by Mr. Azay Guliyev, Chairman of the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Member of Parliament June 2011 Budapest, Hungary PRESENTATION

General picture of NGO sector in Azerbaijan Registered NGOs – 2671 (June, 2011) Active NGOs – approx (June, 2011) Permanent employment – 3979 pp. Temporary employment – 3031 pp. Members and volunteers – pp. Beneficiaries of NGO activities – pp. 1.

Main areas of NGO activity (24 directions) Economic affairs Children and youth Education, science and technology Sports Legal Protection Culture and art Refugees/IDPs, veterans, disable people Professional Agriculture Problems of women Health issues Ecology Entrepreneurship Ethnic minorities Media Peace activities Freedom of faith Fight against drug trafficking Tourism Work with municipalities Fight against terrorism Anti-corruption activities Unions of legal persons International organizations 2.

NGO legislation LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN “ON GRANTS” LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN “ON STATE REGISTRATION AND STATE REGISTER OF LEGAL ENTITIES” LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN “ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (PUBLIC ASSOCIATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS)” “CONCEPT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ON STATE SUPPORT TO NGOS” LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN “ON VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES” 3.

The Concept of the State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan - approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 27 July

The Concept includes the followings: Basic principles and forms of the state support to NGOs; Priority areas of the state support to NGOs; Main instruments of providing the state support to NGOs; Improvement of the collaboration mechanisms between the public bodies and civil society institutions; Framework for state financing of programs, projects and activities important for the state and society. 5.

Five types of state support for NGOs: 1. Information support - provides for highlighting the NGO sector activity in settlement of social issues through the mass media, creation of special rubrics, radio and television broadcasts on the NGO sector development in Azerbaijan. 2. Consultative support - expressed in interpretation of legislative and other legal-normative acts, as well as consultancy on opportunities to obtain state support, NGOs existing in the country and other vital issues. 3. Methodic support - carried out through development of methodical recommendations, materials, information booklets and other means. 6.

Five types of state support for NGOs: 4. Institutional support - provided through organization of “round tables”, seminars, conferences, trainings and other events on the settlment of social problems jointly with non-governmental organizations. 5. Financial support - envisages financing of targeted programs, projects and actions focused on solution of problems, important for society, through the state budget funds. 7.

State registration of NGOs - all NGOs (national, international, regional and local NGOs) founded in Azerbaijan pass state registration with the Ministry of Justice; registration of foreign NGO representatives and branches is also performed by the Ministry of Justice. 8.

Participation of NGOs in decision-making 1. NGOs are officially represented in decision-making institutions. - Council of State Support to NGOs – 8 NGO members; - Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Council – 4 NGO members; - Fund of the State Support to Mass Media – 3 NGO members; - Supervisory Board of the Social Development Fund of IDPs; - State Commission on prisoners of war, hostage and missing persons; - Pardoning Issues Commission; - Education Commission. 9.

Participation of NGOs in decision-making 2. In the preparation and discussion of normative-legal acts, concepts of state programs, national activity strategies and activity plans. - “National Action Plan against Human Trafficking” ( ); - “State Program for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development” ( ); - “State Anti-Corruption Program” ( ). 3. Another mechanism of cooperation between government and NGOs. - Public Committee on Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice - engaged in issues, such as living conditions, welfare, supply of medical service, preparation of general and professional education for prisoners; - Commissions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. 10.

Participation of NGOs in the state programs - State Program on Application of Norms of the European Social Charter - State Program on the Development of the Justice System in Azerbaijan - State Program for Azerbaijani Youth - State Program for Development of the Azerbaijani Cinema - State Program for Development of Demography and Population Inhabitancy in the Republic of Azerbaijan - State Program for Providing Children from State Child Organizations With Families and Alternative care - State Program for the Implementation of Employment Strategy in the Republic of Azerbaijan - State Anti Corruption Program - State Program Against Drugs, Illegal Flow of Psychotropic Matters and Pekurses, Spread of Drugs - State Program for Solving Problems of Refugees and Refugees - State Program for the Development of Creativity in Gifted Children (Youth) - State Program for Diabetics - State Program for Reduction of Poverty and for Sustainable Development in Republic of Azerbaijan - National Activity Plan for Protection of Human Rights 11. Between NGOs participated in implementation of 13 state programs with more than 40 events in 17 different directions :

The Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Established by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 13 December, 2007 with the main objectives: Structure - 8 NGO and 3 government representatives appointed as members of the Council by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 16 April Secretariat – executes decisions made by the Council strengthen civil society and achieve thier sustainable development; - encourage close cooperation between government and NGOs by acting as a bridge between them; - engage NGOs in addressing social problems.

Financial support provided through: call for proposals; NGO initiatives, supported throughout the year. YearsNumber of Projects Amount of Fund (in US dollars) projects projects projects (June) 263 projects Total1055 projects Amount of financial support to NGOs by the Council per year:

Annual Budget of NGOs in Azerbaijan Year Number of the contract registered by the Ministry of Justice Total amount of the registered contract (with USD) Amount given by the Council (with USD) Percentage of the Council in general amount (with %) , , , ,2

Rules for evaluating projects submitted by NGOs to the Council The evaluation of projects takes place in 3 stages: Stage I. Primary selection, conducted by the Council’s Secretariat which: - receives projects according to the Council’s decision; - records and codifies the projects; - groups projects by their thematic areas indicated in the announcement of competition; - checks the conformity of projects and attachments to them with the format established by the Council; - Projects not complying with the competition terms are not introduced to the next stage of evaluation. 15.

Stage II. Evaluation by the Experts Rules for evaluating projects submitted by NGOs to the Council - projects, which are codified for neutrality and fair evaluation, are passed to the expert groups for evaluation; - at the same time, the names of experts are codified as well. The experts evaluate projects on score-based system according to the evaluation sheet approved by the Council. Each project is evaluated individually by 3 different experts with provision on confidentiality; - the evaluations are summarized by the Secretariat and submitted to the Council with the relevant reference. 16.

- the Council discusses and makes appropriate decision. The Secretariat informs NGOs, submitted project proposals, about the decisions made. The Council signs contracts with the winners; - information on the winners of the call for proposal is placed on the Council’s web-page and delivered individually to the organizations. 17. Rules for evaluating projects submitted by NGOs to the Council Stage III. Consideration by the Council

Accountibility of NGOs receiving grants NGOs submit both interim and final reports on dates specified in the contract and in compliance with the templates approved by the Council; reports are accepted and evaluated by the Secretariat of the Council; funded projects are monitored by the Secretariat of the Council to gather information on the progress of the project. 18.

For further information Journal of “Civil Society” 19.

Thank you for attention!