EU funded project creates new opportunities

EU funded project creates new opportunities for civil society organizations in Azerbaijan

Rome [ENA] Since the early 1990's, soon after Azerbaijan recuperated its independence, the relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan has developed into a close and dynamic partnership, based on shared values and objectives. The instruments of cooperation were extending into the wide range of areas such as political dialogue, energy, human rights, security, culture, economic development and diversification, trade, transport

and environment. Particular sectors such as regional and rural development, justice and education have profited from significant financial support through EU projects and programmes. The EU is the largest foreign grant donor to Azerbaijan to both government and civil society. Since 1992, the EU has made available over 600 million EURO of bilateral EU assistance to Azerbaijan. The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are starting a new three-year project to support a modern, innovation-driven and sustainable civil society in Azerbaijan.

EU-funding of EUR 3 million will help increase civil society organizations’ (CSO) capacities to engage in policy-making processes, local development, and social innovation. An on-line launch event of the EU funded project “Developing innovation-driven and sustainable civil society in Azerbaijan" brought together over 50 local civil society organizations, social enterprises and active community groups. In his opening remarks, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas said that the EU continues to support its partner Azerbaijan in its modernization efforts. “The EU experience shows that building modern society succeeds only when fully supporting the development of the human capital, enabling the civil society

through social entrepreneurship and encouraging civil initiatives,” he noted. “CSOs are powerful allies that can drive positive change and they can have a central role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We have seen that worldwide social entrepreneurship is playing a growing role in key development areas such as women’s empowerment, climate action, SME growth and helping the most vulnerable people cope with the COVID-19 pandemic – and we believe that this project will complement such ongoing efforts in Azerbaijan too,`” UNDP Resident Representative Alessandro Fracassetti said.

The three-year project, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP, will help to increase civil society organizations (CSOs) capacities to engage in the policy-making processes and foster local development, also to build an enabling ecosystem and capacities for social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Project beneficiaries are CSOs and socially-oriented SMEs.