Why the CIP? 
BTC Co corporate policy states that the company will generate “economic benefits and opportunities for an enhanced quality of life for those whom our business impacts.” To meet this goal, we have put in place a Community Investment Programme (CIP) along the BTC Pipeline route. The CIP goes beyond mitigating any negative impacts of the construction and long term presence of the pipeline. Its intention is to have a positive influence in the areas in which BTC Co operates and encourages sustainability beyond the term of project funding and considers projects to be a joint investment together with villagers, community leaders, NGOs, local and regional authorities, universities, private companies, and other third party donors.

What is the CIP? 
The CIP is being implemented in three countries with a total of US $25 million committed for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Turkey receives US $9 million, and the other two countries US $8 million each.

The various projects are designed to encourage sustainable development, with a bias towards income-generating activities, vocational training, improvements in community health, social infrastructure (such as schools and clean drinking water systems) and agriculture/livestock, and schemes to enhance the capability of communities to organise and help themselves.

The current funding is for the construction phase of the pipeline and there are plans to make funding available for during the operational phase of the pipeline.

What is CIP's aim? 
The overall aim of CIP is to provide long-term benefits for communities adjacent to the pipeline route in all three countries. The programme includes a mix of activities:

• Long term socio-economic development projects form the bulk of CIP.
• Short term local community projects are also being carried out in many communities. These projects are relatively small in scale and duration and meet an immediate community need.

Where does CIP take place, and what activities does it cover? 

• Most CIP activities take place in a 'corridor' 2km wide either side of the pipeline route. CIP cannot cover all socio-economic needs, so it concentrates on the following themes:
• Economic opportunities and income generation
• Strengthening of rural and agricultural systems
• Strengthening of community capacity and access to training and education
• Access to social and economic infrastructure rehabilitation

What are the principles of CIP? 
We have designed CIP according to a set of principles that are common to all three countries, and they are as follows:
Community needs based: CIP is designed in consultation with communities and other stakeholders.
Impact: CIP provides social, economic and/or environmental benefits to communities along the pipeline route.
Sustainability: CIP is designed to deliver lasting benefits.
Transparency: CIP activities are open to internal and external scrutiny.
Prevention of duplication: CIP aims to avoid duplicating the efforts of other organisations, international and local agencies or government departments in the communities along the pipeline.
Local participation: CIP projects aim to encourage participation and contributions from local communities.
Local implementation: CIP encourages local organisations to implement the projects.
Partnerships: CIP encourages the development of partnerships between implementing partners and a wide range of organisations.
Monitoring and measurement: CIP activities have identifiable targets and its activities are regularly monitored.
Best practice: CIP aims to use international “best practice.”
Cost and management: CIP activities aim to provide value for money.
Leverage/matching funds: CIP aims to encourage the flow of additional external funds into the project area.

Who manages CIP activities? 
CIP activities are managed by experienced organisations (e.g. NGOs, universities, consultancies with experience in development activities). Some of these are international and some are national. Our intention is to help local organisations grow in experience and expertise so that as time goes on they can take on a greater role in the planning and execution of socio-economic development projects. You will find more information about the CIP implementing organisations in the sections on each country.