relevant organizations.

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Dr. Ruslan Sadirkhanov is Professor of Economics and Business Administration and Vice-Chancellor of Odlar Yurdu University in Baku. He also serves in a number of public service positions, including Adviser of the President of Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences on Economic Issues. Dr. Sadirkhanov was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Department of Economics at the American University, Washington, DC and IREX Visiting Scholar at Georgetown University Public Policy Institute in Washington, DC. Dr. Sadirkhanov holds a Doctor of Physics and Mathematics degree from the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.

Employment of University Graduates in Baku and Pragmatic Transformation of Higher Education

This diagram shows a striking contrast between public (first four on the left) and private (the next four towards right) university students’ in Baku on whether they believe the knowledge they get at the university will help them to find a job.

Ruslan Sadirkhanov conducted a student survey and focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with educators and policy practitioners to examine the connections between the higher education system and labor market demands in Baku. In his research he introduces a notion of an Index of Student Optimism (ISO) regarding employment prospects. This composite measure is built from data on student satisfaction from eight universities in Baku. The researcher found that students receiving education in private universities are much more optimistic about employment opportunities awaiting them after graduation than student at public universities. In average almost 76% of respondents in private universities had positive estimation of practical skills-based component of the education they receive whereas only 36.1% of respondents in public universities have a similar positive estimation. The researcher recommends establishing an independent Professional Development Center as a possible tool for stimulating competition among universities for raising the quality of education and skills they provide and their applicability. The research findings and policy recommendations were published in a number of mass media outlets. The findings were presented to the Ministry of Education and the Committee on Education of the Milli Mejlis and are expected to be utilized by the Ministry of Education as well as various universities in Azerbaijan to update and redesign their curricula.

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Dr. Rauf Garagözov is a head of Social Science Department at the International Center for Social Research and Associate Professor of Political Science at Western University, Baku, Azerbaijan. Currently serving as a member of the Editorial Board of The Caucasus and Globalization journal, he has authored over eighty articles, several book chapters and books and was a Fulbright Professor at Washington University in St.-Louis in 2002-2003. Dr. Garagözov holds a PhD in Psychology from Moscow State University.

Political Trust and Pattern of Identification among Azerbaijani Youth

On the graph: Young respondents’ (17-19 years old) trust toward police in Baku, Lenkeran and Ganja.

Rauf Garagözov examined the influence of social and psychological factors such as patterns of identification and perceptions of competence on trust in different levels of governments among Azerbaijani youth. The researcher studied three basic components of Azerbaijani young people’s ideas and perceptions of citizenship: trust in the political system, overall self-identification and willingness to participate in political processes. The fellow conducted interviews among young people in Baku, Lenkaran and Ganja as well as analyzed 2005 and 2006 CRRC Data Initiative results related to political attitudes. The findings have implications for our understanding of the sources and origins of political trust as originated in people’s judgments about the performance of particular institutions while also giving some support for a thesis on trust based on culturally defined beliefs and norms. This should yield a more comprehensive diagnosis of the overall possibilities and limits of developing participatory processes and a notion of civil society.

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Associate Professor of the faculty of Pedagogics and Psychology at Lenkeran State University. Head of "Innovative Education Technologies" resource center at Lenkoran State University.

Drug Addiction among Youth in South-Eastern Azerbaijan: Causes, Prevention and Anti-Drug Enlightenment Measures
Rasul Abdulov will research the primary causes for drug addiction among teenagers and youth in the south-eastern part of Azerbaijan. The fellow will conduct a quantitative survey among youth, including those currently undergoing treatment for drug addition, to study the causes, effects, and awareness of drug abuse. Interviews will also be conducted with drug addiction researchers, medical professionals, and government institutions to further enhance the research. The intended outcome of this research is to understand factors behind the growing number of drug addicted youth and to increase awareness of these important issues in the general public. A bulletin with be produced and distributed to primary, secondary, and higher education institutions and a television program outlining recommendations for drug abuse prevention will be created and broadcast on Lenkaran TV. Finally, policy recommendations will be developed and presented to public sector organizations.

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Support for Business Development in Azerbaijan (ABAD). Business Consultant of the Marketing Center established by the ABAD Program in Zakatala

Economic Development in the Sheki-Zakatala Economic Zone
Nargiz Abdullayeva will study economic development problems and poverty among the rural population in the Sheki-Zakatala economic zone. The fellow will conduct desk research of existing data which will serve as the theoretical foundation for a quantitative survey among 400 respondents and in-depth interviews with 12 farmers on attitudes toward economic changes in Sheki-Zakatala and their role in this process. The intended outcome of this research is to identify the pertinent issues affecting the rural population in Sheki-Zakatala and to develop relevant policies aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty in the region. The fellow will produce an analytical report and a brochure with the results and policy recommendations which will be distributed to rural and urban municipalities, the region?s executive committees, and to those dealing with business in the region.

