AZERBAIJAN

Annual Report 2019 UNITED NATIONS-AZERBAIJAN PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK 2016-2020 Layout & Design Grid Cartels

Photography UN Azerbaijan Archives

Cover Often, the UN Office in Azerbaijan hosts school students to raise awareness on the history, values and goals of the United Nations, as well as the work done by the UN entities in Azerbaijan. CONTENT

FOREWORD 4

TOP HIGHLIGHTS 6

SECTION 1: CONTEXT 10 Development picture in Azerbaijan 10 Political and peace picture 12

SECTION 2: KEY RESULTS 14 Towards Agenda 2030 14 Strategic Priority Area One: Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development, Underpinned by Increased Diversification and Decent Work 16 Strategic Priority Area Two: Strengthening Institutional Capacities and Effective Public and Social Services 20 Strategic Priority Area Three: Improving Environmental Management and Resilience to Hazards and Disasters 26 Empowering Youth 28 Empowering Women 30 Human Rights 31

SECTION 3: COORDINATION RESULTS 36

SECTION 4: WAY FORWARD 42

SECTION 5: PARTNERS AND FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 44 Partners 44 Financial Overview 44

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS 46 FOREWORD

am pleased to present the 2019 Annual Report on activities by the United Nations Country Team I (UNCT) in Azerbaijan, under the 2016-2020 United Nations-Azerbaijan Partnership Framework.

The report showcases our support to Azerbaijan’s efforts to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This is an ambitious agenda that Azerbaijan has been seeking to achieve through a range of public policies in the social, economic and climate change spheres. The report uses concrete examples of UNCT’s contributions to policies, strategies and actions that strengthened Azerbaijan’s human and institutional capacities in 2019. Our efforts were conducted in close collaboration with our partners in Government, civil society and the private sector. We also engaged our development partners in various ways, creating new opportunities for the people of Azerbaijan - particularly the most vulnerable - to enjoy the benefits of sustainable development.

The report has been put together at a time Azerbaijan is playing an increasingly important role in international peace and development. In 2019 Baku hosted several high-level UN events, such as the 43rd session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the United Nations Public Service

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Forum, the 5th World Forum on Intercultural people of Azerbaijan in the next years to ensure Dialogue, and the 110th Session of the Executive the country stays on track of the achievement of Council of The World Tourism Organization. The the 2030 Agenda despite the disruption caused by city also hosted several honorary guests, such as the COVID-19. President of the United Nations General Assembly, the Under Secretary-Generals for Economic and As I invite you to learn more about the full range Social Affairs and for Political and Peacebuilding of our activities and accomplishments in 2019, I Affairs, and the High-Representative for the United would also like to express, on behalf of the UNCT, Nations Alliance of Civilizations. These are all signs my sincere appreciation to the Government of of advanced cooperation between the UN system Azerbaijan, our development partners, and our and Azerbaijan in promoting global solidarity and staff and experts whose work was very instrumental multilateral action. in achieving these results.

These values have recently come under threat with a few rising voices against multilateralism and for the protection of national interests and identities. Ghulam Isaczai Yet the global response to the recent COVID-19 United Nations Resident outbreak has shown that isolationism undermines Coordinator in Azerbaijan rather than protects nations. At the UNCT we are proud that cooperation modalities were established very early on with the Government to address the immediate effects of this crisis, including through the exchange of international expertise, advocacy and technical support. We ensured that vital medical supplies were procured, prevention messages were broadcast, and the best technical advice was made available to our national counterparts. We will continue working with the Government and

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 5 TOP HIGHLIGHTS

Amendments to the Law on the State Registry National Information Portal Allows Convention of the Population on the SDGs was launched- refugees to be recognized were adopted by the introduces an interactive as officially residing in the Parliament and approved dashboard which tracks and country, which gives them by the President monitors progress towards the access to legal employment SDGs in real-time (UNDP) and other social services (UNHCR)

National Sustainable The country’s first Data Centre Energy plan was - a data storage facility was At Azerbaijan’s first ever developed- provides analysis established in Yevlakh district, Inclusivity Hackathon and recommendations to makes Azerbaijan the fourth ex- - 16 teams worked increase energy efficiency Soviet country with a Data Centre, relentlessly for 48 hours and and reduce the negative extends the reach of the ICT to the developed a wide range of environmental impact of most remote parts of the country prototypes and open source energy use by developing and improves information security code solutions to tackle appropriate and sustainable for telecommunications operators, challenges facing people policy frameworks (UNECE) businesses and IT companies (UNDP) with disabilities (UNDP)

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 National Action Plan on Prevention of and Response to National Antimicrobial A Vision document Gender Biased Sex Selection Resistance (AMR) Action for Primary (GBSS) was developed-when Plan was finalized helps Healthcare (PHC) endorsed, it will present the the Government strengthen was developed- comprehensive roadmap for its health and surveillance aims to develop the the effective intervention systems to prevent and manage best PHC model for strategies to reduce the antimicrobial resistance (WHO) Azerbaijan (WHO) phenomenon of the GBSS in Azerbaijan (UNFPA)

The first maternity hospital adopted international An Agreement was reached Baby-Friendly Hospital with the National Bar standards promotes Association to provide free Azerbaijan adopted a breastfeeding and other good legal aid to the victims of new ten-year national infant health and nutrition domestic violence and pro forestry programme, ensures practices (UNICEF) bono legal services to refugees sustainable management and and asylum seekers (UNRCO, efficient use of the forest UNHCR) resources, protection of forest reserves and biodiversity, and climate change adaptation (FAO, UNECE)

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 7 DATA HIGHLIGHTS

Around Around 2,400 IDPs, refugees and asylum- seekers benefited from 3000 14000 free of charge vision patients (of Hepatitis C, drug- people benefited screening tests and sensitive tuberculosis and HIV) from free received eyeglasses and accessed high quality reagents legal services other vision and hearing and medicines (UNDP) (UNDP,OHCHR,IOM) items (UNHCR)

More than Around 3,600 More than young people aged 12-24 in six 500 districts benefitted from the Basic health professionals in 100 Life Skills and Reproductive Health rural households 30 districts can better and Gender Equality programmes, (66 women-led) review and analyse legal and psychological counselling established or the near-missed cases, through the Joint Government-UN enhanced their small screen cervical cancer, Youth Houses Initiative (UNICEF, family businesses and support family UN Women, UNFPA, UNV and the UN (UNDP, IOM, FAO) planning (UNFPA) Youth Advisory Council)

8 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 78 Nine regional employment joint alternative reports centres apply ILO SIYB and joint inputs for List of Issues were 320 methodology-one community-based submitted by civil society of the largest global Early Learning representatives and business management Centers for 3-to- members of the lawyers’ training programmes 4year-old children community to UN Treaty to help small-scale serves more than Bodies, including CESCR, entrepreneurs start and 6,000 children in 32 CRC, CEDAW, CRPD, and grow their business districts (UNICEF) CAT. (OHCHR)

Nearly 60 More than 7 mln public and private cubic metres of gas extension service 5000 previously released into the providers throughout primary school teachers atmosphere now is collected country now provide in 7 districts educated and delivered to more quality technical advice on teaching standards than 600 households in to farmers (FAO) to deliver inclusive 15 villages who previously education for children used wood from the forests with disabilities (UNICEF) to heat their homes and cook(UNDP ,State Oil Company (SOCAR)

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 9 17 local artists visually interpreted each goal on used oil barrels to promote the SDGs through visual art.

