European Union funding to civil society in Azerbaijan.
Date: 2013-10-17
Institutions: Delegation to Azerbaijan
Subjects: Azerbaijan, EU financing, civil society, cooperation policy, development aid, human rights

EuropeAid

European Union Funding
to Civil Society in Azerbaijan
2012

E U R O P E A N

COMMISSION

Geographic Distribution of project activities funded by the European Union through the 2010
EIDHR and NSA Instruments (valid 2012-2014)

Salam,

It is my great pleasure to present the 17 new EU-
supported civil society projects starting in
Azerbaijan in 2012. They cover a wide range of
areas, from creating opportunities for disabled
children or the blind, to providing independent
media coverage, supporting the activities of civil
rights campaigners, or raising awareness on the
need to protect the environment. The combined
EU contribution to these projects is €2.6 million.

This is in addition to the over €4.7 million that the
EU has already provided in Azerbaijan since 2007.
This makes the EU the largest foreign donor to
civil society in Azerbaijan, something that we are
proud of.

Most immediately, this funding is about providing
assistance. An active and engaged civil society is
the most effective vector to address and resolve
key issues in innovative, practical and effective
ways.

In a longer term perspective, however, our
True, effective
funding is about partnership.
systemic change is only achieved via close
cooperation between government and a
legitimate, independent and vivid civil society,
which raises key issues, proposes ideas and
actively monitors and reports on progress. The
long term vision of EU support to civil society is to
promoting civil society as exactly such a partner.
The belief of this partnership is clearly reflected in
EU relations with the Government of Azerbaijan,
where cooperation with civil society forms a basis
of all the cooperation frameworks that the
Government of Azerbaijan has committed to,
from the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement signed in 1999 to the Eastern
Partnership, in 2009.

Of course, EU cooperation with Azerbaijani civil
society goes beyond just providing funding. Civil
Society is an invaluable partner for us, either

Welcome

through consultations on a regular basis at the
level of the EU Delegation in Baku, but also at the
regional level, at venues such as the Civil Society
Forum of the Eastern Partnership.

Having said this, any financial support comes with
a responsibility to ensure that EU funds are well
spent, in full transparency and accountability.
Interventions must have the widest possible
impact in areas relevant to the Azerbaijani
population.

This is a goal we have worked hard to achieve with
these 17 new projects, and I invite you to look
through this publication to not only find out more
about the projects we are financing, but also how
we selected them, what we are trying to achieve,
and how you can work with us.

In 2012 we are planning to continue our support,
and to expand it even further with the launch of
new calls for proposals and new initiatives that
will benefit even more of
the Azerbaijani
population.

We look forward to working with you on these
current and on future efforts.

Roland Kobia
EU Ambassador to the
Republic of Azerbaijan

33

The EU and Civil Society

Information sessions for the 2010 EIDHR and NSA Calls for Proposals in Lenkoran, November 2010

Understanding EU Funding for
Civil Society

How does the EU support civil society actions in Azerbaijan?

The EU provides grant
funding for project
proposals which will be implemented by local and
European non-state actors.

The scope of EU funding is defined by
EU financial
, which have a thematic or geographic
instruments
The two main
focus, with annual themes.
instruments in Azerbaijan are the European
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (see

page 6) and the Non-State Actors in Development
Instrument (see page 17). In addition, Azerbaijan
is often eligible for Global Thematic Instruments
(see page 26).

Calls for Proposals

All the instruments use
as a
transparent and competitive selection procedure
to ensure that the best projects are selected for
funding.

How does the EU ensure that its funding is relevant and effective?

Themes for EU Calls for Proposals are consulted
with local civil society and other relevant
stakeholders to ensure they
respond to local
.
needs

EU Calls for Proposals require that either the
applicant or partner is a local organisation to
ensure that
local organisations are involved in all
EU funded projects

.

During selection, priority is given to proposals
with activities in the regions to ensure
geographic
coverage

in the country.

All projects must include training or support
activities for other civil society organisations, to
ensure a

.
wider impact

All projects must also aim to influence legislation
and develop cooperation with the Government to
have

a long term effect
.

4

How does a EU Call for Proposals Work?

1

Preparation

?

What is PADOR?

The EU and Civil Society

Guidelines

The EU develops
, which set out themes,
available funding, eligibility criteria and the selection
procedure. Guidelines are consulted with Civil
Society to ensure they are relevant, and are
published online (EU Delegation website, EuropeAid
website).
If the Call is only relevant to Azerbaijan
then it is advertised locally and information sessions
are organised in Baku and the regions.

2

Evaluation

of their proposed project.

Applicants have around 30 days to submit a four page
These
concept note
concept notes are evaluated, and the best applicants
are invited to submit
, for which they
have 30 days to prepare (in some cases applicants
must submit the concept note and full proposals
together). Full proposals are assessed again, and the
best projects selected for funding.

full proposals

3

Contracting

are undertaken to confirm
Final eligibility checks
that the applicant can receive funding from the EU. If
all is correct,
with the selected
applicants. After all contracts are signed, the results
of the call are made public. Project activities start
after contract signature.

contracts are signed

PADOR is an online EU database to which
all civil society applicants must register to
be eligible for EU funding.
www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/
onlineservices/pador

?

How are projects rated?

Each concept note or full application is
rated by two separate evaluators (one
from the EU) according to
external
scoring grids outlined in the
of
the call.

Guidelines

An evaluation committee reviews the
two scores, and if they are not consistent
with each other then a third evaluator
may be asked to make an additional
the concept note/full
grading of
proposal.

