Women’s Association For Rational Development
Women’s Association for Rational Development (further WARD) was created in 2002 by a group of active women, who were united with the MISSION to contribute to the development of Azerbaijan through women’s empowerment and equal participation. WARD is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit women’s organization, which was registered by the Ministry of Justice in 2005.
WARD’s mission is based on the faith that full democracy, justice and development cannot be reached if there is any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of gender, age, religion, ethnicity and affiliation. WARD is struggling against any kind of discrimination and violence.
The supreme body of WARD is the General Assembly, electing Chairwoman, the Management Board and the Control Revision Commission.
The team of WARD includes founders, members, staff-members, activists, supporters, volunteers of WARD, gathered on the basis of common goals and interests.
WARD has elaborated the PASSWORD – the code of values, principles and features, leading to success, that is Positivism (P), Accessibility (A), Skills (S), Solidarity (S), Wisdom (W), Objectivity (O), Responsibility (R), Dedication (D).
As a result, WARD managed to gain the main asset – the Honest and Positive Reputation of the organization, due to which WARD has constructive cooperative relations with other non-governmental organizations, state agencies, academic institutions, mass media outlets, business institutions, international organizations, diplomatic corps, and foundations.
Programs
WARD’s 2015-2017 Action Plan, which is revised every 3 years, puts the following programs in priority:
- Gender Equality Program – eliminating gender-based discriminatory practices;
- Healthcare Program – improving women’s reproductive health and rights;
- Economic Development Program – enhancing female entrepreneurship;
- Peace-Building Program – strengthening women’s role in conflict transformation and peace-building.
Activities
Using innovative and creative approaches, WARD is engaged in:
- Assessing & road-mapping;
- Awareness-raising & capacity-building;
- Monitoring & reporting;
- Protecting & advocating;
- Networking & campaigning.
Address:
Afiyeddin Jalilov str. 26, apt. 98
Baku, Azerbaijan,
AZ1025
Phone/Fax: (+994 12) 490 40 44/ 408 40 44
Email: info@ward.az
Web: www.ward.az
SHAHLA ISMAYIL
Shahla Ismayil joined Open Government Platform in September 2016.
Shahla Ismayil is a philologist of English language by education (BA and MD), later retrained as an expert on human rights, gender equality and peacebuilding. She is a John Smith fellow (UK, 2005) and a Bill Maynes fellow (USA, 2011). Since 2014 Shahla is a fully certified international expert on Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD).
Since 1998 Shahla has been engaged in the public activity to empower women with knowledge and consciousness to be equal and active citizens of the country. In Azerbaijan she established the first Maternity School, the first Women’s Parliament, the first Women’s Chambers at local Municipalities, the first Gender Expert Group, etc.
Since 2010 Shahla Ismayil has been engaged in business projects. She is a member of the Management Board of CONTRAST Company, a first HR and organizational development company in Azerbaijan. She is a co-author of BAKU model (Business Assessment and Knowledge Upgrade). Besides, she has founded two business projects (“CUPPULU” and “NEST”) and since 2012 she is a member of “100 Business Women of Azerbaijan”. Since 2013 she has been heading the Gender Block of “Healthy Education – Healthy Nation” – the mega-project of National Center of Educational Technologies with the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan. The project is oriented at substantial reform in education system of Azerbaijan through integrating gender-sensitive and health-protecting innovative technologies for reaching best learning achievements. Shahla is the author of over 80 publications, reports and policy papers.
Shahla Ismayil’s current expertise and consultancy services extend, but are not limited, to 3 main areas:
- Gender expertise, analysis and mainstreaming in politics, healthcare, education, economic development, and peacebuilding.
- HICD consultancy and organizational growth expertise (good governance, strategic planning, fundraising, corporate leadership, corporate ethics, PMC, PME).
- Communication skills and advocacy (writing skills, PP presentation skills, public speech, rhetoric hints, corporate communication, advocacy basics, advocacy strategies).
Email: Azerbaijan@shahla.org