SECTION 1 CONTEXT

reflecting greater dynamism in most economic Development picture sectors. Several positive amendments to the tax code (Presidential decree of 20 December, 2018) were in Azerbaijan introduced to promote entrepreneurship, address tax evasion and the shadow economy, broaden the tax Azerbaijan is an upper-middle-income country with a base, improving tax administration and increase the GDP per capita of $USD 4722. Supported by stable efficiency of tax deductions. Fourth State Program oil production and a modest acceleration in domestic on the socio-economic development of the regions demand, real GDP expanded by 2.2 percent in 20191. of Azerbaijan was launched. In the World Bank’s The2 non-oil economy expanded by 3.5 percent, Doing Business report 20202, Azerbaijan achieved

1. Ministry of Economy 2. World Bank’s Doing Business report 2020

10 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 AZERBAIJAN IS AN UPPER MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY WITH A GDP PER CAPITA OF $USD 4722

the highest results in the field of credit availability. the Government to reduce the unemployment rate The year 2019 also saw the launch of the European to 4 percent in Azerbaijan by 2030, as well as to connection of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas bring the unemployment rate among women and Pipeline (TANAP), marking a further step towards the youth to a minimum. Further actions were taken transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. Azerbaijan to counter bullying and violence against children continued reforms in the agrarian sphere in 2019. and youth. But further efforts are needed to align The State Program on ensuring of food safety in the budget spending with development needs, including Republic of Azerbaijan was launched. The Agency for through strengthening medium-term budgeting and Agrarian Services was established to provide farmers the public investment management system. with services on a ‘single window’ principle. Moreover, the electronic agricultural information system (EAIS) Significant legal and judicial reforms were carried out was launched, and a single database on farmers was to strengthen the justice system. Following the entry created.Azerbaijan has also established a mechanism into force of the Law on Mediation, new mediation of agrarian insurance based on Turkey’s model. rules have been adopted, and the electronic court system has been improved. As well, a new State Social protection was among the top priorities of the Program on the development of justice and Strategy Government in 2019, as wages and social benefits on the development of civil service were adopted. were increased during the year for over 4.2 million With a Human Development Index (HDI) score of people. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection 0.754, Azerbaijan is classified as a country with a paved the way for the issuance of a decree doubling high human development. While the country ranks the minimum wage and increasing the minimum 87th among 189 countries assessed, inequality has pension by 72% for 660,000 pensioners in the widened in relations to income and gender equality country. The Government also supported around and women empowerment. 900,000 people affected by the 2015 devaluation with their loan payments. In terms of environmental footprint3, 98.4 percent of total energy consumption is sourced from fossil The notable increases in the 2019 budget fuels. The share of renewables in total final energy allocations for education (up by 13 percent) and consumption is only 2.3 percent, while for Europe health care (by 44.5 percent) are important in terms and Central Asia, the average is twice higher. of improving human capital. A new State Program Although carbon dioxide emission is smaller, it has kicked off on the enhancement of international been on upward trajectory since 2010. In May 2019, competitiveness of the higher education system. A Azerbaijan joined the international Bonn Challenge new Employment Programme was also set up by on forest landscape restoration and committed

3. HDR 2019

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 11 THE COUNTRY CONTINUED HOSTING HIGH-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, SUCH AS THE 18th SUMMIT OF THE NON- ALIGNED MOVEMENT IN BAKU ON 25- 26 OCTOBER, THE 43RD SESSION OF UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE, THE UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE FORUM AND THE 5TH WORLD FORUM ON INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

to restoring 170,000 ha of forests by 20304. This in charge of education, tax reform, agriculture and commitment increased the visibility for the country’s rural development, the environment, and energy. The efforts to improve and sustainably manage forests, new Government has been tasked with continuing which is also the main target in the country’s new the reforms in key sectors to induce economic forestry programme. growth. Although no women were appointed to ministerial positions, women candidates and youth representatives actively took part in the municipal elections of 23 December 2019. Political and peace picture In late 2019, the ruling party appealed to the In recent years Azerbaijan has consistently President with an initiative to dissolve the parliament experienced political stability and improved security, with the aim of carrying out his reform agenda recording substantial gains in indicators concerning and modernizing Azerbaijan’s legislative branch. state fragility, the security situation as well as the Consequently, the President signed an order to hold strength of state institutions (Fragility State Index, a snap parliamentary election on February 9, 2020. 2019; Global Peace Index 2019). Starting from early 2019, President Ilham Aliyev made significant The country has been active in preparing and submitting changes in the Government structures replacing post- periodic reports to different UN Human Rights Treaty independence public officials, merging or liquidating Bodies. In 2018, Azerbaijan completed the third some agencies, as well as setting up new institutions. cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Of the These included the nomination of a new Prime 259 recommendations it received, the Government Minister and the appointment of several key ministers accepted 179 for implementation and 66 for further

4. An additional 100,000 ha conditional upon receiving funding

12 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 H.E. Tijjani Muhammed-Bande, President of the United Nations General Assembly met with stu- dents at the event dedicated to the celebration of the “United Nations day” in Baku, Azerbaijan.

review. In July 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The country continued hosting high-level international In May 2019, announced the set-up of a National Mechanism for events that were attended by senior UN officials Azerbaijan Follow-Up and Reporting on the implementation of in 2019. The president of the 74th session of the joined the the UPR recommendations, bringing together the General Assembly and the Under-Secretary-General representatives of various ministries, state agencies for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs attended the international and public sector organizations. XVIII Summit of the Heads of State and Government Bonn Challenge of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku on 25-26 on forest At the same time, recent reports by the UN October. landscape Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures highlight restoration and shortcomings in areas such as freedom of expression, During the first half of 2019, negotiations over the association and assembly, independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the committed to judiciary, criminal and administrative prosecution, Minsk Co-Chairs generated a positive momentum as restoring and cultural rights. Notable improvements in civic several high-level engagements resulted in new security space include the rallies against domestic violence measures, a substantial decrease of tensions along the 170.000 ha that were organized on the occasion of International Line of Contact as well as a stated commitment “to of forests by 2030 Women’s Day, which were the first of their kind in prepare populations for peace”. However, progress on Azerbaijan. substantive issues remained stagnant.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 13 An intensive 48-hour non-stop Inclusivity Hackathon, the first of its kind organized by the UNDP in Azerbaijan, introduced new value-added technology solutions to break down barriers and expand access to quality living for people with disabilities.

SECTION 2 KEY RESULTS

Towards Agenda 2030 Data, Monitoring and Reporting • The Government of Azerbaijan has produced In 2019, UN agencies in Azerbaijan continued to its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) provide technical support and policy advice to build of SDGs and presented it at the High-Level the capacities of state institutions for realizing the Political Forum (HLPF) in New-York in July 2019. SDGs and to make these institutions effective, Its preparation was technically and financially transparent, accountable and inclusive. supported by UNDP with inputs from other UN organisations, in close consultation with the private sector and youth groups. • Another product of cooperation with UNDP was the launch of the National Information Portal on the SDGs. The portal introduces

14 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Building partnerships for SDGs To unleash the transformative capacity of the business sector for development and SDGs, the following flagship events were organised:

• The first Public-Private Sector Dialogue on SDGs was launched by UNDP, National Coordination Council on Sustainable Development (NCCSD) and the Ministry of Economy. Bringing together over 100 representatives of government, businesses and international organisations, this platform built synergies and pave the way for the development of Azerbaijan’s first Roadmap or Action Plan on Public-Private Sector Engagement and Partnership for the SDGs.