Concept Notes and Full Proposals are
ranked according to an average of the
scores of the evaluators.

?

Where can I find out more?

For information on all ongoing Calls for
Proposals and details on EU procedures
please visit the EuropeAid website at:
www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work

A Two Way Street Azerbaijani Civil Society Helping the EU

Civil Society Organisations are not only
implementing partners of EU funds, but also
enjoy an increasing responsibility in the
programming and monitoring of EU assistance
and policy making.

For example, during its political dialogue with the
Government of Azerbaijan in areas such as
trade, economic development or
migration,
he EU regularly consults with local
human rights, t
civil society. In addition, all EU visiting high level
officials meet with civil society to gain a balanced
perspective on events in Azerbaijan.

Civil society also plays a key role in the Eastern
Partnership, where a Civil Society Forum
comprised of organisations from all six Eastern
Partnership countries gives input on the
implementation of the partnership. Azerbaijan is
represented by 26 local organisations, which act
on a rotating basis.

You can find out more about the role of civil
society and the Civil Society Forum at:
www.eeas.europa.eu/eastern/civil_society

5

Instruments

Media monitoring activities as part of a 2009 EIDHR project implemented by the Institute for Reporters'
Freedom and Safety. For 22 months specially trained experts monitored 8 TV channels and reported
weekly on the amount of time allocated to various political subjects in Azerbaijan.

The European Instrument for
Democracy and Human Rights
(EIDHR)

About the Instrument

One of the two main EU instruments for civil
society in Azerbaijan is the European
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
(EIDHR.) Established in 2007 on the request of
the European Parliament, its main purpose is
to:

“
contribute to the development and
consolidation of democracy and the rule of
law, and respect for all human rights and
within the
freedoms,
fundamental

framework of the Communities policy on
development cooperation, and economic,
financial and technical cooperation with third
countries, and consistent with the EU’s
foreign policy as a whole”

The EIDHR instrument
is applied in all
countries of the world outside the EU and the
most industrialised countries.

The average global annual budget for the
EIDHR Instrument is €160 million.

6

17

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

EIDHR in Azerbaijan 2007-2010

Since 2007 three in-country calls for proposals
have been held in Azerbaijan with the EIDHR
instrument, with over €2.6 million allocated to 18
projects.

These projects worked in areas such as: election
monitoring; support to free media; assistance to
vulnerable groups such as internally displaced
persons, disable children and victims of
trafficking in human beings; as well as
empowerment of women in the regions.

EIDHR 2010 Call for Proposals

The most recent Call for Proposals was launched
in November 2010.
To be eligible for funding,
projects proposals needed to act on one or more
of the following themes:

1. Supporting civil society efforts to improve

national legislation and its implementation
in the field of democracy and human rights

2. Supporting human rights defenders involved
in the promotion of civil, political, social,
economic and cultural rights

3. Supporting civil society efforts to promote

environmental awareness and rights to clean
environment

Out of 79 submissions, 9 projects were selected.
The last contract between the EU and a selected
applicant from this Call for Proposals was agreed
in December 2011. Most project activities begin
in 2012.

Selected Projects

m
7
0
€

.

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7
0
€

.

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a

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l

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o
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2
.
1
€

2007 2008 2009 2010

Year of EIDHR Call for Proposal

Overview of 2010 EIDHR
Selected Projects

9 /79 selected

78%

submitted by
local organisations

100%

100%

implemented by
or with local
organisations

with activities
outside Baku

Detailed descriptions of the 9 selected EIDHR
2010 projects along with contact details are
provided on the following pages.

For more information please contact the EU
Delegation directly at:
delegation-azerbaijan@eeas.europa.eu

7

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2010

Support for Human Rights Defenders
in Azerbaijan

Human Rights House Network

Project Budget
€152,870

EU Contribution
€121,870

Action Duration
18 months

End date
July 2013

Project Summary
The project supports Human Rights
Defenders in Azerbaijan by contributing to
the sustainability of the Human Rights
House Azerbaijan (HRHA) and all
its
partners, enhancing cooperation and
professional capacities of Human Rights
Defenders, engaging youth in human rights
work, and raising awareness on the role and
activities of Human Rights Defenders and
human rights issues overall.

These objectives are reached through
encouraging networking among Human
Rights Defenders, establishing a Human
Rights School
for young Human Rights
Defenders, providing English courses for
Human Rights Defenders, and engaging in
strategic litigation cases. These activities
are supplemented by awareness raising
initiatives such as film screenings, youth
and think tank discussions, press
conferences, seminars, round tables, photo
exhibitions, essay competitions and
quarterly bulletin on project activities and
the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

Action Locations
Baku, Ganja, Shaki, Lankaran and Khachmaz

Implementing Organisations
The Human Rights House Network (HRHN)
unites 70 NGOs in 15 countries in Western
Balkans, Eastern Europe and South
Caucasus, East and Horn of Africa, and
Western Europe. HRHN´s aim is to protect,
strengthen and support human rights
defenders and their organisations.

is
Human Rights House Azerbaijan (HRH Az)
a c o l l a b o r a t i v e p r o j e c t o f n o n -
governmental organisations that since
2009 work in partnership to promote
human rights in Azerbaijan.

