On October 11, 2022 | Copenhagen, Denmark
Members of the Board of Directors of the “Modern Information Society and Innovations” Public Union, the winner of the special grant competition announced by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the “Year of Shusha”, met at the regional office of the United Nations (UN) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Members of the Union made a presentation to the UN Environment Program (UNEP) team with information on the infrastructure projects implemented in the liberated territories, especially in Shusha, the Master Plan of Aghdam and the cooperation established in these directions.
During the meeting, as an example, the first smart village established in the country – Agalı village of Zangilan region was given detailed information, photos reflecting the previous and current situation of the village were brought to the attention of the participants. In addition to the mentioned, the reconstruction of the territories freed from occupation in a more sustainable and “smart” form, and the projects implemented in connection with the production of renewable energy were specially emphasized.
Ms. Gabriela Prata Dias, Head of the Department of Energy Efficiency of the Program, together with experts Romanas Saviskas and Zoulun Chen, presented international best practices on the implementation of smart solutions during restoration and reconstruction works. The presentations emphasized the importance of adapting such solutions to local conditions and the digital literacy level of the population, drawing on experiences from other UN-supported countries, including China, India, Argentina, and Turkey.
The experts also highlighted Capacity Building programs designed to support smart city stakeholders by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and engagement in planning and implementation processes. In this context, particular attention was given to Training-of-Trainers initiatives, which enable faster and more effective dissemination of expertise and practical knowledge. The strategic importance of such programs was underscored as a key enabler for sustainable and scalable smart-city development.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the UN representatives expressed their strong appreciation for Azerbaijan’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the initiatives related to the development of smart cities and smart villages. They reaffirmed their readiness to continue sharing international experience and best practices to support these efforts.
