USAID/Azerbaijan - Our Programs: Past Projects

• Humanitarian Assistance

Date: 1993 - 1998
Assistance: $62,000,000
Implementing Partner: Save the Children Federation

This project was one of the earliest USAID programs to provide rapid responses to the emergency needs of the new independent states of the former Soviet Union. 

• Farmer to Farmer Agribusiness Management Program

Date: 1996 - 1998
Assistance:
Implementing Partner: ACDI/VOCA

This project promoted the development of private agriculture by providing highly skilled short-term volunteer technical assistance to private farmers and agribusinesses.

• Water and Sanitation Project in the Southern Camps of Azerbaijan

Date: July 1997 - September 1998
Assistance: $185,000
Implementing Partner: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

This project improved sanitary conditions and increased the sustainability of water and sanitation activities and infrastructure for IDPs in South-Eastern Azerbaijan.

• Azerbaijan Humanitarian Assistance Program

Date: January 1998 - January 2006
Assistance: $56,500,000
Implementing Partner: Mercy Corps International

The initial 24 months of programming under AHAP I (May 1998 through April 2000) provided health and nutrition services, shelter, economic opportunities, and information services. AHAP II programs (May 2000 through September 2005) addressed health, reproductive health, food, economic opportunities and social investment needs through community development and mobilization. During AHAP I, 16 programs operated throughout much of Azerbaijan, and during AHAP II the programming continued to reach much of the population in 23 regions in the country. In total, 18 sub-grant partners operated in the four geographic areas of AHAP II: southern area, central area, urban area and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). From May of 2000, AHAP provided assistance to 2,923,281 direct recipients, 1,551,100 (53%) of which were women.

• Financial Sector Technical Assistance/Monetary Support for Commercial Banking Upgrading

Date: July 1998 - August 1999
Assistance:
Implementing Partner: Barents Group, LLC

This project training private commercial bankers in Azerbaijan in order to develop a competitive, market responsive private financial sector.

• Azerbaijan Economic and Enterprise Development Program

Date: July 1999 - June 2004
Assistance:
Implementing Partner: Citizens Development Corps 

Through the USAID-funded Azerbaijan Economic and Enterprise Development program, CDC worked with 150 small and medium enterprises and assisted local arts and crafts providers to develop and open a center in Baku where entrepreneurs could collectively sell their wares, thereby branding Azerbaijani arts and crafts. This helped to preserve rural culture and contribute to the resettlement and development of local communities.

• Participatory Agricultural Project in Azerbaijan

Date: March 2000 - June 2003
Assistance: $2,400,000
Implementing Partner: Land O'Lakes

The objective of the project was to develop Azerbaijan’s private agricultural sector by increasing the profitability of participating businesses, developing support organizations for agricultural businesses, expanding in-country value added processing, and increasing access to domestic and regional market information in order to expand trade links between rural and urban areas, as well as between Azerbaijan and foreign countries. A combination of long and short-term technical assistance was provided by U.S. expatriates, Azerbaijani nationals and regional professionals to accomplish the program’s objectives.

• Azerbaijan Rural Credit Project

Date: May 2000 - December 2005
Assistance: $5,900,000
Implementing Partner: ACDI/VOCA

The two objectives of ARC project were to create a rural credit cooperative system to provide small and medium size loans to agricultural enterprises on a sustainable basis and to increase the economic viability and sustainability of private agricultural enterprises. The activity established CredAgro, a microfinance institution that provides central management, oversight and funding for a nationwide microfinance network. This is a viable rural credit system serving Azerbaijan’s private agricultural sector. The project helped to increase the productivity of Azerbaijan’s private agribusinesses and enterprises, as well as increased income levels and employment opportunities by bringing supplemental loan capital from outside sources to both grow and sustain the rural credit system. It established formal linkages between service organizations in business planning, loan origination, and technology improvement and marketing in the private agricultural sector.
 

• FINCA Azerbaijan Southern Area Expansion

Date: September 2000 - December 2005
Assistance: $2,800,000
Implementing Partner: Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA)

The FINCA Azerbaijan Southern Area Expansion program was designed to increase the provision of loan products and services in rural Azerbaijan. Its three components were: (1) working capital loans to finance self-employment; (2) a secure mechanism to promote family savings; (3) a community-based organization that encourages mutual support and self-worth. In March 2004, the activity was extended to provide for institutional development of the local microfinance institution, which resulted in increased human resource capacity and organizational depth. It strengthened systems for information and performance management, as well as increased the organization’s ability to respond to market demands, environmental changes, and opportunities for innovation.
 