Contact Information

HRHN - Ane Tusvik Bonde
Tel: +47 997 47 907
ane.bonde@humanrightshouse.org
http://humanrightshouse.org/

- Katerina Spacova

HRH Az
Tel: +9955 99072254
katerina.spacova@humanrigthshouse.org
baku@humanrightshouse.org
http://humanrightshouse.org/Members/
Azerbaijan/index.html

8

2010 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

Developing civil society capacity for
preventing discriminatory torture and
ill-treatment
The Equal Rights Trust

Project Budget
€166,666

EU Contribution
€150,000

Action Duration
18 months

End date
May 2013

Project Summary
The aim of the project is to strengthen the
role of civil society in preventing
discriminatory torture and ill-treatment in
Azerbaijan.

To achieve this, the project will conduct and
publish a comprehensive baseline study on
the situation of discriminatory torture and
ill-treatment in country, which will then be
used as part of a public awareness-raising
and advocacy campaign , the purpose of
which will be to encourage and empower
individuals to challenge violations of their
own and other’s human rights. In addition,
the project will establish and run bi-
monthly CSO Forums, and organise
trainings for NGOs on using human rights
and anti-discrimination law, as well as
advocacy and litigation, in order to foster
cooperation among CSOs and enhance
their capacity in addressing violation cases
related to discriminatory torture and ill-
treatment.

Action Location
Azerbaijan

Implementing Organisations
is registered as
The Equal Rights Trust (ERT)
a charity under UK law since 2007 and acts
as an advocacy organisation, resource
centre and think tank whose purpose is to
combat discrimination and promote
equality as a fundamental human right and
a basic principle of social justice.

is a Ganja
Women’s Organization Tomris
based Azerbaijani organisations founded
and registered in 1992. The mission of the
organization is to promote development
through human rights, education and civil
society projects.

Contact Information

ERT - Dimitrina Petrova
Tel: +44 (0)20 3 441 7436
dimitrina.petrova@equalrightstrust.org,
www.equalrightstrust.org

Nushaba Mamedova

TOMRIS -
Tel: +99450 632 61 02
Tomris_ngo@yahoo.com

9

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2010

Enhancing access to justice for internally displaced
persons and strengthening civil society efforts to
improve the national response in Azerbaijan

Project Budget
€180 000

EU Contribution
€144 000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
December 2013

Project Summary
The project goal
is to assist internally
displaced persons in obtaining their basic
rights and freedoms.

This is achieved by providing professional
legal aid and counselling services to
internally displaced persons and returnees
through counselling and legal aid centres in
Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja and Fizuli, and
mobile visits to reach those in need of legal
aid, but with no access to these centres.
The project also represents IDPs’ interests
in civil court proceedings; pursues strategic
litigation cases in courts of higher instance
and the European Court of Human Rights,
and organizes capacity building events for
selected local NGOs on topics such as
professional legal assistance and in-court
representation, advocacy for
IDPs,
management of
legal aid centres,
monitoring and control over the quality of
work, evaluation of
IDP assistance
programs; and conducting bilateral
advocacy meetings with local authorities.

PRAXIS

Implementing Organisations
“PRAXIS” Support to Social Development
is a local organization established in 2003
and registered in 2005. The overall aim of
the organization is to promote conditions of
sustainable human development in which
people are able to enjoy a full range of
human rights, fulfill their needs free from
poverty and live in dignity.

Centre for Legal and Economic Education
works to increase legal education
(CLEE)
and provide free legal assistance to
IDPs, disabled persons,
refugees,
pensioners, other people who need social
maintenance for other emergency
circumstances

Contact Information

PRAXIS - Tarlan Ahmadov
Tel: +99412 530 87 01/530 87 02
office@praxis.az
www.praxis.az

Agamirza Bagirov

CLEE -
Tel: +99412 596 73 62
agamirza@clee.co-az.net

Action Locations
Baku, Sumqayit, Ganja Fizuli

10

2010 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

Public Awareness Campaign on
Domestic Violence

Public Union for Gender Equality and Women's Initiatives

Project Budget
€120,600

EU Contribution
€108,000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
November 2013

Project Summary
The project supports the recently adopted
Law on Domestic Violence by raising
awareness about it throughout Azerbaijan.

Activities of the project include conducting
a survey on gender based violence in the
country to improve understanding of the
current situation; Organizing trainings for
regional NGOs, lawyers and psychologists
on specialized knowledge and techniques
in regard to the new gender violence
prevention mechanism, and encourage
them to conduct similar gender and
domestic violence trainings in their own
regions, and provide free of charge
psychological and legal counselling for
women in rural areas; Establishing a
national information hot-line on the details
of the new law; and launching and running
a country wide information campaign to
both inform and encourage stakeholders to
address gender violence in a more
coordinated and efficient way.

Action Location
Baku and 33 other cities and towns in
Azerbaijan.

Implementing Organisations
Gender Equality and Women's Initiatives
was founded in July
Public Union (GEWI)
2007 with the purpose of developing
democracy in Azerbaijan by strengthening
of the role of women in social and political
life, and conducting research on and raising
awareness of gender equality.

(RGC)

was
Regional Gender Center
established in 2007 in Barda. Its mission is
to develop gender culture and strengthen
the process of transforming equal rights to
equal opportunities in the gender sphere.

The Center of Women's Studies and Policies
was established in June 2003 to
(CWSP)
support gender and equal opportunity
issues in Bulgaria.

Contact Information

GEWI - Aida Ibragimkhalilova
Tel: +994 12 497 65 68
office@gewi-az.org, www.gewi-az.org

Shargiya Dadashova

RGC -
Tel: +0110 5 43 66; +99450 336 32 74
sdadashova@gmail.com

- Tatyana Kmetova

CWSP
Tel: +359 2 981 79 80 cwsp@cwsp.bg
http://www.cwsp.bg/

11

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2010

Capacity Building for Citizen Participation and
Increasing Accountability of Elected Bodies

Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center

Project Budget
€156,330

EU Contribution
€120,374

Action Duration
24 months

End date
April 2013

Project Summary
T h e p r o j e c t
s t r e n g t h e n s c i t i z e n
participation in public policy making and
thereby increases the accountability of
elected and executive state bodies.

