The State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan announced potential changes to the grant competitions, based on rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers for the first time. The changes aim to provide CSOs with more time, financial support, and flexibility to undertake initiatives of national and international significance while emphasising the importance of measurable results and social utility in their projects.
Novelties include:
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Various grant sizes: Small, medium, and large grant competitions will be announced simultaneously to avoid previous difficulties in project implementation.
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Extended preparation period: CSOs will now have a longer timeframe for project preparation, with a total of 2 months provided. The announcement of competitions will be made at least 30 days before they begin, allowing CSOs to develop high-quality project proposals in a detailed and convenient manner.
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Increased grant amounts: The upper limits of grant amounts have been increased to 8,400 / 16,800 / 28,000 EUR (15,000 / 30,000 / 50,000 manats) for small, medium, and large grants, respectively. This increased financial support aims to empower civil society to implement impactful initiatives.
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Freedom in project topics: CSOs can freely propose projects addressing any initiative of national, public, or international importance. The 2024 grant competitions encompass a broad range of topics, reflecting a substantial focus on international cooperation, such as environmental protection, healthy and safe living, work with vulnerable groups, socio-economic development, peacebuilding and so forth.
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Participation in multiple grant competition topics: CSOs can submit projects in all topics for small, medium, and large grant competitions. However, if a project proposal is successful in all three types (small, medium, large) of competitions, the agency can finance only one of them.
The Agency expects projects to have measurable results, be sustainable and benefit society. It will hold information sessions from mid-October for all CSOs interested in participating in the competitions, to clarify all aspects of the new rules and criteria and provide a platform for answering questions.
Even with the new changes introduced, as the 2022 CSO Meter report found, freedom of association and access to funding remains limited in Azerbaijan, with excessive requirements in legislation and practice for the registration of financial resources.
Source: https://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/islahatlar-qht-lere-de-catdi-deyisikl…