Final Report
Disabled Women Society of Azerbaijan (DWSA)
Project Title: Improving access of women and girls with disabilities to public services in Baku, Ganja and Guba-Khachmaz region" with the financial support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
The project covers the cities of Baku, Ganja and the regions of Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz and is implemented during the period of September 2022 - August 2025 (36 months in total).
The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) is the only global grantmaking mechanism dedicated exclusively to addressing all forms of violence against women and girls.
Reporting Period: August 2025
1. Introduction
The Disabled Women Society of Azerbaijan (DWSA), in partnership with UN Women and “Umid Yeri” Public Union, has been implementing a transformative three-year initiative aimed at improving the accessibility, inclusiveness, and quality of public services for women and girls with disabilities (WGD). The project was designed to strengthen the professional skills of public service providers, mobilize communities to support and advocate for women with disabilities, reinforce institutional cooperation between civil society, government, and local authorities, and develop tools, guidelines, and media products to ensure long-term sustainable impact. Over the course of implementation, the project has reached thousands of women and girls with disabilities across multiple regions of Azerbaijan and has brought systemic improvements in the interaction between citizens with disabilities and state and public institutions.
2. Key Objectives
The overarching objective of the project has been to ensure that women and girls with disabilities enjoy equal access to essential public services, including health, education, employment, social protection, and utilities. To achieve this, the project sought to strengthen the capacity of service providers to deliver respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory services; mobilize communities and establish local councils that advocate for disability rights; engage media and civil society in challenging harmful stereotypes; and institutionalize good practices by developing guidelines, handbooks, and audiovisual tools that public institutions can continue to use long after the project ends.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
One of the central pillars of the project was capacity building for service providers. A total of 692 service staff from government bodies, municipalities, schools, health centers, and NGOs participated in training sessions held in Baku, Ganja, Guba, Khachmaz, and Gusar. These trainings focused on ethical and professional communication with persons with disabilities, the application of internationally accepted terminology, emotional intelligence and stress management techniques, appropriate body language and speech, and conflict prevention strategies. Participants, including representatives of ministries, the DOST Agency, ASAN Service, teachers, doctors, and social workers, reported that the trainings gave them new skills in respectful listening, addressing citizens with dignity, and resolving sensitive situations without reinforcing stereotypes. Teachers learned practical ways of supporting children with disabilities in classrooms, while social service providers practiced using empathetic body language and stress management techniques to ensure they could work more effectively and patiently. As a result of these efforts, 295 officials confirmed improved professional skills, and more than 1,610 women and girls with disabilities directly benefited from improved service quality. In addition to the group trainings, the project organized individual and group consultations for public service employees. More than 50 consultations were conducted, offering tailored support on issues such as handling manipulative or distressed clients, time management, preventing
2. Key Objectives
The overarching objective of the project has been to ensure that women and girls with disabilities enjoy equal access to essential public services, including health, education, employment, social protection, and utilities. To achieve this, the project sought to strengthen the capacity of service providers to deliver respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory services; mobilize communities and establish local councils that advocate for disability rights; engage media and civil society in challenging harmful stereotypes; and institutionalize good practices by developing guidelines, handbooks, and audiovisual tools that public institutions can continue to use long after the project ends.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
One of the central pillars of the project was capacity building for service providers. A total of 692 service staff from government bodies, municipalities, schools, health centers, and NGOs participated in training sessions held in Baku, Ganja, Guba, Khachmaz, and Gusar. These trainings focused on ethical and professional communication with persons with disabilities, the application of internationally accepted terminology, emotional intelligence and stress management techniques, appropriate body language and speech, and conflict prevention strategies. Participants, including representatives of ministries, the DOST Agency, ASAN Service, teachers, doctors, and social workers, reported that the trainings gave them new skills in respectful listening, addressing citizens with dignity, and resolving sensitive situations without reinforcing stereotypes. Teachers learned practical ways of supporting children with disabilities in classrooms, while social service providers practiced using empathetic body language and stress management techniques to ensure they could work more effectively and patiently. As a result of these efforts, 295 officials confirmed improved professional skills, and more than 1,610 women and girls with disabilities directly benefited from improved service quality. In addition to the group trainings, the project organized individual and group consultations for public service employees. More than 50 consultations were conducted, offering tailored support on issues such as handling manipulative or distressed clients, time management, preventing
professional burnout, and practical empathy-building exercises. These consultations complemented the larger trainings by providing personalized feedback and guidance. For example, a teacher in Khachmaz received direct coaching on preventing discrimination against disabled children in her classroom, while social service officers learned to cope with stress and maintain professionalism when supporting vulnerable families. Officials reported that these consultations significantly increased their confidence in dealing with complex or sensitive cases.
Another core activity was the organization of roundtable meetings and multi-stakeholder cooperation platforms. Between 2022 and 2025, nine roundtables were held in Baku, Ganja, and Guba, each gathering 30 to 50 representatives of government agencies, local authorities, NGOs, private sector organizations, and women with disabilities themselves. These discussions centered on reducing violence and discrimination against WGD, developing local action plans to improve service accessibility, and creating sustainable mechanisms for institutional collaboration. For the first time, women with disabilities were able to sit across the table from state officials to openly present their needs and challenges. These exchanges led to the creation of Coordination Councils in each region, where ministries and municipalities now work directly with women with disabilities on issues such as employment, healthcare, education, and infrastructure accessibility. To date, more than 35 institutions have been engaged in these coordination efforts, and several proposals developed jointly with the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Health, and local executive authorities have already led to practical improvements, such as increased access to rehabilitation equipment and enhanced support through employment services.