NGOs,

Project activities include conducting and
publishing a baseline survey on the level of
involvement of citizens in public policy;
Supporting civic groups
labor
local communities, youth and
unions,
women organizations -
in establishing
Advisory Councils of Citizens on Local
Governance and a National Council on
Parliament-Citizen Relations to address the
problems concerning relations between
citizens and elected state bodies; Raising
awareness
by producing best practice
publications, conducting discussions, civic
forums, and trainings;
and running a
national public advocacy campaign to raise
awareness among the general public.

Action Locations
Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Goychay, Guba,
Sheki, Beylagan, Jalilabad, Mingachevir, and
Nakhchivan

Implementing Organisations
“The Election Monitoring and Democracy
was founded in
Studies Center (EMDS)
2008 in Azerbaijan to develop civil society
and democracy though assisting in the
conduct of
free and fair elections,
supporting active citizen participation in
public administration, and ensuring
transparency and accountability in the
activities of
local and national state
authorities

The School of Democratic Journalism (SDJ)
was founded in 2007 to increase the
pluralism and quality of national media by
promoting citizen journalism in Azerbaijan.

Contact Information

EMDS - Anar Mammadli
Tel: +99412 596 22 94
emc.az2001@gmail.com;
aspyo@yahoo.com
www.smdt.az

- Hajiyev Rovshan
SDJ
Tel: +99412 510 78 81/82
r_haciyev@yahoo.com

12

2010 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

New Media Development and
Regional Outreach

Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

Project Budget
€117,876

EU Contribution
€103,000

Action Duration
12 months

End date
October 2012

Project Summary
The project raises public awareness of
human rights issues, as well as increases
the capacity of Human Rights Defenders to
use internet media to disseminate human
rights information.

Project activities include: collecting and
publicising views of the general public on
up-to date social, economic and political
issues through the “Difficult question”
program; Producing and disseminating
“how-to” manuals for the production and
dissemination of human rights news;
Training Human Rights Defenders in five
regions on how to cover human rights
information; Producing and broadcasting
news flashes and weekly interviews with
human rights defenders, and politicians;
and developing and airing public service
announcements on human rights issues in
specific communities.

Action Location
Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kurdamir, and
Lankaran.

Implementing Organisations
The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and
is a local NGO founded in 2006
Safety (IFRS)
supporting freedom of expression in
Azerbaijan.
It builds capicty of journalists
and raises awareness of journalists’ rights
locally and internationally.

The School of Democratic Journalism (SDJ)
was founded in 2007 to increase the
pluralism and quality of national media by
promoting citizen journalism in Azerbaijan.

The Regional Human Rights and Media
was established to protect
Center (RHRMC)
human rights in the regions of Azerbaijan
and to promote development and
accessibility of mass media by providing
free legal assistance and raising awareness.

Contact Information

IRFS - Emin Huseynov
Tel: +99412 418 03 34
irfs.az@gmail.com, http://www.irfs.az/

- Hajiyev Rovshan
SDJ
Tel: +99412 510 78 81/82
r_haciyev@yahoo.com

RHRMC
Tel: +99450 363 57 10
xalidvahidoglu@gmail.com

13

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2010

Youth School of Liberal Values

Intelligent Citizen Enlightenment Centre

Project Budget
€118,836

EU Contribution
€104,000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
November 2013

Project Summary
The project empowers a group of two
hundred young people with knowledge and
skills to enhance their participation in
political and social life by establishing and
strengthening youth initiative groups.

Project activities include conducting a
trainings on history of
number of
democracy in the world and in Azerbaijan,
human rights, critical thinking, leadership,
civil society and non governmental
the action
organisations. Moreover,
promotes the role of youth in the Western
part of Azerbaijan in civil society by
organising youth camps and conferences. It
establishes Youth Initiative groups, which
are supported through trainings on NGO
registration, proposal writing, NGO
management and fundraising.

Action Locations
Ganja, Samukh, Goygol, Shamkir

Implementing Organisations
Intelligent Citizen Enlightenment Centre
was established in 2004 and is based
(ICEC)
in Ganja. The mission of the organisation is

to disseminate civil society ideas and
democratic values in the Western region of
Azerbaijan and create initiatives to attract
youth into the civil society development
process.

Development in Science and Education
exists since 2007 and is
Public Union (DSE)
also a Ganja based organisation. The
organisation is aiming at strengthening civic
engagement and participation among
youths and building greater sense of
community among them.

was established in 2002 with the
Intellect
goal of educating Azerbaijani youth about
civil society and encouraging them to
actively participate in the civil society
development process

Contact Information

ICEC - Dr. Hasan Huseynli
Tel: +99422 563 025
hhuseynli@kamilv.az
www.kamilv.az

- Ahmad Guliyev
DSE
Tel: +99450 372 62 30
ahmadguliyev@yahoo.com

- Nadir Ibadov
Intellect
Tel: +99450 325 98 53
nadir_ibadov@yahoo.com

14

2010 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

Energizing Environmental Agenda in
Azerbaijan through Empowered Media
and Civil Society Efforts
Internews Azerbaijan Public Association

Project Budget
€164,445

EU Contribution
€148,000

Action Duration
18 months

End date
July 2013

Project Summary
The project supports efforts to promote
environmental awareness and ensure
citizens’ rights to a clean environment.