Click • Business leaders discussed embedding UN Here Global Compact principles and SDGs into their operations and strategies at the joint an interactive dashboard, which collects conference on Responsible Business co- consolidated data on the SDGs from designated organised by the UN Resident Coordinator’s government institutions and tracks and monitors Office, UNICEF, UN Global Compact, UN Women progress towards the SDGs in real-time. and UNDP. • In line with the new (2019-2030), the State • With UNDESA initiative, the first National Statistics Committee acquired greater ability Workshop on “Strengthening National to produce quality data with methodological Policy Capacities of Azerbaijan for Jointly support from FAO on food-related SDG Building the Belt and Road towards the indicators, from UNICEF on child-related data SDGs” provided a space to share experiences and from UNFPA on developing and integrating in response to the needs for policy research new sex-disaggregated indicators5 into the and tools and maximize positive impacts of BRI national statistical database. To this effect, a investment on SDG progress. first data analysis course was hosted by • A series of events and seminars were held by UN a local University, a realisation of an initiative entities (ILO on decent work, social protection, with UNICEF support where the staff of and sustainable enterprises in Azerbaijan and the Committee acquired new skills on the FAO on food, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry) visualization of complex data. aimed at a better understanding of SDGs and increase the contribution of the public and and increasing the contribution of the public and private sector to their implementation.

5. 18 new sex-disaggregated indicators in 2019

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 15 STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA ONE: Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development, Underpinned by Increased Diversification and Decent Work

Newly renovated and fully- equipped To match local capabilities with the demands of the labour market and to bridge education to employ- workshops ment, UNDP in partnership with the EU delegation, the Ministry of Education and the State Agency on Vo- cational Education strengthened the physical infrastructure, technical foundation, training and opera- in two vocational tional capacities for vocational educationin two big cities of the country, Ganja and Lankaran. education centers in Lankaran and Ganja cities The UN system in Azerbaijan supported the curriculum for 12 new occupations in Government efforts to boost employment line with current market demands. It also offer opportunities, skill development and education of helped to gender barriers that are especially the workforce for non-oil sectors, with a particular strong in the southern regions of the country, 12 new focus on the economic empowerment of women, since, for the first time in Jalilabad, occupations in youth and vulnerable communities. 21 young women are now registered in vocational education programmes. line with current Matching skills with demands In addition with UNDP support, new teaching market demands • Newly renovated and fully-equipped workshops methodologies, e-university and quality in two vocational education centers in Lankaran management systems were introduced at the and Ganja cities started to offer an updated State Tourism University and a self-evaluation

16 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 report for the UNWTO TedQual audit was THE NATIONAL CONFEDERATION prepared-a unique and the only international quality certification issued by UNWTO for OF ENTREPRENEURS (EMPLOYERS) higher tourism education, training and research programmes. ORGANIZATIONS (ASK) HAS • Capacities of around 700 young people in ADOPTED ILO’S FLAGSHIP BUSINESS 20+ districts were built in career development (UNDP), vocational (IOM) and business skills MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME (FAO, ILO). • The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs “START AND IMPROVE YOUR (Employers) Organizations (ASK) has adopted BUSINESS (SIYB)” AND WILL ROLL ILO’s flagship business management training programme “Start and Improve Your IT’S AS A NEW SERVICE FOR THEIR Business” (SIYB) and is planning to roll out SIYB trainings as a new service for their MEMBERS IN AZERBAIJAN members in Azerbaijan. In each of the 78 regional employment centres a unit on self- employment programs was established and have stafftrained on ILO SIYB methodology. entities (UNDP, IOM, and FAO). Read some of the heartwarming human stories. Expanding Micro, Small & Medium • Over 1,000 young people living in rural Enterprises (MSMEs) in rural areas areas benefited from the trainings on new • Around 100 rural households (66 women-led) agricultural models that increase productivity established or enhanced their community- and protect the environment, as well as on based small family businesses as a result access to a start-up capital within the he of local business initiatives launched by UN Agrarian Employment Promotion (AMAL) project, jointly implemented by FAO and the Click Here Agrarian Credit and Development Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture. • At the same time, Agro Action of Azerbaijani Women project (AFAQ) was launched with the State Agro Trade Company to strengthen gender-sensitive rural advisory services, support women’s self-organisation and access to information networks and to enhance visibility of women and girls’ roles in agriculture and rural livelihoods.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 17 FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF VEGETABLE GROWING STARTED THE PRODUCTION OF MINI-TUBERS TO SUPPLY POTATO SEED PRODUCERS WITH DISEASE-FREE PLANTING MATERIALS

Advancing in Agriculture Vegetable Growing started producing mini- tubers to supply potato seed producers with FAO continued its support to the Government disease-free planting materials, a notable step of Azerbaijan through a range of interventions toward local production. focused on increasing agricultural productivity and • UNDP has introduced high-tech farming in contributing to the successful implementation of Sheki, Goranboy and Goychay districts of the agrarian reforms. country within its Agrobiodiversity program implemented with support from the Global • Implementation of National Land Environment Facility and in partnership with Consolidation Programme is one of the the Ministry of Agriculture. The programme examples, which contributes to the longer-term aims to reduce dependency on food imports improvement of the farm structures, addresses by increasing domestic food production, structural problems in agriculture caused by diversifying crops and thus improving the land fragmentation, informal and outdated livelihoods of small-scale farmers. UNDP land registry, and agricultural infrastructure. works with the National Genetic Institute on • In addition, market analyses were conducted reviving and preserving a range of native for products such as persimmon and garlic and species of wheat, vegetables and forage crops business plans were developed on sustainable to improve agricultural productivity and reduce fishery which helps the country diversify and land degradation using native crops. As well increase its agro-food export potential. FAO a new mobile training and soil-testing also supported Government efforts to develop laboratory reaches farmers on spot to inform a strategy and a framework for sustainable them about the most successful farming agricultural advisory services to better respond methods to adopt in local conditions. Small to current and future challenges in the weather stations and SMS notification agriculture sector. Sixty public and private system helps farmers make more informed extension service providers throughout the decisions about which crops to plant at what country (41% women) now provide quality times and when not to use water. Read a story technical advice to farmers to support their of Kazim Mammadov, a farmer in Shaki who agricultural production As well, for the first is now utilising more sustainable irrigation and time, the Scientific Research Institute of cropping techniques.

18 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Beekeeping business brings financial independence for a village teacher, a member one of the Women Re- source Centres set up with support of UNDP and State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs which provides a space for women to grow and thrive in their communities. Read her full story here.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 19 STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA TWO: Strengthening Institutional Capacities and Effective Public and Social Services

Now, Access to community-based early Learning services for 3-4-year-old children was considerably ex- panded in 2019 with UNICEF support, with some 320 centers providing learning to more than 6,000 chil- dren (estimated 47% girls and 53% boys) in 32 districts. 320 preschool teachers were trained to de- 5,000 liver quality learning, early stimulation and early child development activities for young children primary school teachers and 318 university Building on data and research in the implementation of the Action Plan on tutors in 7 • UNECE and the Government joined forces to Informal Employment. The report, ”Enabling districts have align the customs data, employed at the Single Environment for Sustainable Enterprises” was the knowledge Window Customs system, with international developed by the Confederation of Employers standards6. Since the country does not belong with ILO support. and skills to to any trade bloc, the harmonization standard • UNFPA supported the assessment of make their for data sharing will save time and money. legislation and social policies to address classes inclusive • ILO produced a diagnosis report on the phenomenon of son preference for children with supporting the transition from the informal and promote the value of a girl child in disabilities to the formal economy which will be utilized Azerbaijan where a skewed sex ratio at birth

6. United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), the Euro- pean Union’s Customs Data Model and other international standards.

