The purpose of this mapping, capacity and needs assessments was to get an overview of civil society organizations/ NGOs in Azerbaijan. The report provides the findings of the assessments and recommendations for capacity development of the NGOs/ CSOs.  The mapping, capacity and needs assessments covered different target groups of key informants and used various research methods such as desk research, mapping exercise, semi-structured interviews, site visits and observation.

The reports presents a comprehensive picture of organizational conditions of the context, development needs, issues and functional capacities of the organizations.  Following the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, civil society sector in Azerbaijan has been developing dynamically.  The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Non-Governmental Organizations (public unions and funds) was adopted in 2000. Currently, there are more than 4500 NGOs registered in the country, and over 300 unregistered groups carrying out activities.   In 2007 the Government of Azerbaijan established the Council on State Support to NGOs (CSSN) which goal was to provide financial and informational support to Azerbaijani NGOs, and to facilitate NGO/government cooperation. 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'). The rights and obligations, as well as property of the Council on State Support of Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan were transferred to the Agency for State Support of Non-Governmental Organizations. 

At the end of 2013, several decisions were made that undermined the sustainability of CSOs in Azerbaijan, including the laws governing the registration, operation and financing of civil society - the Law on Grants, the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations, the Law on Registration of Legal Entities and the State Numerous restrictive amendments were made to the Law on Registry, the Law on Donations and the Code of Administrative Offenses.

As a result of mapping assessment 243 organizations have completed the mapping assessment tool and all findings were entered into specially prepared database. Selection of NGOs/ CSOs for capacity and needs assessment from total number (243) has used purposive non-probability sampling method ensuring that organizations represent various fields of activities and target groups / beneficiaries. 17 relevant NGOs were interviewed for capacity and needs assessment task.

The full version of the document is attached: