Khazar University

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Projects

Strategic Roadmap on E-waste Management in Azerbaijan. Together with Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, ERC is developed a strategic roadmap for improving e-waste management for Azerbaijan. The strategic roadmap will also include a five-year action plan to reduce e-waste.
National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Support Project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan. National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Support Project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan, October 2021-Present. ERC together with UNDP developed a strategic roadmap and policy briefs for the government of Azerbaijan.
Development of policy briefs for agriculture, coastal management and water sectors has been completed within this task. At the same time, the main directions of adaptation to climate change in the mentioned sectors were determined and presented to state organizations.
Establishment and Sustainable Development of the Zagatala-BaIakan Biosphere Reserve. This consultancy (Rovshan Abbasov’s personal consultancy) is in support of the nomination process of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Azerbaijan. So far, no Biosphere Reserve (BR) exists in Azerbaijan, so there is a need to present the concept, legal requirements, and steps in a planning methodology that will prepare for and complete the nomination of ZSNR and its surrounding lands as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (client GOPA Worldwide consultants).
Interconnecting Histories and Archives for Migrant Agency: Entangled Narratives Across Europe and the Mediterranean Region (2021-2025). This project takes place within the Horizon 2020 program of the European Union. As a result of the impact of climate changes on ecosystem conflicts and traditional community livelihoods, the population of mountain regions leaves their habitats and migrates to big cities. The main goal of the project is to study these negative effects.
Establishment of field protective forest strips in Kurdamir region and assessment of ecosystem services of increased ecosystem services. Within the framework of this project, ERC evaluated the ecosystem services of forest belts around agricultural lands and organized the establishment of such forests in the area (client GİZ).
Integrated Land Use Management on Mountain territories of Azerbaijan. Developing a handbook for farmers and municipality representatives. The handbook provides guidance for improving the land use in mountain regions of Azerbaijan, through effective implementation of the integrated land use management. It suggests ways to address problems and suggest ways to facilitate the adaptation of the Integrated land use approach. It provides some knowledge and practical skills for improving land use governance in mountain areas. This handbook is written for municipality representatives, land managers, government officials and all their partners involved in land management in mountain regions. It can also be useful for private lands owners, community members, managers of touristic companies guide them understand advantages of integrated land use (Client: GIZ).
Climate, Landscape and Energy Analysis for Children in Azerbaijan. Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) is a study that examines the baseline state of climate, energy and environment related issues affecting children and how they relate to the Government and UNICEF’s priorities. The analysis looks at stakeholders, government policies and relevant programs in Azerbaijan. It provides recommendations on how UNICEF Azerbaijan and the government counterparts could further incorporate and strengthen work on climate, energy and environment-related issues in its country program. The study’s goal was to evaluate impacts of climate changes and environmental degradation on children in Azerbaijan. The study’s result and conclusions are grounded on the review of official government documents, reports of international organizations, rapid school survey and collected raw hydro-meteorological and environmental data. The conclusions, explanations and findings stated in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies of views of UNICEF (Client UNICEF).
Introducing Climate Change, Environment and Energy topics into the National Curriculum of Turkmenistan. This evaluation aims to provide a comprehensive review of the National Curriculum of, with a vision of Climate Changes, Energy and Environmental protection. It aims to contribute to the assistance that the UNICEF is providing to the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in the formulation of an Environmental Management and Climate Change education strategy for Turkmenistan (Client UNICEF Turkmenistan)
Assessment of Natural Heritage for the Upper Main State Historical-Architectural Reserve. This study assesses the social, ecological, cultural and historical values of natural heritage areas and cultural landscapes located in the territory and buffer zone of the Yukhari Bash Historical Architectural Reserve in the ancient part of Sheki and identifies existing natural and anthropogenic threats to them. aims to provide recommendations for better management of heritage elements. By assessing the value of natural heritage sites in the area, this study should prove that these green areas belong to the historical center of Sheki and are an integral part of the exclusive universal value of the area in accordance with the criteria of the World Heritage Site. The study aims to provide appropriate recommendations for the conservation and better management of these natural heritage sites, as well as to help all stakeholders in the area's management, including ministries, local communities, municipalities and other organizations, work together effectively and integrated. Bears (Client: State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan).