• Child Survival

Date: September 2001 - September 2006
Assistance: $1,300,000
Implementing Partner: Mercy Corps International

Working in mountainous districts near the Iranian border (Masalli, Lerik & Yardimli), this project aimed to decrease the mortality and morbidity of children under the age of five by strengthening the skills of health care providers and improving care seeking behavior among community members.
 

• Agro-Input Market Development in Azerbaijan

Date: January 2002 - January 2005
Assistance: $3,100,000
Implementing Partner: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

An agro-input supply system has been developed through the creation of a network of 80-plus agro-input dealers that facilitated the transfer of modern best practices and technology to Azerbaijani farmers. The program focuses on increasing access to improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides while demonstrating new application regimes and technology, including greenhouse management and drip irrigation, to improve agricultural production where poor soils have significantly reduced production yields. A fully registered Input Dealers Association has been created and a number of regional trade shows and fairs have introduced dealers to new technology and affordable equipment that is now available to farmer groups.
 

• Independent Media Program

Date: September 2002 - December 2004
Assistance: $2,500,000
Implementing Partner: Internews

This project provided direct legal support to media outlets and journalists, as well as advocacy assistance to independent broadcasters seeking reforms and passage of legislation favorable to open media. Regular news and informational television programs were produced to help Azerbaijani journalists and broadcasters to achieve international-level standards of broadcast journalism. Training and regular technical consultations to media professionals were provided to increase journalistic excellence.
 

• Civil Society Development

Date: September 2002 - March 2005
Assistance: $1,400,000
Implementing Partner: Catholic Relief Services

This program was designed to place organizational management and advocacy tools in the hands of a small group of highly committed public interest groups to help build independent, rather than donor dependent, organizations that truly represent the interests of a defined constituency. The objectives of the program were two-fold: 1) to institutionalize a select group of six non-governmental organizations and their client partners and 2) to improve their ability to publicly address issues on behalf of their constituents, including, but not limited to, legislative and regulatory changes. The project produced a core group of Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which were well structured, more independent and strong advocates. Additionally, these core NGOs were expected to mentor developing NGOs and community based organizations in their regions and/or sectors in Azerbaijan.

• Treasury Information Management Systems

Date: September 2002 - March 2008
Assistance: $7,300,000
Implementing Partner: Carana Corporation

Together with the World Bank, USAID provided assistance to automate the Central Treasury and the 85 regional Treasury offices in order to reduce opportunities for graft by improving expenditure management to ensure that budgetary limits are observed at all times. This system also improved cash management, including improved cash flow forecasting, fiscal reporting to enhance transparency, and improved management.
 

• Azerbaijan Elections and Political Processes

Date: June 2002 - February 2009
Assistance: $4,600,000
Implementing Partner: National Democratic Institute / Consortium for Elections and Political Processes

This project assisted political parties with a particular focus on women in politics, including organizing the effective participation of women in elections and in the advancement of major political policy reforms. The Political Party Building, Election Assistance and Civic programming program also assisted civic organizations in helping citizens to monitor election processes and to advocate for their needs and concerns to government decision-makers. This program was carried out through organizational training and workshops, the sharing of national and international expertise, and in-house consultations with various political parties and NGOs. NDI worked in Khachmaz, Goychay, Sheki, Jalilabad, Ganja, Yevlakh, Gazakh, Ali-Bayramli, Imishli, Nakhchivan, Sumgait, Guba, Gusar, Lenkoran, Masalli, Khudat, and Zagatala.
 

• Azerbaijan's Elections and Political Processes: Political Party Building, Election Assistance, and Civic Education

Date: May 2002 - March 2010
Assistance: $4,600,000
Implementing Partner: International Republican Institute / Consortium for Elections and Political Processes

A primary focus of this activity is to strengthen political parties with a particular emphasis on youth through the implementation of more transparent and consensus-driven internal decision-making processes, including more accountable management systems and enhanced democratic leadership principles/practices, both at the national and regional level. In the area of political polling, parties were trained to conduct their own polling projects to assist in the development of issue-based messages. Political parties must be able to deal effectively with the media. Communications and media training were conducted for candidates and party members who communicate with the media on a regular basis to prepare them for elections. IRI worked in Baku, Sumgait, Guba, Masalli, Lenkoran, all 7 regions of Nakhchivan, Barda, Ganja, Tovuz, Gazakh, Mingachevir, Yevlakh, Gedebey, Khachmaz, Sheki, Sabirabad, Saatli, and Imishli.
 

