Baku, October 1, 2025
The World Bank is preparing a new project in Azerbaijan’s agricultural sector aimed at strengthening user-centered approaches and building skills to work with modern technologies, Country Manager Stefanie Stallmeister said at the Second Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW-2025).
Stallmeister emphasized that satellite mapping and data-driven tools are becoming essential in managing water resources and agriculture, highlighting three main benefits.
“First, they enhance monitoring and decision-making. Satellite technologies provide continuous, reliable, and consistent data on water availability and quality. Second, they ensure transparency and fairness, since neutral data are equally accessible across borders. Third, they improve cost-effectiveness. While satellites cannot fully replace ground-based systems, they can significantly reduce costs when combined with them for calibration,” she said.
Integration Challenges
According to Stallmeister, successful integration of these technologies into national systems requires:
Institutional coordination across ministries and agencies,
Open access to data, ensuring its use and dissemination,
Calibration with ground observations for accuracy, and
Tailored solutions for each country’s specific needs.
She expressed hope that the World Bank, in cooperation with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Agriculture, will move forward with an irrigation project based on user-centered design.
“It is important that farmers and specialists know how to work with the system and interpret the data correctly. Developing these competencies will be a key element of our cooperation,” Stallmeister noted.
The World Bank plans to continue partnering with Azerbaijani institutions, offering both financial and technical support to help implement innovative solutions in agriculture and water management.
