Elections are the starting point of a healthy democratic system, but without an informed electorate the potential for democratic transformations limited. In order to participate effectively in elections, citizens need information on registration and polling processes, as well as on the records and platforms of candidates and parties. This is true for both men and women, but in many parts of Azerbaijan women cannot readily access such information due to low levels of literacy, cultural and social restrictions on their movement, and inadequate availability of substantive information.

 According to that “Uluchay” Social Economic İnnovation Center (SEİC) begin implementing of “Increasing women and youth participation in elections” with the financial support of National Democratic Institute (NDI). The main goal of the project is to increase women and youth participation in parliamentary elections, through training programs and education campaigns. The project addresses gender issues, good governance and institutional and capacity building among Azerbaijani communities, specifically of Sheki region in North-Western part of Azerbaijan.

Project objectives are:

• Provide trainings on leadership and decision-making processes for women and youth
• Organize voter education campaign – “How to vote”
• Prepare and disseminate flyers and brochures in selected communities 

The program will consist of two components (beginning phase, Trainings and campaigns in communities) will last for 4 (01 August – 30 November’10) months.

Directly beneficiaries of the project are 150 women and 180 youth in 15 communities of Sheki region, as approximately 23-25 participants per community. Indirectly project will benefit: the population of those communities through family members of direct beneficiaries; various meetings held in communities – especially meetings that will be organized for men and women together on gender stereotypes; positive influence that women municipality leaders will have on their communities and addressing issues in given municipalities through Media.