• Small and Medium Enterprise Finance Program

Date: October 2002 - September 2005
Assistance: $2,000,000
Implementing Partner: Shorebank

This activity was designed to help private small and medium enterprises, as well as other economically active individuals, get access to commercial loans and financing. Within the frameworks of the project, innovative financial products were introduced that were previously unavailable or underrepresented in the Azerbaijan, and their acceptance and use in the market was expanded. As a one of the project results, a permanent, self-sustainable local financial institution has been created. Complementary funding for investment in the Azerbaijan financial sector has been mobilized to support small and medium enterprises from local and international sources.
 

• Cluster Access to Business Services in Azerbaijan

Date: October 2002 - July 2007
Assistance: $2,000,000
Implementing Partner: Mercy Corps

This project improved profitability for clusters of rural poor and women micro-entrepreneurs by increasing access to a network of trained veterinary and production advice service providers, resulting in significant expansion of the service and final goods market.

• Social Investment Initiative

Date: November 2002 - February 2004
Assistance:
Implementing Partner: CHF

This project directly contributed to internally displaced and conflict-affected persons' community well-being and self-reliance through 60 demand-driven, highly participatory community projects.

• Azerbaijan Energy Assistance Program

Date: September 2003 - September 2007
Assistance: $5,500,000
Implementing Partner: PA Government Services Inc.

The goal of the activity was to improve the financial operation of the domestic electricity and natural gas subsectors and develop the regulatory, market and organizational structure of each subsector. Assistance was provided in identifying and preparing mechanisms for attracting investment capital for physical infrastructure improvements needed in supplying renewable energy to achieve a more efficient supply of energy both to the economy and population.
 

• Junior Achievement/School Economics Education

Date: March 2003 - February 2008
Assistance: $800,000
Implementing Partner: Project Harmony

The goal of this program was to teach economics and business skills to high school students by introducing “Introduction to Economics” courses to school curricula to help students develop as future business leaders and entrepreneurs. Through teacher training, preparation and support, students learned principles of a free market system and understood basic business and entrepreneurial skills. After taking “Introduction to Economics” classes and participating in competitions and business simulations, students are better prepared to assume stewardship of Azerbaijan’s economy in a way that brings the country to economic growth and stability based on free-market principles.
 

• Azerbaijan Rural Enterprise Competitiveness Program

Date: September 2003 - March 2008
Assistance: $9,200,000
Implementing Partner: The Pragma Corporation

This project improved rural incomes by stimulating agricultural development and production. Competitiveness was enhanced by strengthening free market orientation and market institutions, improving business skills, introducing new ways of financing activities in the agribusiness sector, improving domestic capacity to identify competitive products, and creating a legal and regulatory framework that supports entrepreneurship, increases competition and stimulates greater efficiency, innovation, and customer orientation among participating enterprises. 

• Free and Fair Elections & Increased Political Advocacy for Azerbaijan

Date: July 2003 - May 2009
Assistance: $5,500,000
Implementing Partner: International Foundation for Electoral Systems / Consortium for Elections and Political Processes

This project worked to strengthen electoral processes and administration in Azerbaijan and to assist in the fulfillment of the Government of Azerbaijan’s international and national election commitments through targeted support to key elements of the country’s electoral systems and processes. IFES programming can be broken down into two broad but interrelated areas: 1) Assisting in the improvement of the Legal Framework for Elections; and 2) Assisting in the improvement of Electoral Administration. In both cases, IFES worked with the official bodies primarily responsible for these areas, including most prominently, the Presidential Apparatus and the Central Election Commission. IFES also worked closely with the international community in achieving these electoral improvements, including the Council of Europe (COE), the COE’s Venice Commission and the OSCE’s office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Advice and analysis for legislative drafters, political parties, and NGOs on legislation and amendments concerning electoral and political processes was also provided.
 

• Helping to Enhance the Legal and Policy System of Azerbaijan (HELPS)

Date: September 2003 - September 2009
Assistance: $5,800,000
Implementing Partner: American Bar Association / Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative 

Information missing.
 