In addition,

Project activities include training media and
CSOs to improve their professional skills,
knowledge and attitudes on environmental
reporting, and creating a forum for debate
where different social groups and
institutions discuss socially important
issues.
to improve media
coverage, the project will mobilize civil
society efforts, youth and educational
institutions to raise the attention on the
solution of environmental problems
enhance collaboration amongst the media,
government and NGOs to raise public
awareness of environmental
issues. The
project also provides help to provide expert
recommendations of NGOs, international
organizations to the government of
A z e r b a i j a n c o n c e r n i n g r e f o r m
development in the field.

Action Location
Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Shamkir, Gazakh
and Mingachevir

Implementing Organisations
Internews Azerbaijan Public Association
has been active in Azerbaijan since 1997,
with the core goal of giving independent
media the support they need to become
professional and self-reliant. The activity
field of Internews is focused on education,
culture, ecology, anti-corruption, gender,
youth, health and elections through media.

Intelligent Citizen Enlightenment Centre
was established in 2004 and is based
(ICEC)
in Ganja. The mission of the organisation is
to disseminate civil society ideas and
democratic values in the Western region of
Azerbaijan and create initiatives to attract
youth into the civil society development
process.

Contact Information

Internews - Azada Huseynova
Tel: +99412 497 21 02/03
azada@internews.az
www.internews.az

Dr. Hasan Huseynli

ICEC -
Tel: +99422 563 025
hhuseynli@kamilv.az
hhuseynli@yahoo.com
www.kamilv.az

15

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2010

Youth Houses as a Platform to Enhance
Youth Participation in the Environment

Project Budget
€200,000

EU Contribution
€150,000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
January 2014

Project Summary
This project aims at increasing awareness of
young people on environmental
issues
enabling them to make decisions regarding
environmental safety.

The project works in 5 Youth Houses
(Lenkaran, Sabirabad, Yevlakh, Goygol and
Goranboy) and provides them with
extensive training on how to design and
implement small scale environmental
projects, which UNICEF will then support
via their Country Programme for the next
five years with the Ministry of Youth and
Sport and the use of environmental
incentives within its overall framework.
Given that young people are instrumental
in initiating changes in society, the project
will establish working relations between
local governments and Youth Houses that
would enable young people to influence
decisions related to environmental safety at
the local level. To enable this, the project
will 1) Establish Environmental Groups in
Youth Houses 2) Provide IEC materials to
districts on how to improve their
environment 3) Organize a study tour for
main stakeholders of the project to one of

UNICEF

the member states of the EU 4) Conduct
small scale local environmental projects

Action Locations
Lankaran, Sabirabad, Yevlakh, Goygol and
Goranboy

Implementing Organisations
United Nations Children's Emergency Fund
was chartered over 65 years ago
(UNICEF)
by the United Nations and currently is the
world's leading organisation protecting the
rights of children and young people.

T h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y o f Yo u t h
organizations of Republic of Azerbaijan
was established by 11 youth
(NAYORA)
organizations and was registered in 1996.
NAYORA currently has 70 member
organizations.

Contact Information

UNICEF - Natik UMAROV
Tel: +99412 492 30 13
numarov@unicef.org
www.unicef.org

- Orkhan ARABOV

NAYORA
Tel: +99412 564 90 14
www.nayora.az

16

Instruments

Activities for children with disabilities (CWD) and their families as part of an EU funded 2009 project
implemented by Centre for Innovations in Education. The project raised awareness about CWD issues
and provided training to key stakeholders to create a better environment for CWD.

Non-State Actors
in Development (NSA)

About the Instrument

The second main instrument of the EU in
Azerbaijan is Non-State Actors in local
Development. Its main goal is :

"poverty reduction in the context of
sustainable development
, including pursuit
of Millennium Development Goals and other
internationally agreed targets… [through]
capacity building to Non-State Actors… in

their

facilitate

involvement in policy
order to
making process and to enhance capacity to
deliver basic services to the poorest peoples"

The NSA-LA instrument is implemented in all
countries (including the EU), except third
industrialised countries. The average annual
budget is €230 million.

17

Non-State Actors in Development

NSA in Azerbaijan 2007-2010

Since 2007 four in-country calls for proposals
have been held in Azerbaijan with the NSA
instrument, with over €4.6 million allocated
to 17 projects.

Project activities touched on issues such as
improving employment opportunities in the
regions,
tourism, civil society capacity
building, empowerment of municipalities,
foster care, social inclusion of children with
special needs, and improving social
conditions in rural areas in environmentally
sustainable ways.
NSA 2010 Call for Proposals

The most recent Call
for Proposals was
launched in November 2010 at the same time
To be eligible for
as the 2010 EIDHR call.
funding under the NSA instrument, project
proposals needed reflect one or both of the
following themes:

1. Support CSO advocacy efforts towards
local and national government in the
formulation and implementation of
sustainable development strategies

2. Strengthening the support to vulnerable
and excluded groups most exposed to
poverty in rural areas

Out of 83 submissions, 7 projects were
selected. The last contract between the EU
and a selected applicant from this Call for
Proposals was signed in December 2011.

m
1
1
€

.

m
1
1
€

.

m
9
0
€

.

m
5
.
1
€

2007 2008 2009 2010

Year of NSA Call for Proposals

Overview of 2010 NSA
Selected Projects

7 /83 selected

42%

submitted by
local organisations

100%

100%

implemented by
or with local
organisations

with activities
outside Baku

Selected Projects

Detailed descriptions of the 7 selected NSA
2010 projects along with contact details are
provided on the following pages.

