Insufficiency of potable water problem has existed in Goychay rayon Incha community with 4000 population more than 15 years. This concern of the community members, particul arly villagers living in remote blocks of the community completely deprived of potable water could not be solved for ever.

Alvand is one of the remote villages in Zardab rayon. Nobody in this ancient (approximately XV century) village, situated at 23 km distance from rayon centre and closely connected its life with the Kur River, concerned about the problems remaining since years and their solutions. Carelessness and indifference lasting for years was put an end since the first day when AzRIP entered the village. As if people woke up. The community members distinguished for their knowledge and skills and who are key potential of the village were identified during Participatory Rural Appraisal workshop. We witnessed respect to elders and solidarity in the community that is not observed in some communities.

It was a very happy day in Aghdash rayon Arab community. The problem lasting for years has finally been solved. Visiting other villages and rayon centre for even very simple and common health issue has already come to an end. They already have got a health point to look after their health, conveniently address to and can call "our own clinic". Completed "Clinic construction" project would be at their disposal from now on.There was no sign of healthy and useful medical service in the "clinic" located at old, rather small kolkhoz shop which was in very bad and insanitary conditions.

Terrible condition of the roads was always the pressing need among the problems facing the Mollavaizli community of Saatly rayon possessing 200 years history. The community group established in the village of about 2000 population had taken some measures and prepared the community to the mobilization. The community had previously addressed the need to various organizations, but the collaboration had failed which made the community members to completely lose their trust to such entities. Community members would never think that their dream would ever come true and world outlook change, as well they may gain self-confidence as a result of collaboration with AzRIP which they had initially accepted with distrust. Municipal Chairman of the village SananMutallimov describes the situation in the community before and after the project implementation: "Number of unsatisfied social needs and broken promises made community members fully pessimistic and shook their all hope for future. Nevertheless, AzRIP gave inspiration, stimulus and trust to Mollavaizli community members by keeping its promise".

Signs of old times were visible in AshaghyJurali community of Bilasuvar rayon too. Community road was completely destroyed and became unfit for use. Knee-deep mud in winter, smoke of dust in summer and deep potholes proved the lack of road in the village. Having great difficulties in going to regional centre and neighboring villages, the community members could not take produced crops to market. This terrible condition made traffic very hard and caused occurrence of some road incidents. Needs were not limited to the road problem, but lack of potable and irrigation water supply, health post and poor condition of school building was intensifying community concerns. Villagers were in search of way out from this problem labyrinth...

The community of Baydili in Bilasuvar rayon is one of the Azerbaijan Rural Investment Project's partner communities. It is the second big village in the rayon situated at 5 km distance from the centre and comprised of about 6800 people. The main concern of the community was the lack of normal health point to properly serve the population. Though an administrative building remaining from forties was called a "Health point", it did not almost exist. People with health problems had to go to the rayon centre or hospitals in the capital city.AzRIP representatives' visit to the village was unexpected for the community members.

The community of Shahriyar in the Goygol rayon possesses a long and ancient history. Although its name has been changed several times, it is currently named after the Azerbaijani poet of genius, Shahriyar. Today it is a home for Internally Displaced Persons from regions occupied by Armenian invaders, as well as for refugees driven away from the Azeri lands that currently belong to Armenia and to the Turks who have come to Azerbaijan from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is not always easy to locate and manage displaced people; even those who have similar habits and traditions and who suffer from the same types of sorrow.

AzRİP’s outstanding performance in improving the infrastructure of and living conditions in rural areas of the Northwestern zone excited the interest of the Piyadalar community of the Barda rayon. Piyadalar community members made the decision to work with AzRIP after they saw that the infrastructural problems of neighboring villages were resolved with AzRIP support and collaboration.

Today, socio-economic problems exist in nearly all regions of Azerbaijan, and they are being solvedwisely and steadily, step by step. The Oghuz rayon is not immune to such problems, and has been working on solving them for several years. Large infrastructure projects have been carried out in every village of the rayon, and AzRIP’s unique contributions to theirsuccesses in reconstruction and renovation are visible everywhere. Most recently, long-awaited wishes of two Oghuz villages finally came true as a result of the successful partnership of AzRIPandthe Oghuz Rayon ExCom.

One could feel the warm breath of spring in Syghdash, a village affected with a mysterious quality heightened by its location in the foothills of the Talysh Mountains. That sunny day was the most joyful day in centuries for its residents. Their faces radiated triumph, for at last they had overcome the water shortages that their community had struggled with for over 500 years.Mr. DadashMammadov, an elderly resident of Syghdash, described their situation when he said, “During Soviet times, women used to bring water from the mountains in heavy metal jars. In recent years, community members transported water in trucks from long distances, only partially satisfying their need for potable water. We made a few attempts to get potable water by drilling artesian wells, but to no avail. We gained nothing from our efforts.