20 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 considerably exceeds the biological norm. their classes inclusive for children with • The National Transfer Accounts were disabilities. And nine Resource Centres were also developed to explore the benefits of established in these districts to provide support the demographic dividend and economic and access to training and learning resources implications of population changes in for teachers and schools. Read more here. Azerbaijan. • The new Inclusive Vocational Arts and • Country-specific dataset on Azerbaijan is Crafts Training Centre, which was established made available on OCHA Humanitarian Data with UNDP support is home to 111 enthusiasts Exchange portal with maps and population (including 45 persons with disabilities) enrolled statistics with support of RCO, UNDP, DPPA, in 6 classes where they learn together and and UNFPA. experience life through traditional arts. • Since August 2019, UNDP Accelerator Lab • Over 70% of children refugees and asylum- in Azerbaijan on-boarded a local team of seekers (of 400 in total) now have access to explorer, mapper, and experimenter to offer an primary and secondary education facilities with innovative set of services to collaborate with the support of UNHCR. people, the Government, and the private sector. The lab aims to transform the collective approach Access to healthcare to development by introducing new services • Following extensive advocacy by WHO, a like sensemaking, collective intelligence, Parliamentary Working Group was formed to solutions mapping, and experiments. The draft changes in the national health legislation All refugees team is already on the ground tracking down that strengthen primary healthcare (PHC) now have frontier challenges such as the inclusion of in Azerbaijan. In August, a policy dialogue people with disabilities at the grassroots level. It bringing together local and international access to has organized the first Inclusivity Hackathon experts contributed to the development primary bringing together over 30 industry experts, of a vision for primary healthcare in the health care technology pundits, national innovation labs country that aspires to universal coverage. facilities in and people with disabilities to work alongside This vision will yield into the launch of a PHC Azerbaijan 16 participating teams to come up with Demonstration Project, aiming to develop the solutions that can substantially improve the best PHC model for Azerbaijan. wellbeing of people with disabilities. • Supported by WHO, two national counterparts from the Analytic Expertise Center were trained Inclusive education and certified as GMP (good manufacturing Primary Inclusive education is not an option – it is a right, practices) who are in charge of the quality of healthcare established in the UN Conventions on the Rights of medicines in the country. the Child and the Rights of People with Disabilities, • WHO mission visited Azerbaijan to assess the is at the and now enshrined in a Presidential Decree in health system in the country and to provide spotlight of Azerbaijan and UN agencies actively support this recommendations for a successful roll-out of the country agenda through teacher trainings, curriculum Mandatory Health Insurance scheme. development and public awareness campaigns. • Through technical support from UNICEF, the • With UNICEF support, now, 5,000 primary State Agency for Mandatory Health Insurance school teachers and 318 university tutors in 7 included iron and folic acid supplements into districts have the knowledge and skills to make the new insurance benefits package, which

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 21 2019 marked the 15th anniversary of the humanitarian aid missions of the Japanese Fuji Optical Company to Azerbaijan realised through UNHCR initia- tive. During the annual missions every year since 2005, optometrist specialists conducted eye-check for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and other vulnerable people and distributed free of charge eyeglasses, other vision and hearing items more than 31000 people until today.

22 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 IRON AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTS ARE INCLUDED INTO THE NEW INSURANCE BENEFITS PACKAGE, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE HEALTH OF PREGNANT WOMEN

will contribute to substantial improvement in and their families were provided with the health of pregnant women. professional social work services, • Around 500 health professionals in 30 supported by UNICEF, and 280 children with districts were trained in review and analysis of developmental delays and disabilities, 200 the near-missed case reviews (perinatal audit), juvenile offenders, street children and victims cervical cancer screening, and family planning of violence and abuse were provided with with UNFPA support. community-based social rehabilitation services. • Around 14,000 patients (of Hepatitis C, drug- • 11 Family Support Centres have integrated a sensitive tuberculosis, adults and children with child development assessment tool that is now HIV) benefited from the provision of quality used to assess and track the developmental healthcare services as a result of a partnership progress of more than 500 children being between UNDP and the Ministry of Health supported by the Centres. through the procurement of reagents and • A workshop dedicated to Child Protection medicines. organised by UNHCR produced a list of • All refugees now have access to primary recommendations for the Government on health care facilities after UNHCR successfully how to better protect the unaccompanied lobbied for their admission to the national and separated children. A cooperation secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions in agreement between UNHCR and the Bar case of serious medical emergencies. Association will allow qualified BAR members to represent asylum-seekers and refugees in Access to legal and social services courts for significantly lowerfees. UNHCR also • With UNICEF’s support, local child protection reached an agreement with GIZ (German coordination mechanisms were modeled in development agency) to include refugees in 3 districts to strengthen integrated response the list of potential beneficiaries of its project and referral services. An electronic case on employment and entrepreneurship for management system was developed and tested low-income IDP households; with Microsoft which will help increase the quality, efficiency, Azerbaijan to provide free trainings on and effectiveness of government-funded NGO- computer literacy for refugees at the Refugee run social care services. Women and Youth Centre including test and • More than 1,550 vulnerable children certification and with Azersun company

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 23 The Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee and UNICEF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aim- ing at further developing the Children’s Paralympic Movement in Azerbaijan, thereby contributing to the social re- habilitation, healthy development and social integration of children and youth with disabilities through sport. The Movement will henceforth cover not only the capital of Azerbaijan, but also its regions. Only in 2019, 185 girls and boys with disabilities were able to participate at the Fifth Children’s Paralympic Games. “My daughter loves com- ing here,” says Dilara Safquliyeva, who’s 13-year-old daughter has been participating in boccia with the Commit- tee for six years. “We are so proud of our children and appreciate this opportunity to show their talents.”

to accommodate several internship slots for establishment of Free Legal Aid centers for refugee and asylum-seeker students. the vulnerable population in four districts of • In partnership with USAID and the State Azerbaijan. Committee on Religious Associations, IOM • Four hundreds elderly in Baku, Mingachevir organized a series of workshops to raise and Lankaran districts benefitted from the awareness on the grim consequences of state of the art project of the UNFPA and the radicalization and the vulnerabilities that Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the make individuals susceptible to extremist Population, to improve the well-being of recruitment. It also reached an agreement with the elderly persons andpromote the concept the Bar Association, and ASAN Service on the of ‘active ageing’.

