Baku, September 16, AZERTAC IOM Azerbaijan continues to support capacity-building efforts of local NGOs working on combating trafficking in persons. In this regard, IOM Azerbaijan organized a three-day training of trainers for representatives of NGOs aiming to create a pool of trainers on fundraising skills able to conduct roll-out sessions within the USAID-funded Countering Trafficking in Persons Activity project. In his opening remarks, Mr. Gjorgjiev, Chief of Mission for IOM Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of the training on fundraising which provides an opportunity to representatives of local NGOs working on counter-trafficking in persons projects to increase their sustainability and diversify funding resources. Parviz Musayev, representative of USAID Azerbaijan noted that USAID places special importance on the sustainability of NGOs engaged in counter-trafficking in persons, and in this regard, the training organized by IOM Azerbaijan is of particular importance.During the three-day training participants from Clean World Aid to Women Public Union, Azerbaijan Children Public Union, Tamas Regional Development Public Union, Women’s Initiative and Assistance to the Solutions to Social Problems PU, "Family World" Legal assistance to Families PU, Reliable Future Youth Organization, Women of XXI Century Public Union, “Enlightenment” Azerbaijan Youth Social Assistance Association PU, Guba Regional NGO Resource and Training Center, Umid Yeri - Charitable Society Public Union will be equipped with skills and knowledge enabling them to increase capacities of their own institutions and other NGOs working on counter-trafficking in persons, to develop sustainable fundraising strategies with a focus on general fundraising principles, grant-writing, budgeting, crowdfunding, and social media marketing as well as donor researches and advocacy and private donor fundraising. USAID’s Countering Trafficking in Persons Activity, implemented by IOM since 2015, assists the Government of Azerbaijan and NGOs to further improve Azerbaijan's effectiveness in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and forced labor as well as addressing gender-based violence. This includes technical and financial support to civil society organizations and shelters that assist potential and actual victims of trafficking and forced labor.