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Ph.D. for dissertation "Simulation of oxidation pyrolysis reactors and micromixing problems"

The impact of Genetically Modified Organisms on People's Health
This research aims to study the level of knowledge of the Azeri people related to GMO products. The research will focus on collecting analyzing data related to the on consequences and influence of GMO products on health. The analysis of the research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods, focus groups, in-depth interviews and a literature review. The results of this study will be published in a database, in a technical report, and in a booklet. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final results will be disseminated to all interested parties through the CRRC Website.

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Finance, monetary turnover and credit PhD student, Center of Economic Reforms, Baku , Azerbaijan

Current Developments on Health Insurance in Azerbaijan
The research aims to study the most appropriate insurance models that could be introduced in Azerbaijan. The research will reveal whether and how insurance-related legislation is being improved in the country. The research will be conducted through the use of statistical analytical methods and literature review. The fellow will also obtain research results from focus group sessions and in-depth interviews with key informants. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report that will include technical details of the research, the results obtained from the research and a number of policy recommendations. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation of the final research results will be disseminated through the CRRC Website.

Presentation, Results and Recommendations, Final Report, Conclusions and comments

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Expert sociologist, "SIGMA" Research Center for Development and International Collaboration. Baku, Azerbaijan

Voter Trends during National Legislative Elections in Azerbaijan
The research aims to determine people's perception and opinions related to the current deputy of the Milli Mejlis (a Member of Parliament). The research will reveal participatory trends of various social and political organizations involved in the election process. To analyze these trends, the fellow will use the data available from the 2004 CRRC Data Initiative. The fellow will also implement statistical analytical methods and collect information from focus groups, interviews, and content analysis. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report and presented in a public presentation. All final research results will be disseminated through the CRRC Website.

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Head of "Education services and labour market problems" research group, Center of Economic Reforms

Meeting Labor Market Demands by Strengthening Education and Training Systems in Azerbaijan
The research aims to clarify and assess whether the current education system provides valuable and effective training for students entering the employment sector, and to identify ways to improve education policies in Azerbaijan to meet labor market demands. The analysis of the research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods, in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions and a literature review. The results of this study will be published in analytical report that will also include education policy recommendations. Based on research results, the fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final research results will be disseminated to all interested parties through the CRRC Website.

Final Report, Main Results and Conclusions

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Doctor of Sciences, Gafgaz University, Baku, Azerbaijan

The Influence of Labor Migration on Azerbaijani Households
The research aims to increase our knowledge on how labor migration affects the family structure. Its primary objectives are to analyze family-related problems that result from labor migration. The fellow will conduct discussion sessions with experts, as well as a survey with family members. The fellow will also discuss research results in a roundtable with relevant experts and specialists in the field. Based on the research results, the fellow will produce an analytical report. Two articles will also be published in local newspapers and magazines. A conference and round table will be organized to share final results and recommendations, and the reports will be disseminated through the CRRC Website. The research results will be useful for organizations working in the field of migration, and counseling centers that work with refugee or migrated/settled families.

Presentation

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Post-Graduate Researcher & Expert (working on and coordinating of various projects held by CER) Center of Economic Reforms under the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan Republic

Ethics and Economic Behaviour of Azerbaijani Businessmen
The purpose of this research is to produce new knowledge related to economic behavior in Azerbaijan. Moreover it will develop a baseline to encourage further research related to the role of religion and society, and its influence on economic behavior, in Azerbaijan and Post-Soviet Muslim countries. For this research, the fellow will conduct a sociological survey and a number of in-depth interviews. As a result of the survey, new data related to ethics and value-related judgments and trends will be collected. Based on research results, the fellow will produce an analytical report and publish an article to be disseminated to local newspapers and magazines. The fellow will conduct a public presentation for CRRC beneficiaries and handouts will be submitted to the Center of Economic Reforms, the Department of Anti-Monopoly Policy, the Ministry of Economic Development, and Azerbaijan Marketing Society.

Articles: 1, 2, 3
Final Report, SPSS database, Annex 1, Presentation

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Consultant on Human Capital Development Secretariat of the State Program on Poverty Reduction and Economic Development, Baku, Azerbaijan

Access to Quality Health Care Services in Azerbaijan
The current fellowship research will analyze the problems related to current health care services in Azerbaijan and assess how they can be improved. To complete this research, the fellow will use statistical analytical methods, conduct in-depth interviews as well as a literature review. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report that will include technical details, research results, and policy recommendations. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final results will be disseminated through the CRRC Website.

