Civil Society Project in Azerbaijan

Situation
After seven decades under Soviet Union rule, Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991. From 1988 to 1994, however, Azerbaijan was engaged in armed conflict with Armenia over the border territory, Nagorno-Karabakh. This conflict contributed to over half a million people becoming internally displaced persons (IDPs). Azerbaijan’s federal government, which in 2009 removed presidential term limits, has been criticized for being authoritarian and for the facilitation of rampant country-wide corruption. Counterpart’s work in the country enables the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and private sector to engage in public discussions for the betterment of the Azerbaijan people.

What We Did
The goal of the USAID-funded Civil Society Project is to assist the citizens of Azerbaijan and the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) to institutionalize pluralistic, representative approaches to shaping and implementing economic and social reform. To achieve this goal, the Civil Society Project focuses on strengthening the capacity of a core group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and institutions to actively engage in public dialogue on economic and social governance issues of the greatest interest to the citizenry of the country. Specifically, the project seeks to strengthen: 1) capacity of CSOs to engage in key socio-economic development issues, and 2) the legal enabling environment for non-governmental organizations. Counterpart International's institutional partner, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), provides specialized legal framework technical assistance that is synergistic with Counterpart's focus on public policy dialogue and advocacy for socio-economic reform.

Currently, the project is engaging with NGOs, private sector, GOAJ and the international community to support the formation of a coalition promoting regional economic development and anti-corruption. The coalition will seek approaches in support policy objectives, which may include the development and implementation of initiatives in support of WTO accession; corporate governance; competitiveness policy; reform of procurement, tax and property laws; expenditure reform; and anti-corruption action planning.

Impacts

• Through partnership with CSOs, the project facilitated the engagement of leaders from government, business, civil society and the media in a nation-wide dialogue in five regional capitals. As a result, 250 stakeholders established a consensus on development priorities in four spheres: economic growth; democracy and governance; infrastructure and environment; and health and education.
• 10 advocacy coalitions, involving 30 organizations, engage in dialogue to further reforms: Coalitions of CSOs and businesses successfully advocate for institutional reforms resulting in more government investment in areas identified as critical by citizens.
• 33 municipalities institutionalize increased budget transparency and participatory decision making: As a result, tens of thousands of dollars of municipal investments have been made in infrastructure and service delivery improvement. For example, the Piral Municipality utilizes financial management software, regularly conducts public hearings, and disseminates information via newsletters and bulletin boards. Officials report that increased transparency and civic participation has bolstered trust and significantly increased tax revenues. As a result, the municipality was able to agree with concerned citizens to invest in the installation of a fresh water system.
• Counterpart’s project contributed to the adoption of two presidential decrees which set up a financing mechanism, the NGO Council, allowing the GOAJ to support CSOs. As a result, the GOAJ adapted guiding principles and regulations governing the establishment and implementation of a fund (capitalized at $1.7 million) for Azeri CSOs. Our project is continuing to provide the NGO Council with technical assistance and international best practices in institutional development and grant management.
• Policy research and recommendations were made by Policy Research Organizations and NGOs on important economic policy issues, including means testing for targeted social assistance, the private sector role in development programs, and public financing of NGOs. Following the presentation of recommendations to GOAJ, the Ministry of Labor made changes in the State Program on Means-Tested Targeted Social Assistance. The Ministry Economic Development acknowledged the importance of introducing the notion of "public-private partnership."