• Access to Legal and Policy Information

Date: June 2004 - April 2006
Assistance: $1,200,000
Implementing Partner: National Center for State Courts (NCSC)

The overall objective of this activity was to further the development of rule of law in Azerbaijan by 1) promoting more effective, transparent, and fair public legal sector institutions; 2) encouraging public sector legal institutions to function in a more transparent, open, responsive and accountable manner; 3) promoting more policies, laws, and regulations that promote democratic processes and a market-based economy; and 4) empowering citizens through public awareness of their legal rights and supporting legal access mechanisms to pursue these rights.
Documents included in the database: laws, Presidential decrees, Cabinet of Ministers resolutions, Ministerial regulations that are considered normative acts, the Constitution, acts adopted by referendum, international treaties, agreements to which Azerbaijan has acceded in the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The database was released for public access over the Internet and was made available on CD-ROMs. 

• Support to the National Bank of Azerbaijan in Banking Supervision

Date: September 2002 - September 2004
Assistance: $3,000,000
Implementing Partner: Bankworld Inc. 

The goal of this project was to develop a central bank supervision department at the National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA) to perform in accordance with international best practices. The project provided expertise on improving bank supervision practices and policies; developing a banking regulatory environment to help the NBA to effectively execute its responsibilities in banking supervision and to encourage the banking sector to be more responsive to the needs of small and medium enterprises; and establishing a mechanism for the sustainable delivery of on-the-job and formal training of NBA bank inspectors for successful execution of their responsibilities.

• Rural Azerbaijan Business Development

Date: August 2004 - October 2007
Assistance: $3,400,000
Implementing Partner: International Rescue Committee

The goal of this project was to improve business opportunities and provide economic incentives for micro and small rural enterprises at the community level. The objective was to mobilize community members to take an active role in determining market interventions by establishing Business Development Resource Centers in nine regions. The centers provide services to several communities, mobilize communities to identify and prioritize interventions, and serve as the focal point for micro and small enterprise development. The centers: assist members to establish market linkages, offer market-related training and technical assistance, and collect and disseminate business/market information; organize community groups to address common constraints to the development of viable, private-sector business activity; link rural businesses and communities to markets and other economic opportunities; and provide grants to community organizations involved in viable income-generating activities.
 

• Reproductive Health and Family Planning

Date: September 2004 - September 2009
Assistance: $9,300,000
Implementing Partner: EngenderHealth, Inc.

Azerbaijan RH/FP activities specifically addressed the reproductive health and family planning needs of the Azerbaijani population and promoted the adoption of new approaches to resource management and service delivery through training and technical assistance. Health care services and capacity building included support for improved quality assurance, management and policy at both national and targeted areas.
 

• Azerbaijan National Exit Poll

Date: September 2005 - November 2005
Assistance: $840,000
Implementing Partner: PA Government Services 

The purpose of this contract was to conduct a national exit poll following the 2005 Azerbaijani Parliamentary elections.
 

• Azerbaijan Anti-Corruption Study/Strategy Development

Date: August 2005 - January 2006
Assistance: $280,000
Implementing Partner: Financial Markets International, Inc.

Information missing.
 

• Supplemental Immunization Activity (SIA) Against Measles and Rubella in Azerbaijan

Date: August 2005 - December 2006
Assistance: $850,000
Implementing Partner: Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation

In partnership with the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation, UNICEF, and WHO, this project assisted the Ministry of Health to catch up on missed vaccinations of youth throughout the country, which is critical to achieving the stated goal of the Ministry of Health to eliminate measles by 2007.
 

• Strengthening Primary Healthcare in Azerbaijan

Date: September 2005 - October 2007
Assistance: $5,000,000
Implementing Partner: International Medical Corps  

This project was designed around four components. (1) Conduct policy dialogue with the MOH to reach agreement on improved health financing schemes and integrated PHC models. (2) Reduce non-communicable diseases and injuries by strengthening the system of early detection and prevention of hypertension and cancer by training health providers and educating population on healthier behaviors. (3) Improve maternal health and nutrition by integrating maternal health care services into the PHC delivery system and promote healthier lifestyles among mothers and young women. (4) Improve child survival, health, and nutrition by focusing on prevention of childhood diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, inclusion of IMCI into primary healthcare services and related health promotion activities.
 

• Azerbaijan Public Investment Policy and Efficiency Project

Date: March 2005 - March 2008
Assistance: $5,000,000
Implementing Partner: Development Alternatives, Inc. 

The primary objective of this project was to help strengthen the Government of Azerbaijan’s institutional capacity for: (a) long-term sectoral development and policy planning; (b) capital-budget formulation; and (c) investment project preparation, appraisal, and monitoring and evaluation.
 

