Azerbaijan Integrated Community Shelters

After the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, around one million people in Azerbaijan were forced from their homes. Many lived in tents, railway cars, or roadside shelters. Relief International (RI), a humanitarian non-profit working in Azerbaijan since 1993, launched the Integrated Community Shelter Program in 1995 to help these refugees and internally displaced people (R/IDPs) rebuild their lives.
The project created 2,105 permanent limestone houses in 55 villages across 13 districts. Each settlement included essential infrastructure like water, electricity, latrines, and bathhouses. Larger villages received schools, health clinics, community centres, shops, and spaces for vocational training. Villages were designed to reflect traditional layouts, with kitchen gardens and names from the residents’ original communities.
RI focused on self-sufficiency and community building. It provided small loans and grants to start over 350 small businesses, with many run by women. Residents participated in choosing settlement sites, designing the villages, and managing community resources. Construction also generated local jobs, and microfinance through RI’s partner MADAD helped families start agricultural and trade activities.
The impact was significant. Families gained stable housing, better health, access to water and electricity, and opportunities for income. Social ties were preserved by placing former neighbours together, and community centres encouraged education, childcare, and local decision-making. The use of local limestone created durable homes while keeping costs low and supporting the environment.
RI’s approach became a model for UNHCR and the Azerbaijani government, inspiring larger national housing programs. By giving families safe homes and the tools for self-reliance, the project helped break the cycle of dependency and created a foundation for long-term recovery.