On April 19, 2021 President Aliyev signed a Decree on establishing a public legal entity "Agency for State Support to NGOs of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (‘Agency’). This Agency is established on the basis of the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan, which has been operating since 2008.
The new Decree and the Charter of the Agency bring the following novelties to the Agency, which is now taking over the functions of the previously existing NGO Council:
- It is governed by an Advisory Board composed of 8 NGOs and 3 public officials, all of whom are appointed by the President;
- It has the right to access and solicit funding from sources other than the state budget;
- It can set-up branches and representations;
- It will have new rules on monitoring of projects funded by it and the rules are to be adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers;
- It will follow the new grant-making regulations to be adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers;
- Its portfolio now also includes development of cooperation mechanisms between the state, private sector and NGOs;
- It will continue providing grants to local and foreign NGOs from the state budget;
- It will ensure capacity building of professional staff for the sector;
- It will submit annual reports on its activity to the President of Azerbaijan; etc.
These documents increased the duties of the Agency (compared to the Council) from 7 to 25; and its rights from total 11 to 15. Term of office of the Advisory Board is 4 years and its member will get remuneration.