For more information please contact the EU
Delegation directly at:
delegation-azerbaijan@eeas.europa.eu

18

2010 Non-State Actors in Development

Enhancing the livelihoods of IDPs in the
Goranboy district through tangible
agricultural advancement

Ganja Agribusiness Association

Project Budget
€234,385

EU Contribution
€208,602

Action Duration
18 months

End date
April 2013

Project Summary
The project aims to strengthen community
competence and empower economic
viability of the Yeni Veyisili IDP Settlement
by increasing agricultural production
capacity and improving the income
potential and employment opportunities
for the community members.

the project

The activities of
include
development of 30 new greenhouses,
provision of agriculture and business skills
farmers, and
trainings for 500 rural
establishing 30 farmer's groups to develop
connections between neighbouring
communities. The project also provides
technical assistance to Farmer Group
members. In addition the project provides
support in marketing to facilitate access of
farmers to consumers.

Action Location
Yeni Veyislli IDP Community, Goranboy

Implementing Organisations
is
Ganja Agribusiness Association (GABA),
a n o n - gove r n m e nta l o rga n i s at i o n
established in 1996 in Ganja to promote
sustainable development of Azerbaijan's
agrarian sector through human potential
development, knowledge and resource
transfer. GABA is the primary organization
i n A ze r b a i j a n p ro m o t i n g o rga n i c
agriculture.

was
"Young Leaders” Public Union
registered in 2005. The goal of
the
organisation is to provide assistance to
people in the areas of justice, equality and
moral foundations.

Contact Information

GABA - Vugar Babayev
Tel: +99422 56 94 00
v.babayev@gaba.az
www.gaba.az

- Sabina Alekperova

Young Leaders
Tel: +99450 222 45 20
a.sabina@youngleaders-az.com

19

Non-State Actors in Development 2010

Intra-community dialogue for inclusive
community development

Project Budget
€ 256 448

EU Contribution
€190 781

Action Duration
24 months

End date
January 2013

Project Summary
The project improves cooperation between
local authorities and non-state actors in
Zagatala, Gakh, Balakan, and Oghuz.

The project provides capacity building
workshops, trainings, regional roundtables,
and a newly developed recommendation
local
package to build capacity of
authorities and non-state actors;
establishes a localized Citizens Participation
Strategy Framework, and introduces pilot
projects to the annual activities of 20
municipalities. Recommendations for
amendments to national
legislation on
municipalities are prepared and submitted
to the National Parliament

Action Locations
Zagatala, Gakh, Balakan, Oghuz

Implementing Organisations
is the UK's
British Council Royal Trust
leading international organisation for
educational and cultural
relations,
connecting people worldwide with learning
opportunities and creative ideas from the

British Council

UK and building lasting relationships
between the UK and other countries.

Azerbaijan Human Rights Foundation
founded in 1999 and provides
(AHRF) was
juridical, financial and technical assistance
to the regional human rights NGOs, and
promotes democratic values, human rights,
poverty reduction, and development in
Azerbaijan.

is a
The Economic Research Centre (ERC)
policy-research oriented non-profit think
tank facilitating sustainable economic
development and good governance in
Azerbaijan.

Contact Information

BC - Nigar Baimova
Tel: +99412 497 20 13/497 15 93
enquiries@britishcouncil.az
www.britishcouncil.az

AHRF
Tel: +99412 596 00 08
azerbaijan@human-rights-
foundation.org
www.human-rights-foundation.az

ERC
Tel: +99412 465 18 41
office@erc-az.org, www.erc-az.org

20

2010 Non-State Actors in Development

Enhancing the effectiveness of government
by strengthening the role of think tanks in
decision-making arena
Economic Research Centre

Project Budget
€210,000

EU Contribution
€185,000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
March 2014

Project Summary
The project aims at de-monopolising public
policy decisions in Azerbaijan by building
institutional and research capacity of 18
non-state think tanks and enhancing
cooperation between those think tanks and
relevant stakeholders including govern-
ment agencies and media.
Project activities include developing the
capacities of think tanks in identifying
relevant policy topics, analyzing policy
options, communicating results of policy
research to the government and making
their findings widely available to the
general public. Furthermore, the action
strengthens the management structure of
think tanks by introducing quality control
systems and developing organisational
procedures

Action Location
Baku, Ganja, Sheki

of
facilitating sustainable economic
development and good governance in
Azerbaijan.

Public Association for an Open Society
was registered under Czech law on
(PASOS)
September 16, 2004 as a Citizens
A s s o c i at i o n . PA S O S s u p p o r t s
t h e
development and strengthens the outreach
and impact of its 50 members.

Intelligent Citizen Enlightenment Centre
was established in 2004 and is based
(ICEC)
in Ganja. The mission of the organisation is
to disseminate civil society ideas and
democratic values in the Western region of
Azerbaijan and create initiatives to attract
youth into the civil society development
process.

Contact Information

ERC - Gubad Bayramov
Tel:+99412 465 18 41
office@erc-az, www.erc-az

PASOS
Tel:+420 2223 13644,
info@pasos.org, www.pasos.org

Implementing Organisations
was
The Economic Research Centre (ERC)
established in 1999 and is a policy-research
oriented non-profit think tank with the goal

Dr. Hasan Huseynli

ICEC -
Tel:+99422 563 025;
hhuseynli@kamilv.az;
www.kamilv.az

21

Non-State Actors in Development 2010

Empowering Mental Health service
users in 5 regions of Azerbaijan

Global Initiative on Psychiatry

world. It aims to facilitate the emergence of
agents of long-term change in this arena
who can guide their societies in introducing
more enabling approaches to mental health
issues.