Presentation, Report

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Senior scientific employee Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Institute of Economy. Department of "Demography and Socio-Economical Problems of the Population"

The Socio-Economic and Psychoogical Effects of Unemployment in Azerbaijan
The research aims to produce new knowledge and raise awareness of the impacts that unemployment has had in Azerbaijan. The research will encourage other experts to identify ways to help reduce and minimize unemployment and thus improve the living standards in Azerbaijan. To conduct this research the fellow will use statistical analytical methods, conduct a survey and perform a literature review. Based on the research results, the fellow will conduct a public presentation and will publish two articles to be disseminated to the local media. The results of this study will also be published in book and disseminated through the CRRC's Web site.

Book in Azeri, English and Russian

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Senior Scientist, Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute of Russian language and Literature after M.F.Akhundov

HIV/AIDS awareness in Azerbaijan
This research aims to study the level of the azeri population's knowledge on HIV/AIDS. The fellow will use the data available from the 2004 CRRC Data Initiative (mainly in part related with STD). The research will reveal the level of awareness of different social and age group of Azerbaijani population on these issues as well as influence of various factors (including social, economic, ethno-cultural ones) to this level. The analysis of the research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods, results collected from the focus groups and literature review. The results of this study will be published in analytical report that will include technical details and research results. The results will also be published in a manual to help conduct focus groups. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final results will be disseminated to experts, social workers, NGO representatives, journalists, researchers, practitioners and will also be disseminated through the CRRC Website.

Manual (Az), Report (Az), Presentation (Az)

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Professor, Baku State University

Political Values in Azerbaijan
The research aims to study people's political trends particularly during election processes in Azerbaijan. The fellow will use the data available from the 2004 CRRC Data Initiative. The research will reveal people's attitude related to the democratic reforms held in the country as well as the level of people's political participation and trust in political institutions. To conduct this research, the fellow will use statistical analytical methods, analyze the results collected from the expert survey, conduct a survey with 500 respondents and perform a literature review. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report that will include technical details, research results, and policy recommendations. The results will also be developed and described in three academic articles. Based on the research results, the fellow will conduct a public presentation.

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Leading specialist, Calculation Center of the Baku State University

Scientific Research Organizations and Social Experts in Azerbaijan
The research aims to create an information database on existing networks of social research centers in Azerbaijan and define the main faculties and sectors that they work in. The research will reveal problems that exist related to research methodologies and issues that need to be solved to increase the quality of this faculty. The fellow will collect information from local and international research organizations and from focus group sessions with 100 leading social science experts in Azerbaijan. The results of this study will be published in an information directory related to Azerbaijan's social science research network. This directory will also include information relevant to the research topics that have been conducted and bibliographies of social science researchers. Based on research results, the fellow will also conduct a public presentation and disseminate research results to experts from the research community and members from non-governmental organizations. An electronic version of the published information directory will be also disseminated on the CRRC and Azerbaijan-Holland Friendship Society Web sites.

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BSU - History, Theory and Methodology of Sociology

Migration processes between Azerbaijan and Georgia
This research aims to study the migration factors, trends and attitudes of migrants in these two countries. The analysis of this research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods, surveys with Azeri and Georgian migrants, surveys with journalists, focus groups with experts, and content analysis from media documents. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report and the fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final results will be disseminated to experts, NGO representatives, journalists, researchers, and practitioners through the CRRC and "Novator: NGO Web sites.

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Leading specialist/scientist, Azerbaijan Horticultural and Research Institute

Health Issues in the Gabala region of Azerbaijan
The research will focus on collecting and analyzing data related to the influence of the Gabala Radio Station people's lives and health in the region. The analysis of the research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods, focus groups, interviews with people in this region, and a literature review. The results of this study will be published in a database, a technical report and a booklet. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final results will be disseminated to health experts and researchers, non-governmental representatives, journalists, and members of government, and will also be disseminated through the CRRC Website.

Presentation, General Report, Booklet

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Senior staff scientist, At the Institution of Philosophy and Political - Law of ANAS of Azerbaijan

The Effects of Social-Political Activities on Election and Democratic Processes
The research aims to reveal the cause and effect correlations between these processes and social-political. The analysis of the research will be conducted using statistical analytical methods and a literature review, and will collect relevant data from focus groups and interviews. The results of this study will be published in an analytical report and an article. Based on research results, the fellow will also conduct a public presentation. The final research results will be disseminated to all interested organizations and researchers through the CRRC Website.

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Master of Science in Social Work, Principal Investigator for Citizen Engagement project, a join project between University of Calgary and United Way

Poverty trends and Factors in Baku, Azerbaijan
The research aims to study the poverty factors and trends. The fellow will use the data available from the 2004 CRRC Data Initiative to conduct this research and will use statistical analytical methods as well as a literature review. The research will reveal the extent of poverty that currently exists in Baku and identify specific factors which may predict poverty among the population. Based on research results, the fellow will complete a working paper, a short policy brief to include recommendations to decrease the level of poverty in Baku. The fellow will also conduct a public presentation and the final research results will be disseminated to local and international organizations working on poverty reduction strategies in Azerbaijan.

Presentation, Policy recommendations, Final Report

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