Country report: Azerbaijan

     The problems of social development in Azerbaijan are most important. The occupation of more than 20% of Azeri territory, of over one million refugees and internally displaced persons, and the deep social and economic crisis and depression is one of the main barriers for social development. In addition to these problems which have contributed to the worsening living conditions are the following:

• The absence of a national strategic programme on social development. Such a programme should be prepared on a sound scientific basis. This issue was frequently mentioned during the Copenhagen summit.
  
  
• The lack of public understanding of social development issues, the scarcity of information, and the fact that the mass media has not communicated these issues either.
  
  
• The absence of international experience, or public access to information on social development.
  
  
• The ineffective use of scientific and intellectual capabilities in dealing with social development issues.
  
  
• The absence of targeted networking activities by international organizations.
  
  
• The absence of an enabling environment in which NGOs are established and work on such issues. Additionally the inadequacy of a legislative base for social development.
  
  
• The absence of a public system of control over the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments. This system should involve government agencies, national and international NGOs and international organizations.
  
  
• Unequal opportunities for using generated profits, resources and social services.
  
  
• The poor attempts at building a civil society.
  
  
• The serious problems with the transition to a market-oriented economy.
  
  
• The serious drawbacks in the work of customs, tax inspection and controlling authorities in the republic.
  
  
• The absence of a systematic and sustainable course of action for the creation of an economic, political, social and legal environment for the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations in the area of social development.
  
  
• The poor quality of medical services and health care, and the extraordinarily low level of medical treatment and opportunities afforded the poor.
  
  
• The decline in the quality of education and moral value of people.
  
  
• The misuse of land and rural areas.
  
  
• The inadequate situation for improving or receiving technical training.
  
  
• The high level of corruption.
  
  
• The lack of analytical work and the fact that the opinions of experts are often ignored.
  
  
• The lack of job creating programmes and activities generating employment.
  
  
• The insufficient attention of the government to micro-credit programmes.

     Over one thousand non-governmental organizations exist in Azerbaijan today. Of these, more than one hundred actively implement different projects and 50-60 work on social development programmes. Considering that these problems are very familiar to NGOs, they clearly see the ways of solving them. NGOs prepare social development projects, and contact various international funding organizations. In the period since Copenhagen (1995-1999), the NGOs of Azerbaijan implemented several social development programmes including:

• The receipt and distribution of humanitarian aid provided by donor organizations.
  
  
• Rehabilitation programmes (social, medical, construction and technical).
  
  
• Small and medium business, micro-loans and employment programmes.
  
  
• Training programmes.
  
  
• Encouraging the creation of civil society and further development of community work.
  
  
• Environment, cultural and art programmes.
  
  
• Social programmes for women and children.
  
  
• Social programmes for prisoners.
  
  
• Programmes for refugees, the internally displaced, war veterans and their families.
  
  
• Programmes for the elderly and orphans.
  
  
• Various surveys and research.
  
  
• Monitoring and evaluating the outcome of several government programmes.
  
  
• The involvement of NGOs at various meetings, summits and conferences convened by international organizations.

     The economic situation in the country remains complex, with levels of poverty at over 80% in some areas and the existence of over a million refugees and IDPs. Such a situation demands that NGOs take action, including:

• Preparing a national strategic social development programme with the participation of NGOs, government and international organizations.
  
  
• Building a database on the basis of international experience, including surveying, monitoring and research. Government supported centers should be created and appropriately funded for the implementation of social development programmes.
  
  
• Effective use of international experience, assistance and possibilities for the preparation and implementation of new social development programmes.
  
  
• Strengthening the legislative base in the area of social development, improving regulations and adopting a law on NGOs. Creating an enabling environment for NGOs.
  
  
• Ensuring community and civil control over the execution of laws.
  
  
• Strengthening civil control over reforms.
  
  
• Ensuring the fair distribution of land, the reform of tax and customs policies, and the provision of technical assistance, utilities, energy, agricultural, food, water, environmental and health standards, free medical care, quality education and human rights protection.
  
  
• Creating new employment opportunities, assisting small and medium-sized enterprises, and developing the stock exchange, and industrial and business centers.
  
  
• Undertaking anti-corruption measures.
  
  
• Retraining to address new economic demands.
  
  
• Focusing human and natural resources to address social problems.
  
  
• Establishing new industrial, manufacturing, scientific, social, cultural, medical and public services units.
  
  
• Free public access to the mass media coverage of social development problems.
  
  
• Prioritizing the community and social development programmes.
  
  
• Prioritizing long-term and sustainable programmes.