• Emergency Medicine Development Initiative

Date: September 2005 - September 2008
Assistance: $1,100,000
Implementing Partner: International Medical Corps

Equal funding for this project is provided from the private sector through a consortium of oil companies. This project worked to strengthen the Ministry of Health’s emergency response capacity through policy dialogue, training emergency medical staff and first responders, and by upgrading equipment and facilities. 
 

• SME Support through Financial Sector Development

Date: September 2005 - September 2008
Assistance: $5,300,000
Implementing Partner: ACDI/VOCA 

This project worked to improve the capacity of local financial intermediaries in order to provide a wider array of financial services to a broader client base in Azerbaijan. This included work to improve training capacity in the Azerbaijan Bank Training Center and institutionalizing the Azerbaijan Micro-Finance Association.
 

• Regional Water Management Project

Date: September 2005 – September 2008 
Assistance: $1,500,000
Implementing Partner: PA Consulting

Through the Regional Water Management Project, USAID provided technical assistance in integrated water resources management in Azerbaijan through strategic work with key public and private sector stakeholders, including with Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources and Amileoration JSC. Under this project, USAID organized three workshops with the participation of diverse stakeholders to develop shared regional water management concepts and strategies across counterpart government institutions. USAID initiated negotiations with local counterparts regarding the restructuring and decentralization of the management of water resources. Introduction of a decentralized basin management approach as a core component of a rationalized water resource oversight strategy is a major reform area in which the program collaboratively engaged the Government of Azerbaijan. USAID also provided technical assistance and commodity support to local government institutions to: (1) develop the national water cadastre information system; (2) carry out water quality modeling and training activities; (3) support installation and rehabilitation of water monitoring/measurement stations; (4) facilitate standardization of water flow/discharge data; and (5) improve broad water resource management data availability for all stakeholders. 

• Community Development Activity in Azerbaijan

Date: September 2005 - May 2009
Assistance: $11,500,000
Implementing Partner: CHF International

The Community Development Activity program’s goal was to build practical, lasting linkages within and between 90 communities across 14 districts (Jalilabad, Masalli, Lenkoran, Lerik, Yardimli, Astara, Guba, Khachmaz, Devechi, Sheki, Gakh, Zagatala and Balaken) that resulted in citizens and local government being able to work together to identify priorities and channel resources into activities that improve access to basic infrastructure, expand economic opportunities, improve social conditions at the local level. A special focus was put on activities relating to marginalized groups, cross-community cooperation, regionalized strategies for socio-economic improvements, and enhanced communication between citizens and local executive authorities / municipalities. Community Development Councils were established in each community through a transparent election process and served as a voluntary management body for community mobilization and participation, project prioritization and implementation, and communicating and collaborating with local governance (both municipal and executive) in the identification and solution of local problems.
 

• Support to the Anti-corruption Strategy in Azerbaijan

Date: September 2007 - September 2009
Assistance: $800,000
Implementing Partner: Council of Europe

USAID/Azerbaijan partnered with the Council of Europe to implement a project that collaborated with the Government of Azerbaijan to help prevent and control the occurrence of corruption in accordance with European and other international standards. This two-year project was designed to improve Azerbaijan’s strategic anti-corruption framework; improve domestic legislation and benchmarking against international standards in the fight against corruption; increase the capacity for the efficient implementation of relevant legislative frameworks; establish a network to prevent the use of the financial system for money laundering and terrorism financing purposes; enhance the Government’s capacity to prevent corruption through micro-system studies; and institutionalize efficient management of ethics provisions and conflict of interest in public service.
 

• Public Expenditure Reform Support Program

Date: June 2008 - June 2009
Assistance: $3,300,000
Implementing Partner: Bearing Point, Inc.

The purpose of this program was to promote the adoption and comprehensive implementation of expenditure planning and administration reforms in order to: (1) significantly improve the rationality and transparency of capital budgeting and medium-term expenditure planning processes; and (2) improve the transparency and cost-efficiency characterizing budgetary approval/tracking processes. In turn, this would promote compliance with core anticorruption, economic competitiveness, and social equity/development goals of the Government of Azerbaijan, and improve the sustainability of critical expenditure programs and growth path of Azerbaijan’s economy.
 