The project also placed strong emphasis on community mobilization. A total of 26 workshops were conducted in Baku, Ganja, Guba, Khachmaz, and Gusar, bringing together over 737 participants, including women and girls with disabilities, their family members, and community leaders. These workshops focused on disability rights, dismantling misconceptions, preventing domestic and public violence, strengthening family and community support, and creating local advocacy groups. The workshops provided a safe space for women with disabilities to share their experiences of discrimination, while community members pledged to address such problems collectively. As a result, community-based Coordination Councils were created and now function as local advocacy structures. The direct impact of these interventions has been significant: more than 4,300 women and girls with disabilities reported improved attitudes and increased social inclusion within their communities.
Media and advocacy activities were another cornerstone of the initiative. The project generated 288 media products, including national television programs, radio broadcasts, press articles, and online publications. Three major national TV programs focusing on the rights and challenges of women with disabilities reached nearly 19,500 viewers across the country. Furthermore, journalists were provided with dedicated training on ethical reporting, ensuring that coverage of disability issues avoids harmful stereotypes and instead promotes dignity and respect. Through these efforts, public awareness of disability rights increased substantially, helping dismantle entrenched prejudices and harmful narratives.
Finally, the project developed guidelines, handbooks, and tools to institutionalize inclusive practices. A comprehensive Guidelines Document on ethical communication with women with disabilities was prepared and distributed to ministries and service providers. A practical handbook on navigating public services and an instructional video are currently under development to support both service staff and beneficiaries. Importantly, four organizations have already adopted internal guidelines on inclusive service delivery, marking a critical step toward institutional reform. These tools provide practical instructions, including “do’s and don’ts” for engaging with people with physical, visual, hearing, or intellectual disabilities. For the first time in Azerbaijan, public service organizations are beginning to introduce formal standards to regulate how employees interact with citizens with disabilities, ensuring that progress made under this project continues in the long term.
4. Key Results and Indicators
By February 2025, the project achieved remarkable progress. A total of 1,610 women and girls with disabilities accessed improved public services, while 65 percent reported better treatment and attitudes from service providers. Thirty-three organizations directly benefited from project activities, and 692 officials across multiple regions were trained, of whom 295 reported significantly improved professional skills. Through community mobilization, 4,300 women and girls with disabilities experienced improved attitudes in public spaces and greater inclusion. Furthermore, 690 applications by women with disabilities to public services were facilitated, demonstrating increased confidence and empowerment. In terms of advocacy, 288 media products were disseminated nationwide, and approximately 19,500 citizens were reached through national television broadcasts.
5. Impact
5. Impact
The project has been transformative both for individual women and girls with disabilities and for the institutions that serve them. Beneficiaries are now more empowered to claim their rights, access services, and participate in community life. Service providers are better trained, more empathetic, and less likely to engage in discriminatory practices. Communities are increasingly supportive and inclusive, with new grassroots structures in place to advocate for disability rights. Most importantly, government institutions are now beginning to adopt systemic reforms, guided by newly developed communication guidelines and reinforced by active cooperation with DWSA.
6. Sustainability
6. Sustainability
Sustainability has been embedded into the project through multiple strategies. Coordination Councils established in Baku, Ganja, and Guba continue to facilitate dialogue between local authorities, state institutions, and women with disabilities. Guidelines and handbooks produced during the project ensure that inclusive practices are institutionalized and remain in use. Strong partnerships with ministries, state agencies, and local executive authorities guarantee continued political support and practical assistance. Meanwhile, community structures and extensive media engagement provide long-lasting awareness and advocacy platforms that will outlive the project cycle.
7. Conclusion
Between September 2022 and February 2025, this project has reached more than 4,300 women and girls with disabilities, trained 692 officials across multiple sectors, and engaged 33 organizations in systemic reform. It has mobilized communities in five regions of Azerbaijan, partnered with more than 25 government institutions, and raised national awareness through 288
media products and national television broadcasts reaching 19,500 viewers. The project demonstrates that inclusive service delivery, strong institutional cooperation, and empowered communities can transform the lives of women and girls with disabilities in Azerbaijan. It has laid the foundation for systemic reform, ensuring that public services are more accessible, respectful, and effective. With continued support from donors, international organizations, and government partners, this initiative can serve as a model for nationwide replication, further advancing equality, dignity, and social justice.
7. Conclusion
Between September 2022 and February 2025, this project has reached more than 4,300 women and girls with disabilities, trained 692 officials across multiple sectors, and engaged 33 organizations in systemic reform. It has mobilized communities in five regions of Azerbaijan, partnered with more than 25 government institutions, and raised national awareness through 288
media products and national television broadcasts reaching 19,500 viewers. The project demonstrates that inclusive service delivery, strong institutional cooperation, and empowered communities can transform the lives of women and girls with disabilities in Azerbaijan. It has laid the foundation for systemic reform, ensuring that public services are more accessible, respectful, and effective. With continued support from donors, international organizations, and government partners, this initiative can serve as a model for nationwide replication, further advancing equality, dignity, and social justice.