Initiative for the Sake of Development (ISD)
was registered in Azerbaijan in 2004. Its
mission is to promote children and young
people's rights protection including a right
for education, health and comprehensive
development through the means of civil
Its activities are related to
initiative.
children, young people and families
experiencing crisis circumstances and other
vulnerable populations

Contact Information

GIP - Virginija Klimukiene
Tel: +370 5 271 5760
vklimukiene@gip-global.org
www.gip-vilnius.lt

- Dr. Narmin Hajiyeva

ISD
Tel: +99412 510 66 17
narminhajiyeva@psychiatry.az
www.initiative.az

Project Budget
€182 621

EU Contribution
€164 359

Action Duration
24 months

End date
January 2014

Project Summary
The objective of the project is to strengthen
the capacity of Mental Health service users
in Azerbaijan to take an active role in
improving their life situations.

Project activities include developing a
resource centre for Mental Health related
issues in Baku to support all organisations
working on the topic in Azerbaijan;
Establishing and building capacity of local
Mental Health User groups that will bring
together relevant stakeholders to facilitate
communication and create forum for
discussion; and running a national
awareness raising campaign to combat
stigma and raise understanding of mental
health related issues.

Action Locations
Baku, Ganja, Sheki, Guba, Lankaran

Implementing Organisations
is an
Global Initiative on Psychiatry (GIP)
international not-for-profit organization for
the promotion of humane, ethical and
effective mental health care throughout the

22

2010 Non-State Actors in Development

Sustainable development of a village:
Civil Society Municipality Co-operation Model
(COSMO)

Independent Consumers Union

Project Budget
€219 229

EU Contribution
€197 306

Action Duration
24 months

End date
December 2013

Project Summary
The project aims at establishing a new
c o o p e r a t i o n s t r a t e g y b e t w e e n
municipalities and civil society towards
achieving sustainable development.

The project is in line with the State Program
on Socio-Economic Development of
Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for
2009-2013 that focuses on the improve-
ment of social
life of rural population
including those living in mountainous
villages of Guba district. The project works
in 3 municipalities of the Guba region
iestablishing Effective Civil Society
Municipality Cooperation Model (COSMO)
further to be applied to other villages.

Through a series of trainings, round tables
and events,
the project develops
cooperation between the municipalities
and local communities and helps them to
their own ideas with the
implement
purpose of creating long term sustainable
sources of income.

Action Location
Guba (Chichi, Elik and Sohub municipalities)

Implementing Organisations
Independent Consumer Union (ICU)
was
established in 1997 with the objective of
protecting consumer rights.

Environmental Sustainability Public Union
(EKOT was
established in 1999 to raise
)
public awareness about environmental
matters, such as climate change, water
management, ecological sanitation,
alternative sources of energy, gender
equality and human environmental rights

Guba Regional NGOs Resource and Training
Centre (GRTC)
, is one of 5 centres created by
UNDP and the Government of Azerbaijan in
2001 in order to provide training and
coordinate the work of regional NGOs in
Azerbaijan.

Contact Information

ICU - Eyyub Huseynov
Tel: +99412 449 89 95
eyub@consumer.baku.az
www.consumer-aib.com

- Aytan Poladova
EKOT
Tel: +99412 441 28 33
aytanpoladova@yahoo.com

GRTC - Eynulla Kheyrullayev
Razinur@mail.ru

23

Non-State Actors in Development 2010

Special Economic Action for the Blind

Save the Children

Implementing Organisations
is the world's largest
Save the Children
independent organization for children,
making a difference to children's lives in
over 120 countries. It is made up of 29
national organizations with a global staff of
more than 14,000. From emergency relief
to long-term development, Save the
Children helps children to achieve a happy,
healthy and secure childhood.

is an Azerbaijani
Bridge to the Future (BF)
youth NGO established in April 2000. The
strategic mission of the organization is to be
a 'bridge' between youth and society for
promoting humanism, solidarity and co-
operation in Azerbaijan.

Contact Information

StC Azerbaijan - Bahar Arabova
Tel:+99450 250 10 37
barabova@savethechildren.org
www.savethechildren.org

Orkhan Abbasov
BF -
Tel: +99422 568 015
office@bf-az.org
www.bf-az.org

Project Budget
€216 000

EU Contribution
€193 744

Action Duration
18 months

End date
August 2013

Project Summary
The project aims to improve the situation of
sight-impaired people in Ganja and their
families, by supporting the Ganja city
Training and Production Enterprises #1 and
#2 of the Azerbaijan Association for Blind
Persons (ABP) in introducing modernized
a n d m a r ke t - o r i e n t e d p r o d u c t i o n
techniques.

financial

T h e p ro j e c t p ro v i d e s e d u c a t i o n ,
information and training in production,
literacy,
sales/marketing,
enterprise management and leadership,
and it recruits a consultant to guide the
Associations on market research, to build
their members’ capacity in business plan
developmentsecuring a loan from a
microfinance institution. The business
schemes, best practices and lessons
learned of the targeted enterprises will be
documented for replication in other similar
structures.

Action Locations
Ganja

24

2010 Non-State Actors in Development

Social Rights Development community
based strategies to include vulnerable and
isolated children to pre-school education

United Aid for Azerbaijan

Project Budget
€280,696

EU Contribution
€250,000

Action Duration
24 months

End date
December 2013

Finally, it acts as a bridge between policy
makers and local populations to facilitate
the development and implementation of
relevant legislation.