Integrating Environmental Risks into Water Management by Local Communities of Central Azerbaijan. Improving community resilience to flood and water stress requires proactive adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Azerbaijan’s current water management policies are not flexible enough and institutional capacity is insufficient to address increasing climate-related damages and hazards. A lack of pertinent information and data precludes a comprehensive estimation and analysis of influence and consequences of flooding. On the other hand, local communities have not been able to actively participate in water and flood management decision-making. The project included climate change adaptation at the legislative and policy level while addressing the risks of flash floods, mudflows and landslides which affect the already vulnerable mountain communities.
Organization of climate change trainings for employees of agricultural colleges. Within the framework of this project, climate change trainings were organized for various colleges training agricultural personnel in Azerbaijan. More than 200 teachers and technicians participated in the trainings. The main purpose of the training was to increase the knowledge of teachers and technical staff about climate change.

List of all projects implemented by ERC is given below:

Years	Country	Partner Organization	Scope of the work	Project
2023-2024	Azerbaijan	Global Alliance on health and Pollution (GAHP)	Strategic Roadmap on E-waste Management in Azerbaijan.	Strategic Roadmap on E-waste Management in Azerbaijan. Together with GAHP and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, ERC is developing a strategic roadmap for improving e-waste management for Azerbaijan. The strategic roadmap will also include a five-year action plan to reduce e-waste.
2023	Azerbaijan	GOPA Wordlvvide Consultants Gmbh	Consultancy	Establishment and Sustainable Development of the Zagatala-BaIakan Biosphere Reserve This consultancy is in support of the nomination process of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Azerbaijan. So far, no Biosphere Reserve (BR) exists in Azerbaijan, so there is a need to present the concept, legal requirements, and steps in a planning methodology that will prepare for and complete the nomination of ZSNR and its surrounding lands as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
2021-2023	Azerbaijan, Turkey	FAO	Consultancy	Improved Water Governance: Towards Sustainable Agricultural Development TCP/AZE/3801 project The consultancy supported to develop a roadmap for IWRM in Azerbaijan. In this project, as a leading expert, I worked on solving water problems in agriculture, implementing new mechanisms of water use, ensuring the transition to new water technologies, and directed the work of a group of experts. We have also made GAP Analyses in Agricultural sector of Azerbaijan and delivered a report to FAO Azerbaijan.
2020-2023	Eastern Europe	IPBES UNEP WCMC	Consultancy	Supporting Decision Making and Building Capacity to Support IPBES Through National Ecosystem Assessments Supporting Decision Making and Building Capacity to Support Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This project supports national ecosystem assessment in five developing countries, including Azerbaijan and will address the second identified priority IPBES Capacity Building Need: “enhancing the capacity to undertake, use and improve national assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services”. The assessments are the collaborative processes involving relevant stakeholders in building an improved understanding of the role and value of biodiversity and ecosystem services across sectors. In this project I oversee leading freshwater and mountain ecosystem assessments. The TSA approach was used to assess the long-term use and non-use value of freshwater ecosystems.
2020-2021	Azerbaijan, Georgia	CENN, USAID	Consultancy	Synergies and Digital Transformation of SMEs for Smart Economic Growth in the Caucasus Jul 2020 – May 2021
2020-2022	Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan	UNDP, Azerbaijan	Consultancy	Clima East: Developing guidelines on mainstreaming climate change concept into the agriculture policy Adaptation opportunities for the agricultural sector have been explored. It has been found that supporting initiatives such as reducing water losses and transitioning to modern grazing technologies are the best ways to adapt to climate change in the irrigation sector.
2021-present	Azerbaijan	UNDP, Azerbaijan	Consultancy	National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Support Project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Support Project for adaptation planning and implementation in Azerbaijan, October 2021-Present Development of policy briefs for agriculture, coastal management and water sectors has been completed within this task. At the same time, the main directions of adaptation to climate change in the mentioned sectors were determined and presented to state organizations.
