On May 18-19, 2012, Integration of Azerbaijani Youth to Europe Organization, USAID’s partner implementing the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) in northern Azerbaijan, organized a two-day training session on Gender and Strategic Planning in Guba. Twenty two young men and women from Guba and the neighboring Khachmaz district participated.

This training was part of a series of USAID-supported events in Baku, Sheki, Guba, Ganja and Lenkaran. Others in the series include effective leadership, civic activism, social media tools, public speaking, communication, volunteerism, proposal writing, and project management.

The first day of the training introduced the notion of gender and gender-based violence to the participants. The second day the participants learned how to plan strategically. The participants also developed sample plans for their communities. They participated in group activities as part of discussions of gender stereotypes and strategic planning.

The main goal of the ELP is to promote civic and political involvement and enhance engagement of youth in decision-making and problem-solving at the local level. The program works with 185 young leaders, including young women, to strengthen their leadership, civic and political organizing skills. It will also support them in identification, design and implementation of civic projects in their communities. Each program participant will engage other young people as volunteers to multiply the program results.

The program will also contribute to capacity development of the implementing organizations through a number of targeted training sessions on organizational development and financial management.