24 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 4837 local and 141 IDP residents of Husulu village in Aghjabedi district have access to clean water with the restora- tion of “kahriz”-traditional water resource (IOM, KOICA). Also, 1200 children in Barda and Yevlakh districts have ac- cess to improved hygiene with the construction of 24 spring wells and 16 toilet facilities (UNDP, EU)

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 25 STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREA THREE: Improving Environmental Management and Resilience to Hazards and Disasters

UN agencies continued working with both industry Convention’s key Protocols, grounded in the and Government actors to introduce measures and legislative analysis conducted by UNECE and put in place laws, policies and systems to ensure UNDP, was submitted to the Government. With environmental sources are well managed and support from UNECE and WHO, Azerbaijan shielded from harmful economic activities and are met its key obligations under the Protocol sustainable. on Water and Health in 2019. Within the framework of national policy dialogue on • UNDP partnered with the Global Environment Integrated Water Resource Management Facility (GEF) and the State Oil Company (IWRM), a draft Water Strategy 2030 was of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to reduce GHG submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for emissions through energy-efficient measures adoption. In addition, a National Sustainable inconstruction, transportation, and associated Energy plan grounded in international best gas capturing. This year, as a result of practices was developed with UNECE support installationof gas compressors at the Siyazan and guidance. The Ministry of Ecology and oil and gas fields, nearly 7 mln cubic metres National Resources developed a National of gas thathas previously been vented into Action Plan on Climate Change with support the atmosphere every year, will from now on of UNDP. be collected and delivered to approximately • A “Forest Information Centre” was formed 600 households in 15 villages who previously and made operational through FAO support used wood fromthe forests to provide heat in and the capacities of local foresters were the homes and to cook. This will result in a 20 strengthened on forestry management planning, % reduction ofmethane emitted into the national forestry inventory, and nursery atmosphere by onshore oil fields –which is planning. Forest inventory data is being used actually 4.6 millioncubic meters of gas. for the development of the Multi-functional • UNDP also continued assisting the Forestry Management Plans developed Government in preparing its Fourth National for two regional forestry units covering more Communication to the United Nations than 90000 ha. FAO also contributed to the Framework Convention on Climate multifunctional forest management leading to Change (UNFCCC) together with Stockholm carbon sequestration, improvement in forest Environment Institute. The Minamata and tree resources and their contribution to Initial Assessment on Mercury was also the improvement of the social welfare of local prepared and submitted to the Convention’s communities through pilot reforestation of 50 Secretariat. Within the Convention on Long- ha of forest area and rehabilitation of 50 ha range Transboundary Air Pollution, a pastures. National Action Plan for the ratification of the • UNDP launched a new initiative with the

26 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Multi-functional forest management techniques introduced by FAO leads to carbon sequestration, better management of forest and tree resources and improvement of the social welfare of local communities

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 27 ENERGY EFFICIENT MEASURES TESTED AT THE ONSHORE OIL FIELDS RESULT IN 20% REDUCTION OF METHANE EMITTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE

EU to accelerate the implementation of Empowering Youth the Paris Climate Agreement and improve climate policy and legislation in line with the • UNICEF together with UNFPA, UNV and the European Union and international standards. It UN Youth Advisory Council led UN’s support delivered capacity building trainings on strategic to a Joint Government-UN Youth Houses approaches to climate change, key risks and key Initiative which was extended from an initially requirements for private sector players to adopt planned two to six Youth Houses in six districts climate change. of Azerbaijan. More than 3,600 young people • FAO supported the Government in the aged 12-24 benefitted from the Basic Life Skills implementation of locust control measures and Reproductive Health and Gender Equality aimed to contribute to food security and programmes, as well as legal and psychological livelihoods of the rural population in the counselling. The project was implemented in Caucasus and Central Asia by anticipating, close coordination with the Ministry of Youth and preventing and limiting the threat posed by Sports and the National Youth Foundation, as Azerbaijan locusts. One hundred plant protection well as youth and adolescents as participants and experts (15% women) were trained on locust partners. In 2019, the initiative was also joined by met its key management as master trainers and able to three local NGO partners to roll out new services, obligations train other staff on early warning, prevention, including public relations (PR)/marketing, work under the and locust crisis management. FAO has preparedness, and social entrepreneurship. Protocol on established a multilateral partnership with five • More than 1,200 young people (49% female) Water and ministries and Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency participated in local youth consultation initiatives, to support the government in the reduction led by the Azerbaijan Youth Advocacy Health of the pesticides’ risks to public health and Programme. The initiatives, supported by environment. UNICEF, helped develop small-scale youth-led • The capacity of the Food Safety Agency was projects addressing critical issues of concern for enhanced by FAO to strengthen the national local youth. food safety control system, which will enable • An online survey titled “Youth Organizations the institution to participate effectively in Codex for Sustainable Development Goals’’ activities at global and regional levels. covering 9000 youth was launched, which

28 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 An Innovation Summer Camp brought together the winners of the startup tours to discuss the ecosystem of startups and ways to turn their ideas into business within the framework of the project “From Idea to Business”, which promotes the forming a startup movement in the country, supporting youth’s innovative business ideas, implemented jointly by the Min- istry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, the Regional Development Public Union of Heydar Aliyev Founda- tion, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, Microsoft Corporation and Azercell.

outlined the state of awareness about SDGs sensitization, as lead advocates and agents of among youth and provided recommendations change for promoting the value of a girl child. for various stakeholders on what needs to be • UNDP and the Ministry of Youth and Sport done further to actively engage youth at all also cooperated in setting up initiatives to stages of the SDGs implementation. enable youth mobilization and engagement for • UNDP kept alive the Model UN tradition the promotion of SDGs through SDG Youth through National Model UN Conference, Model Ambassadors. They work on a voluntary basis UN Summer School and MUN Clubs functioning to support the work of the state institutions in various universities which educates young involved with SDGs, assist in spreading people on the work of the UN, and equips them information about actions taken at local, withskills on research, negotiation, creative national, and international level, and contribute writing, public speaking. to the preparations of national reports. • To complement the strategic interventions of the • Six universities (5 in the capital and 1 in the Government aimed at addressing the issue of districts) began implementing the UNICEF- son preference and Gender Biased Sex Selection supported master’s degree programme for (GBSS), UNFPA together with a Azerbaijan Youth youth work managers, making Azerbaijan Foundation held summer camps for young one of ten countries in the world to deliver people to engage them, through training and academic programmes at this level.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 29 Empowering Women This figure is 1.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, a conclusion of the study • Concerted advocacy efforts were held by UNFPA “Economic consequences of gender-based for the purposes of informed policymaking violence in Azerbaijan”, which was conducted on sexual and reproductive health, gender with the support of the UNFPA and State equality, domestic violence, and gender- Committee for Family, Women and Children of based sex selection. Initiatives included Azerbaijan, is now available for the purposes of awareness-raising campaigns, sensitization informed policymaking. events in communities and for faith-based • With UNFPA support, the Essential Service organizations, capacity building for health staff, Packages for GBV response have been adapted schoolteachers, gender focal points in ministries to the local context and public officials were trained and engagement of mass media. to act as the resource people for implementation. • “Gender-based violence costs the Azerbaijani • While UNHCR supported the development of economy about 1.3 billion manat annually. Standard Operating Procedures for the national authorities responsible for prevention and response Click Here to Sexual and Gender Based Violence, UNFPA continued consultations with the Government to reach for approval for the key policy documents - National Action Plans on Gender Equality, “Gender-based Gender Based Violence and Gender Based Sex violence costs Selection and National Reproductive Health the Azerbaijani Strategy - which are currently pending approval economy about by the Cabinet of Ministers. • Promotion of girls’ rights was advanced by UNICEF and the Girls Empowerment Academy of 1.3 the Association of Football Federations through the development of a special version of the Basic billion Life Skills program that reached out to 300 girls manat annually, in over 25 districts. The educational curriculum of the State Academy of Physical Education and Sport 1.8 percent of Since their launch in 2011, nine Women Resource Centers in was reviewed to strengthen the focus on gender the country’s districts Bilasuvar, Neftchala, Salyan districts, Sabirabad, Masalli, and disability in the pre and in-service programs GDP,”-concludes Zaqatala, Qusar and Khazar, provided more than 6,000 women and more than 300 coaches were trained on with free training courses on a range of hard and soft skills – from a UN-led study accounting and financial literacy, computer science, fundrais- the inclusion of girls into the regular sports ing and women’s human and economic rights to resumé writ- lessons. UNFPA partnered with the Special ing, presentation skills and networking. Over the years, nearly Olympics to address the needs of young girls 150 women launched their own businesses, with in kind grant with mental disabilities to SRH and GBV through support, business development training and mentorship support. The initiative launched by UNDP together with State Commit- capacity building and awareness-raising sessions. tee for Women and Family Affairs expands to wider country with • UNDP partnered with EU and the State Committee the engagement of partners , including the European Union, the for Family, Women and Children Affairs to launch United States Agency for International Development, the Coca-Cola a Gender-Based Municipal Academy in Baku Foundation and, most recently, the Swiss Agency for Develop- ment and Cooperation and the Austrian Development Agency. to support women leaders in decision-making