Project Summary
T h i s p r o j e c t c o n t r i b u t e s
t o t h e
implementation of national policies for
improving early childhood development
outcomes for children who are excluded
due to poverty, location and disability in
Azerbaijan,
in line with the Millienium
Development Goals, UNCRC and UN
convention on Rights of People with
Disabilities.

The project works in 4 regions to create
i n c l u s i v e
p o s i t i v e e x a m p l e s o f
environments for children with disabilities
by providing relevant training to teachers in
1-2 kindergartens per region.
It also
establishes and supports Self Help Groups
(primarily of parents of excluded children),
which: (a) help their members better cope
with children with disabilities; (b) create
further examples of socially accepting
spaces for children with disabilities through
the organisation of inclusive activities (c)
raise awareness of
their communities
about the issue of children with disabilities,
and (d)
local and
lobby and support
national authorities in creating and
implementing relevant policies.

Action Location
Sumgayit, Bilasuvar, Lankoran, Siyazan

Implementing Organisations
is
United Aid for Azerbaijan (UAFA)
registered in Azerbaijan since 1998, with a
mission to ‘aid long-term development of
life in Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on
children, health and education’.

Centre for Innovations in Education (CIE),
exists since 2004 as a national association
teachers, and faculty to
for parents,
advocate for educational reforms and
promote ongoing development of
education professionals.

Contact Information

UAFA
- Gwendolyn Burchell
Tel: +99412 497 01 04/497 25 19
gwen.burchell@uafa.az
www.uafa.org.uk

-

Ulviya Mikailova
CIE
Tel: +99412 498 64 03
office@cie.az
www.cie.az

25

Instruments

As part of a 2009
EU funded project
implemented by
the Danish Refugee
Council, children
are encouraged to
take a more active
role in their
communities.
Above, a child
spends time with a
disabled person in
their village
in central
Azerbaijan.

Global Thematic Instruments

About the Thematic Instrument

Unlike the EIDHR and NSA instruments, which
have specific financial allocations for
Azerbaijan, Global Thematic Instruments
focus on themes and then identify groups of
countries that are affected by them. No
national allocations are set during a Global
Call for Proposals, but organisations from the
selected countries and the EU can apply for
funding.

.
.
.
.

Besides the EIDHR and NSA, Global Thematic
instruments focus on the following areas:
Environment and sustainable management
of natural resources including energy

Food security

Migration and asylum

Investing in people

The Global Thematic Instruments have a
combined annual budget of €570 million.

Thematic Instruments in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is often included in Calls for
the Global Thematic
Proposals under
five
instruments: Between 2007 - 2009,
projects received funding under them.

In 2010, one project was funded under the
HIV priority area of the Investing in People
Instrument and will begin activities in 2012.

26

2010 Global Thematic Instruments

Capacity building for non-state actors in relation
to HIV-AIDS prevention, treatment and care for
the European Neighbourhood and Partnership
countries

Leader Women Public Union

Project Budget
€306,757

EU Contribution
€245,405

Action Duration
24 months

End date
December 2013

Project Summary
The Action increases HIV/AIDS prevention
among young women in 9 selected rural
areas of Azerbaijan,
socio-
approach awareness
cultural
raising and empowerment activities.

education

through

a

,

.

Project activities include local civil society
participate in large scale
training on how to
HIV/AIDS activities and awareness-raising
campaigns as well as plan, design,
implement and manage HIV/AIDS
prevention projects and initiatives at the
local level A baseline survey is conducted
to study attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among
women in rural areas,
followed by
awareness raising campaigns. A follow-up
survey will be carried to assess the impact
information
of
resources including a training manuals and
a brochure on HIV/AIDS prevention among
young women are developed and
disseminated among target groups.

the campaign. Finally,

Action Location
Astara, Jalilabad, Hajigabul, Kurdamir, Lan
karan, Masall, Shamakhi, Shamkir, Yevlakh.

-

Implementing Organisations
was founded
Leader Women Public Union
in 2011 and promotes women’s leadership
in Azerbaijan.

The International Center for Social Research
deals with gender equality, building
(ICSR)
of civil society, women, family and marriage
issues, women leadership, violence against
women, youth and children development,
socio-cultural values, rural population
development and NGO sustainability.

National Assembly of Youth Organizations
of Republic Azerbaijan (NAYORA)
since 1996
has been raising awareness on HIV/AIDS
among young people. NAYORA has 70
member organizations.

Contact Information

LW - Tair Faradov,
Tel: +99412 494 14 56;
tfaradov@gmail.com;
leaderwomen@gmail.com

ICSR - Rajab Sattarov
Tel: +99455 789 25 21;
rsattarov@hotmail.com

Javid Arabov
NAYORA -
Tel: +99412 564 90 14
secretariat@nayora.az
www.nayora.az

27

ISBN 978-92-9238-058-8

Numéro de catalogue AZ-31-12-512-EN-C

DOI 10.2871/22340

Further information

For information related to calls for proposals:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/funding/

For more information on the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership:
www.eeas.europa.eu/eastern/civil_society

To register your organisation in PADOR:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/onlineservices/pador/

For information related to the European Union and the European Commission:
http://europa.eu/

For any other information related to the Delegation of the European Union and the non-state
actors in Azerbaijan, please contact the EU Delegation's Operations Section:
Tel: +994.12.497.20.63
email: delegation-azerbaijan@eeas.europa.eu
Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/azerbaijan