• Strengthening Citizen Engagement in Democratic Processes

Date: June 2009 - October 2009
Assistance: $400,000
Implementing Partner: National Democratic Institute / Consortium for Elections and Political Processes 

This activity assisted political parties with a particular focus on women in politics, including how to organize the effective participation of women in elections, and in the advancement of major political policy reforms. The civic programming component also assisted civic organizations by helping citizens to monitor political processes and to express and advocate their needs and concerns to government decision-makers. This program was carried out through organizational training and workshops, the sharing of national and international expertise, and in-house consultations with the various political parties and NGOs. NDI worked in Khachmaz, Goychay, Sheki, Jalilabad, Ganja, Yevlakh, Gazakh, Ali-Bayramli, Imishli, Nakhchivan, Sumgait, Guba, Gusar, Lenkoran, Masalli, Khudat, and Zagatala.

• Strengthening Election Administration Capacity and Citizen Engagement in Democratic Processes

Date: May 2009 - January 2010
Assistance: $500,000
Implementing Partner: International Foundation for Electoral Systems / Consortium for Elections and Political Processes

Information missing.

• Trade and Investment Reform Support Program in Azerbaijan (TIRSP)

  Date: August 2007 - September 2010

  Implementing Partner: Chemonics
   
  The purpose of this program was to improve the transparency, predictability, and market-friendliness of the trade and investment policy and institutional environment in Azerbaijan, entailing support for further progress towards WTO accession and enhancement of institutional capacity to comprehensively implement the WTO Agreement, as well as continuing to support GOAJ efforts to develop a maximally transparent and efficient trade/investment enabling environment. Additionally, a third component was added to the TIRSP 1 year follow-on in the field of public expenditure. This component assisted Azerbaijan to strengthen the cost/benefit analysis capabilities in various public sectors, possibly including transportation, water, energy, and education.

• School Economics Education

• Media Advancement Project
  Date: July 2004 - October 2010
  Assistance: $5,750,797
  Implementing Partner: IREX
   

  This program had an aim to increase civil society’s access to objective and varied information thereby promoting and supporting public participation in Azerbaijani policy and decision-making processes. In order to achieve this aim the project carried out following activities: 1) improvement of journalistic professionalism; 2) enhancement of financial viability of media outlets; 3) increase of media advocacy; 4) development of civic journalism and increase of citizen participation. In its last year the project focused on 1) initiating and strengthening civic journalism by promoting and helping to establish alternative media outlets, especially in rural areas; 2) strengthening legal watchdog institutions to protect journalists from unjustified court cases; and 3) organizing public awareness programs on Parliamentary activities and re-introducing the culture of debates on Public TV. The Media Advancement Project worked throughout Azerbaijan, but primarily in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Zagatala, Lenkoran, Mingachevir, Guba, Tovuz, and Khachmaz.

• Civil Society Project

The goal of USAID’s Civil Society Project was 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 five-year Civil Society Project (the Project) focused on strengthening the capacity of a core group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 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 seeked to: 1) strengthen capacity of NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to engage in and advocate for key socio-economic development issues, and 2) strengthen the legal enabling environment for NGOs and CSOs. The project worked throughout the country.

• Parliamentary Program in Azerbaijan

• Financial Sector Stability Program in Azerbaijan

             Date: September 2007 - November 2010

• Private Sector Competitiveness Program

• Consolidated Action for Sustained Change (CASC) (former Community-based Support Services for Marginalized Children Program)

Date: September 2004 - October 2011
Implementing Partner: Save the Children

The Program promoted social integration and built community and institutional capacity to care for approximately 12,025 marginalized children in Azerbaijan, including institutionalized children, internally displaced children, children affected by poverty, children of single-headed households, disabled children, and street children. Save the Children introduced, field-tested and is replicating contemporary child-oriented care approaches on the community level to caregivers and service providers, successfully influenced policies, state expenditures and ensured efficient implementation of the central government level and, perhaps most importantly, worked with general public to achieve inclusive attitudes toward its marginalized and otherwise vulnerable target groups.

• Anti-corruption Advocacy and Legal Advice Centers (ALACs)

Date: July 2008 - June 2012
Implementing Partner: Transparency Azerbaijan-a local chapter of Transparency International

Anti-Corruption Advocacy and Legal Aid Centers (ALACs) of Transparency Azerbaijan (TA), the Azerbaijan local chapter of Transparency International, have been established in Baku, Ganja, and Lenkaran (respectively in July and August 2005 and July 2006) and operated with USAID financial support.