30 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Azerbaijan has one of the highest sex ratio imbalances today in the world. Sex selection can distort the composi- tion of a country’s population for generations. Over time, these skewed ratios translate into missing girls, missing women and missing elderly women. Sex ratio imbalances can exacerbate problems of gender-based violence, including rape, coerced sex, sexual exploitation, trafficking and child marriage—all of which are human rights violations. Considering this, UNFPA launched “Missing Girls” campaign in Baku, and the regions with the highest sex ratio at birth, to increase public aware- ness on the negative consequences of the sex selection abortions as well as addressing son preference malpractices.

processes. The Academy is a non-formal education • 111 representatives from civil society and legal platform for women to increase their knowledge communities (51% women) now has the and skills in areas such as local governance, knowledge and skills in human rights monitoring leadership and election observation. techniques, including the collection and analysis of information, legal analysis, documentation and reporting, which were realised through Human Rights OHCHR capacity building interventions. • In addition, UN entities (OHCHR, IOM, UNHCR, • High-level human rights experts visited and ILO) built capacities of the national Azerbaijan in 2019, including the Special institutions (the Justice Academy, State advisor to the Joint UN Program on HIV/ Migration Service, National Bar Association, AIDS for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and State Labour Inspection Service) on the the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to international standards and UN human rights Food which helped to promote international mechanisms in the administration of justice. human rights norms and standards and ensure • UNICEF entered into new agreement with the Azerbaijan’s continued commitments to protect ASAN volunteers programme to raise awareness vulnerable groups. and understanding of child rights.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 31 Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declara- tion of Human Rights (UDHR): a milestone document proclaiming the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world. Every year UN in Azerbaijan also observes the day with a spe- cific theme and uses it as an opportunity to promote Human Right in the country. This year’s theme was “Youth Stand Up for Human Rights” to cel- ebrate the potential of youth as constructive agents of change, amplify their voices, and engage them in the promotion and protection of rights.

32 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 The submission highlighted major In preparation of the review of 4th issues on the implementation Periodic Report of Azerbaijan to the status of the Convention, UN Committee on Economic, Social and the progress i implementing and Cultural Rights, in August 2019, the recommendations under UNCT made a joint submission of their the Committee’s Concluding inputs for the List of Issues (LoIs) for the Observations in 2016. Committee’s pre-session.

UNFPA provided support to the Government with the UNFPA joined efforts with OHCHR to update development and finalization the monitoring table of the assessment on of the VI CEDAW Periodic the implementation status of the UPR Report which was officially recommendations on sexual and reproductive submitted to the Committee health rights which to be further utilized to inform and is scheduled for hearing at policymaking and support the Government with the the end of 2020. development of the Beijing+25 National Review Report. As well, UNDP supported the Government in the Beijing +25 Regional Review Meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland to present country’s main achievements in promoting rural women entrepreneurship. OHCHR increased public accessibility to the key human rights publications by developing number of training and education materials, translating 20 human rights documents into Azerbaijani language and distributing in over 4500 copies. These included compilations of the General Comments and Recommendations of CERD, CAT, CCPR, and their recent Concluding Observations on Azerbaijan, as well as “OHCHR Practical Guide for Civil Society: Funds, Grants and Fellowships” and “OHCHR Fact Sheet on Human Rights Defenders: Protecting the Right to Defend Human Rights”.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 33 UN agencies contributed to the “16 days of activism” 9 campaign against Gender- Based Violence. The campaign was led by UNFPA (the Gender Thematic Group chair) in close collaboration The 2019 campaign also marked the with UNCT, Government and initiation of the long-term partnership CSO partners. between the UN, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs and the Bar Association as regards GBV prevention and response efforts in Azerbaijan.

Based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Bar Association, the Association will provide free legal aid for the victims of domestic violence and join the UNCT advocacy efforts, led by UNFPA, on amendments to the law to make free legal support to the victims of Gender Based Violence an obligation of the Government.

This year’s campaign was also successful in securing the engagement of the Faith Based Organisations – inclusion of the messages on GBV prevention into two Friday khutbas (prayers) in the mosques across the country. Series of publications including FAQs on Istanbul Convention were produced and disseminated. Partnership with was built with the shelter “Tamiz Dunya” to provide integrated services to GBV victims.

34 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Popular bloggers were engaged to produce provoking and impactful messages to stir up public discussions and increase awareness on the issue.

Within the framework of this year’s campaign, series of video materials were produced to spread the campaign’s messages including video messages from the UN Resident Coordinator, Chairs of the State Committee for Religious Associations (SCRA) and State Committee for Women, Family and Children Affairs.

Gabala Guba

Baku city Mingechevir

District level publicity was secured Lankaran through posters (info on GBV helplines) installed on bus stations across 5 districts (Guba, Mingechevir, Gabala, Ganja Lankaran, Ganja) as well as in Baku city.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 35 SECTION 3 COORDINATION RESULTS

UN Development System Reform the country level. In this regard, UNCT’s move to • The Resident Coordinator held several high-level produce a joint annual report of its development meetings and briefings with State counterparts, activities obviating the need for multiple requests international development partners, journalists, for reporting from various Government agencies members of the private sector, civil society and has been welcomed both by the Government and academia on the key components of the reform and by development partners. The reform promise on the benefits it will bring to partner countries both providing support to countries through analysis, in terms of operational efficiency and development policy options, and technical expertise was also impact. The Government welcomed the welcomed by national actors. Development reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system partners also acknowledged the benefits of the and the reform to bring collective response to reform and supported the idea of working with a national needs and achievement of the SDGs, as “unified” UNCT that delivers on multi-sectoral, well as to establish system-wide accountability at multi-faceted issues in a comprehensive,