2021	Azerbaijan	State Agency on Tourism	Consultant	“Natural Heritage of Khinalig village, Azerbaijan’. Developing nomination file for UNESCO Preparation of nomination file of Khinalig village of Azerbaijan for UNESCO. Preparation of an overview of natural values and development of existing models of historical human-nature relations in Khinalig village
2020	Azerbaijan	State Agency on Tourism	Consultancy	Assessment of Social and Environmental Values of the Green Areas of Yukhari Bash State Reserve as part of the Outstanding Universal Values. Within the framework of this task, the long-term use of Sheki city values was evaluated, and the TSA method was used during the evaluation.
2020	Azerbaijan	WWF	Consultancy	Assessment of recreational potential of the Shahdag National Park, Azerbaijan
2019	Azerbaijan	GIZ Azerbaijan	Consultancy	Developing Handbook on Integrated Land Use Management in mountain regions of Azerbaijan
2019	Azerbaijan	Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources	Review	Review of EIA document of BP Azerbaijan on development of new oil fields in Azeri-Girag_Gunashli oil fields
2019	Azerbaijan	Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources	Review	Review of EIA document of SOCAR on development of new Chemical Factory in Garadagh district of Azerbaijan
2018	International (Caucasus and Central Asia)	GIZ Azerbaijan	Consultancy	Developing scripts on movies related to Ecosystem Services of Mountain regions/Forests, Grasslands
2018	Azerbaijan	UNICEF	Consultancy	Climate, Landscape and Energy Analysis for Children
2013-2017	Central Asia and South Caucasus	UNDP	Consultancy	Integrating Environmental Risks into Water and Flood Management by Vulnerable Mountainous Communities in the Greater Caucasus Region The project, "Integrating climate change risk management by vulnerable communities in the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan", aimed to reduce vulnerability of the mountain communities of the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan to climate change induced water stress and flood hazards by improved water and flood management. Within this project, I conducted vulnerability assessments for vulnerable mountain communities over four years and produced several reports on gaps in Azerbaijan's water sector. I have also developed materials for climate change adaptation trainings for vulnerable communities and participated as a lead trainer in these trainings.
2015-2019	Central Asia and Azerbaijan	UNICEF	Consultancy	The main task was to make child centered disaster risk assessments for residential areas of Gabala, Barda, Neftchala districts and Mingechevir city. Disaster risk assessment and mapping is the process of collecting and analyzing information about hazards, the likelihood and impact, as well as vulnerability of population to these hazards. The aim of DRA and mapping is to provide a clear picture regarding the hazard and vulnerability in the targeted areas. This information is used during the awareness raising process, which is the initial stage of mainstreaming. Also based on this assignment, I created a Community-based disaster risk management framework and developed strategies for incorporating disaster risks into development plans to protect communities from natural hazards (floods, droughts, landslides, forest fires, etc.). To this end, we have organized a week-long disaster risk reduction and management training for communities.
2017-2018	Turkmenistan	UNICEF	Consultancy	Introducing Climate Change, Environment and Energy topics into the National Curriculum of Turkmenistan
2017	Azerbaijan	Worldbank	investigator	Water balance of the Khojasan Lake
2017	Azerbaijan	GIR Korea		Assessing mitigation potential in the transport sector of Baku, Azerbaijan
2017	Azerbaijan	Worldbank	Consultancy	Review of POPs pollution in Azerbaijan
2017	Azerbaijan	UNDP	Consultancy	Designing PES schemes for water and forest ecosystems in upstream regions of the Greater Caucasus
2016-2017	Azerbaijan	UNDP	Consultancy	Assessment of WTP for existence and option values in upper Mountain regions
2017	Azerbaijan	UNDP	Consultancy	Designing PES schemes for water and forest ecosystems in upstream regions of the Greater Caucasus
2011-2013	Azerbaijan, Georgia	OXFAM GB	DRR expert	Supporting Community and Gender Resilience to cope with flood risk reduction in Azerbaijan.