36 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 collaborative and coherent manner. • As the reform implementation unfolded this year, there was a marked increase and improvement in inter-agency collaboration in the UN Country Team. The UNCT welcomed greater engagement in its work from the non- resident and smaller specialized agencies. They particularly leveraged the RC Office to advocate for particular issues such as a joint statement on GBV, a supplementary protection system for refugees, as well as access to development data which was raised with the Government as a key concern for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Click • While the UN system in Azerbaijan worked well as Here a team prior to the roll-out of the reform agenda, the reform gave new impetus and strength and developed a new cycle of joint annual to inter-agency collaboration on a range of issues plans for 2019-2020 with the support of the both of operational and programmatic nature. interagency Monitoring and Evaluation Working The strengthened RCO accelerated work on Group. A Joint Annual Review was convened inter-agency initiatives that had been put on in February 2019, and the Annual Progress hold due to capacity constraints. The Operations Report for 2018 was developed, published and Management Team accelerated its work on shared with the national stakeholders. The Joint the implementation of the first Business Steering Committee met for the third time and Operations Strategy (BOS), harmonising approved the plans, reviewed the findings and and streamlining several inter-agency functions recommendations of the annual review and Mid- such as banking, procurement and Human term Review. An independent consultancy was Resources. The reform also provided an engaged to carry out the final Evaluation of opportunity to reengage with the Government UNAPF which was finalized in December. on the establishment of common premises for • Thematic Groups on Gender, Human Rights the UN house. Several UN entities based outside and SDGs closely monitored the application of of the country (UN Women, UNDRR, UNIDO, key principles in the design and implementation UN-Habitat) responded positively to the RC of the programmes and projects and joined request to support the development of a new efforts to realize several joint initiatives to Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). advance in related thematic areas. • The Roadmap for preparation of a new UNAPF Implementation programming cycle in accordance with the • UNCT made significant progress on the UN reform agenda and revised guidelines for implementation of UNAPF and the SOPs the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation during 2019 through a concerted approach. Framework in the penultimate year of the Three Result Groups reported against the UNAPF was undertakenthe Common Country 2018 targets through the Joint Work Plans Analysis (CCA) for the new cycle was drafted.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 37 UN REFORM IS tasked with developing a Global Compact Strategy in Azerbaijan. Several outputs of the Strategy such WELCOMED BY THE as promoting the Global Compact, building the capacity of local journalists in responsible business GOVERNMENT AND practices, building partnerships with regional THE PARTNERS Global Compact networks have been achieved in 2019. The majority of attendees of the conference on “Responsible Business in Azerbaijan” expressed interest in signing the Ten Principles Development Partners’ Coordination of the UN Global Compact, the Children’s Rights • The Resident Coordinator’s Office continued and Business Principles (UNICEF) and the Women’s to convene and support development partners Empowerment Principles (UN Women). coordination to ensure synergies and coherence in the development agenda. Three plenary Joint Resource Mobilisation meetings following the meetings of the five • UNFPA and UNDP with RCO support jointly thematic coordination groups were held mobilized Government cost sharing for a project to discuss sector-specific policy issues. The “Addressing rights and well-being of women development group on education, health, social with disabilities and veterans of the Nagorno- protection issues co-chaired by UNICEF and WHO Karabakh conflict” and implemented in close mapped all the youth empowerment activities partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social implemented by the development partners and Protection and several other government bodies, presented it to the Presidential Administration to and NGOs. The joint program aims to complement inform and engage the Government partners and the Government efforts to protect, respect and ensure that their is aligned with the Government’s fulfil the rights of persons with disabilities with a Youth Development Strategy. The Agriculture specific focus on women and war veterans of the group co-chaired by FAO, EU and the Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Agriculture supports the Government’s agriculture policy and uses the platform to create inclusive Joint Communication partnerships, and improve results on agriculture • The UN Communication Group organized a sector. The Energy and Environment group series of awareness-raising events and advocacy led by UNDP and ADB held regular meetings with activities to encourage the active participation First Joint the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Ecology of people in delivering the 2030 Agenda in UN Program and Natural Resources to improve transparency, Azerbaijan. These activities included a beach on women and accountability, and strengthen coordination in clean-up event in Baku with more than a these sectors. thousand participants to celebrate World disabilities • The RC office had several consultations with the Environment Day; a friendly football match with launched Global Compact Office on promoting the UN the participation of UN officials, representatives Global Compact’s Ten Principles to encourage of diplomatic missions and female players from the private sector to bring scale and power for Azerbaijani national football team to promote achievement of SDGs in the country. A strategy gender equality and others. group comprised of representatives of RCO, • UN organisations in Azerbaijan also organised UNICEF, Ernst&Young and Pasha Holding was training sessions for journalists on their role in

38 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 24 October has been celebrated as United Nations officially came into being. Nations Day since 1948. It marks the The United Nations (UN) Office in Azerbaijan anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 organised a special event commemorating of the UN Charter. With the ratification of the UN Day in 2019 highlighting the human this founding document by the majority of stories on how the organization transformed its signatories, including the five permanent lives in Azerbaijan. members of the Security Council, the United

“My path to gender activism” “Finally feeling peace in Azerbaijan”

“Life skills as means to “WHO Collaboration centre as a best practice empower young people” in combating infectious diseases in prisons”

“Reducing inequalities through integration “We say No to desertification by afforestation” of vulnerable people into the society ”

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 39 “Empowering women through “Tripartite committees as a business opportunities best partnership case”

promoting sustainability among businesses (RCO), General’s conflict prevention agenda preventing violent extremism and radicalization through direct political engagement with (IOM), on primary healthcare reporting (WHO), relevant national, regional and international gender-sensitive journalism (UNFPA), promoting stakeholders, as well as public messaging. environmental protection among population • In October, the RC hosted a sub-regional (RCO), and others. retreat of Resident Coordinators in Baku, to discuss current political dynamics, ongoing Crisis preparedness and post-crisis activities, and further joint sub-regional transition programming for 2020. As an outcome, • Following the development of an inter-agency DPPA and PDA team developed options for contingency plan for conflict escalation possible UN support to peace efforts in the scenario and establishment of an early South Caucasus at national and sub-regional warning mechanism in 2018, the team of levels. At the country level, the RC with the Peace and Development Advisor under support of UNDP, UNFPA, and FAO continued the RCO, deployed by the joint UNDP-DPPA organising sub-regional SDG civil society global programme regularly monitored and roundtables, under the broad concept of reported onsecurity-military, political, “preparing populations for peace”, and and social-economic indicators relevant continued social media monitoring of early for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with warning and opportunities for peacebuilding the support of UNDSS Azerbaijan. In addition, programming. Azerbaijan country profile was set up for • UNDP continued supporting Azerbaijan UNDP’s global Crisis Risk Dashboard that National Agency for Mine Action aggregates comprehensive data and trends for (ANAMA) in 2019 to conduct further mine more effective monitoring, regular assessment, clearance activities (60 mln sq.m) and offer and understanding of crisis-related risks. mine action solutions for affected states. • During instances of increased tensions in ANAMA’s mine risk education programmes relation to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the RCO reached over 52,000 schoolchildren in 2019. and DPPA in New York supported the Secretary The year 2019 marked 21 years of successful

40 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 The Regional Earthquake Response Exercise of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in Africa- Europe-Middle East in Baku an excellent opportunity for UNCT to test its emergency preparedness and co- ordination of the crisis response with the Government of Azerbaijan and the international and local partners.

operations of ANAMA with UNDP support Red Crescent Society in training 120 staff resulting in over 539 million square meters members of the Ministry of Emergency of Azerbaijani land completely mine-free Situations’ Urban Search and Rescue Team and enabled people to rebuild their lives and on international principles of humanitarian resume economic activities in their homelands. operations. ANAMA created safe conditions for more • WHO built capacities of the staff of the Ministries than 160,500 displaced people to resettle. of Health, Emergency Situations,Internal • UNCT, supported by OCHA and in cooperation Affairs, Agriculture and Defense on emergency with the International Federation of Red Cross response, risk communication and strategic and Red Crescent, developed an inter-agency risk assessment. It also held After Action contingency plan including cluster-specific Review on the response and management of responses for an earthquake scenario. the 2019 measles outbreak which helped to • RCO in cooperation with OCHA organized identify and put in action the best practices. a series of capacity building activities for • UNFPA jointly with the Ministry of Health held UNCT and humanitarian partners on joint a series of simulation exercises in 3 districts of inter-agency emergency response within Azerbaijan on applying Minimum Integrated the first 10 days of an emergency and crisis Service Package (MISP) in health through communication and public messaging in addressing the emergency health response various emergency situations. to crisis in areas of reproductive health and • RCO also provided expertise for the Azerbaijani gender-based violence.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 41 FAO, International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA) and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources launched an initiative of planting 312 walnut trees on an area of 2 hectares and handing over to low-income families to earn income and improve their well-being.