2016-2017	Azerbaijan	Worldbank	Consultancy	Absheron lakes’ cleanup project. Socio-Economic Improvements
2014-2017	Azerbaijan	UNICEF	Consultancy	Community-based Disaster Risk Management http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319696522
2014-2015	Azerbaijan/Germany	GIZ	Consultancy	Community-based erosion management in mountainous regions of the South Caucasus
2015-2017	Azerbaijan	UNICEF	Consultancy	Mainstreaming DRR into economic development DIPECHO-funded Disaster Risk Reduction project
2016	Tajikistan	UNICEF	Consultancy	Gender-sensitive Climate Change Mitigation in Water management
2014-2016	Azerbaijan	WB	Consultancy	Assessment of Ecosystem Services of Absheron lakes in Greater Baku Area
2014	Azerbaijan	WWF	National Consultancy	Conducting a TEEB Scoping Study for the Forest areas of Azerbaijan http://www.enpi-fleg.org/docs/teeb-scoping-study-for-forestry-sector-of-azerbaijan/
2013-2014	Azerbaijan	WWF	National Consultancy	Desk Study on Ecosystem Services provided by Freshwater Networks in the Kura-Aras River Basin (and the Black Sea Catchment Basin
2013-2014	Azerbaijan	Ecoconsulting, Germany	Consultant	Action Plan on Integrated landscape management in Ismailli Districts
2011-to present	Azerbaijan/USA	Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, USA	National Coordinator	Toxic Site identification program/ Identification of toxic sites in Azerbaijan. Creation of database for toxic site pollutants. Available at: http://www.dbisa.org/isa/az/
Januray 2014-march 2015	Azerbaijan	FAO/Pure Earth	Coordinator	Creation database for toxic sites in Azerbaijan. Available at: http://emtkrea.org/REA2/
Januray 2015-April, 2015	Azerbaijan	Pure Earth, USA/ Azerchemical Union of SOCAR, Azerbaijan	Coordinator	Sumgait Remediation Project in polluted beach close to the town http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/blog/a-toxic-beach-in-azerbaijan-gets-cleaned-up-solar-baths-become-safer/
2012-2014	Azerbaijan	Pure Earth, USA	Coordinator	National Toxic Action Plan for government organizations of Azerbaijan.
2009-2010	Azerbaijan	OXFAM GB	DRR expert (Rovshan Abbasov)	Participatory multi-hazard disaster risk reduction in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
August 15, 2011-March 15, 2012	Baku, Azerbaijan	Worldbank	Water Management Consultancy	Integrated Water Management Study for the Greater Baku Area, Azerbaijan: Economic Assessment https://www.amazon.com/Value-Water-Greater-Baku-Azerbaijan/dp/3659610046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517466468&sr=8-1&keywords=scandizzo+abbasov
April 1, 2012 – May, 15 2012	Rome, Italy	University of Rome, Tor Vergata campus	Visiting professor for MESCI program	Professor of Integrated Water Resources Management course in a MESCI program. http://www.ceistorvergata.it/master/mesci/sarea.asp?sa=30
August 2010-August 2011	USA	University of California	Visiting scholar	Long-Memory ARFIMA Modeling of Caspian Sea level fluctuations and prediction of changes over the next 50 years. http://www.buchhandel.de/detailansicht.aspx?isbn=9783319015040
May, 2010-August, 2011	Germany	Freie University, Berlin	Visiting scholar	Indexing the Environmental Vulnerability of Mountain Streams in Azerbaijan. http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-11-00012.1
February, 2009-June, 2010	Hungary- Azerbaijan	Central European University	Visiting scholar	Environmental Security and Resource Management in the Caspian Region.
2008	Japan	International Lake Environmental Committee, Japan	Visiting Scholar	Analysis of non-climatic origins of floods in the downstream part of the Kura River, Azerbaijan.
2007-2008	Kazakhstan	American Councils	Project Coordinator	Caspian Sea Curricula development.
2008-2009	Azerbaijan	Green Way Environmental Union	Project Coordinator	Increasing public control over water and air quality in the cities of Baku and Sumgait.
2006-2007	USA	Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University, USA	Visiting Scholar	Indexing environmental vulnerability of small streams. Developing environmental flow recommendations for small streams in the Kura-Araks basin
2001-2003	Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan	IREX, USA	Consultancy	Integrated curriculum development on gender and children issues related to Climate Changes, Disaster Risk Reduction