SECTION 4 WAY FORWARD

• Since 2016, the Government has taken a number efforts will be required in the future to link of preparatory steps such as- submission policies, budgets and state programmes of two Voluntary National Review reports, to SDGs targets and indicators in order to fielding of a Mainstreaming, Acceleration and effectively monitor and report on the country’s Policy Support (MAPS) mission, undertaking progress. Similarly, costing of the SDGs of a Rapid Integrated Assessment, and using the UN and World Bank methodology launch of several advocacy events towards of Integrated National Financing Framework nationalization of the SDGs. As a result, the (INFF) needs to be undertaken to understand Government has prioritized 88 Targets and the resource gaps for realization of the SDGs. 119 indicators. While much has been done UN stands ready to support the Government’s in terms of assessment and planning, more commitment of developing a 2030 SDG

42 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 vision document that can serve as a long- term national SDG strategy responding to the Decade of Action. Considering Azerbaijan’s upper middle income status, the issue of UN WILL CONTINUE financing of the SDGs needs close attention by the Government how best to (1) allocate their ITS SUPPORT TO THE resources to support sustainable development; (2) use the development finance architecture GOVERNMENT TO and related cooperative platforms to fund IMPROVE THE QUALITY and finance these projects, and (3) tap into and marshal private sources for sustainable AND ACCESSIBILITY OF development. • While Azerbaijan has made significant efforts DATA FOR EFFECTIVE to improve the quality of data related to SDG MONITORING AND SDGs and its targets, significant gaps remain in terms of disaggregated data as in many REPORTING other countries. The UN will continue its support to the Government to improve the quality and accessibility of data for effective SDG monitoring and reporting. • The UN reform offers an entry point to ensure Areas network and climate technology that policy support to Azerbaijan is integrated, solutions in agricultural and forestry sectors. which will help avoid a sectoral or agency- Other areas for UN technical support include specific response to national development legal and policy frameworks, greening the challenges. Starting from 2020, the UN economy, reducing pollution, water and will make a gradual shift from downstream waste management and biodiversity. Plans programming to upstream policy support are also in place to set up a UN Network on given Azerbaijan’s upper middle-income Migration in Azerbaijan that will include UN, status from across the UN system in an Government and Civil Society Organisations integrated fashion. UNCT will also support to implement the objectives of the Global the government to strengthen civil society Compact for Migration (GCM) in a strategic that would in turn strengthen government and resourceful manner. accountability and transparency with regard • UNCT will continue its work on the finalization to the implementation of policies and of the UN Azerbaijan Sustainable programmes. Development Cooperation Framework • The UN will continue to capitalize on existing (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 which will be fully opportunities to support national policies in anchored in national efforts to achieve the support of SDG implementation. For instance, SDGs. there is scope to enhance the management of natural resources in the context of climate change, focusing on strengthening Protected

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 43 SECTION 5 PARTNERS AND FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Financial Overview Funding Partners

United Nations Organisations Total (USD) Government of Azerbaijan

Food and Agriculture Organization 2,611,029

Embassy of Netherlands International Labour Organization 335,000

International Organization for Migration 1,035,391 The British Embassy in Azerbaijan

Office of the High Commissioner for 80,000 Human Rights European Union United Nation High Commissioner for 2,337,000 Refugees Global Environment United Nations Development Programme 9,930,629 Facility

United Nations Economic Commission for Green 93,000 Europe Climate Fund

United Nations Fund for Children 2,013,495 KOICA –Korean development agency United Nations Population Fund 667,610

Swiss Agency for Development and World Health Organization 92,725 Cooperation

United States Agency for International Development

44 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Implementing Partners

Government NGOs Academia Private sector ASAN Support Ministry of National Con- State Commit- Against ECO-TES Ruzigar ADA Univer- Coca-Cola to Family Busi- Economy federation of tee for Family, Addictions sity Foundation ness Public Entrepreneurs Women and Legal Entity (Employers) Children’s Organizations Affairs

Azerbaijan Ministry of National State Com- Association EduHub Social Academy of Ernst & Young Food Safety Education Coordination mittee on of Football Progress Justice Azerbaijan Agency Council for Refugees and Federations of Public Union Sustainable Displaced Azerbaijan Development Persons

Azerbaijan Ministry of National State Customs Azerbaijan Eurasian Support to Academy of Pasha bank National Emergency Paralympics Committee Bar Associ- Partnership Health Public Admin- Agency for Situations Committee ation Foundation istration under Mine Action the President

Azerbaijan Ministry of Office of the State Migra- Azerbaijan International Support to Azerbaijan Pricewater- Trade Unions Energy Ombudsper- tion Service Micro-fi- Dialogue for Women Social Medical houseCoopers Confederation son nance Environmental Development University Azerbaijan Association Action (IDEA) in Neftchala

Azerbaijan Ministry Parliament State Oil Azerbaijan International Uluchay Azerbaijan Social Innova- Youth Foun- of Foreign Company of Red Cres- Eurasia Press Social- Tourism and tion Lab dation Affairs Azerbaijan cent Society Fund Economic Management Republic Innovation University Centre Baku Trans- Ministry of Public Health State Statistics Clean World Junior Union of Baku Nursing port Agency Health and Reforms Committee Public Union Achieve- Disabled College N 2 Centre ment Azer- People baijan Organizations

Cabinet of Ministry of In- Special State Tourism Constitution Local United Aid for Ganja State Ministers ternal Affairs Olympics Agency Research Governance Azerbaijan University Committee Foundation Assistance Public Union

Heydar Aliyev Ministry of State Agency Agency for DAN Inter- National Women for Institute of Foundation Justice for Manda- Sustainable national Assembly of Development Education tory Health and Opera- Youth Public Youth of Municipal- Insurance tional Social Union Organiza- ities Public Security tions of the Union Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Ministry of La- State Agency Ecolex Law National Youth State Agriculture bor and Social for Public Public Union Paralympic Education Pedagogical Protection of Service and Committee Centre University Population Social Innova- tions Ministry Ministry of State Agency Eco-Renais- Regional Y-PEER Sumgayit State of Ecology Youth and on Vocational sance Public Development Azerbaijan University and Natural Sports Education Union Public Union Network Resources

ANNUAL REPORT 2019 45 KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

Early Childhood Development in Azerbai- Statistical Capacity Country Profile for SDG Indica- jan, UNICEF, 2019 (ENG and AZE) tors (Azerbaijan), FAO 2019 (ENG)

Mainstreaming Gender in Green Climate Fund Pro- Azerbaijan: Cotton sector review, FAO, 2019 (ENG) jects UNDP, UNWomen, GEF , 2019 (ENG, AZE)

Advancing Integrated Water Resource Management across the Kura river basin through implementation of the transboundary agreed ac- tions and national plans-Learning Toolkit (UNDP, GEF)(ENG, AZE, GEO)

46 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 47 AZERBAIJAN

www.unazerbaijan.org

United Nations in Azerbaijan @UNinAzerbaijan

© UNITED NATIONS IN AZERBAIJAN - 2020

48 ANNUAL REPORT 2019