Strengthening Business Support Organizations in Azerbaijan
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An assessment conducted by CIPE in March 2008 revealed that business organizations in Azerbaijan, although active and knowledgeable, have insufficient skills for advocacy and media relations and require a better understanding of their role in promoting the interests of their members. Most business associations have a poor understanding of their role as they provide no or few services to their members.
CIPE Regional Office, based in Bucharest- Romania, organized a four-day training program attended by 26 participants representing fifteen associations from the capital city Baku, as well as from the regions. The training focused on analyzing the role of the organizations in correlation with the environment and the markets they are operating in, as well as their members’ needs and expectations.
“For our second part of the training, we took into consideration the fact that some of the Azeri business associations managed to put together a National Business Agenda aiming to reduce the barriers on doing business. For them, now begins the most important part of the process. This was the reason why we decided to concentrate on advocacy campaigns, public consultation procedures, communication with the media, how and where associations can get involved in advocacy based on the legislative process in Azerbaijan.” says Camelia Bulat, Program Director of CIPE Regional Office.
The Azerbaijan-Turkey Business Association (ATIB), one of Azerbaijan most dynamic business support organization, sent seven employees from different management levels to CIPE’s training. “I can say that our office sharply reduced its activity for the four days of the training. However, the knowledge that was acquired will soon allow us not just to compensate the time we missed, but also to achieve higher results in the work of our association. We have already decided to make additional changes to ATIB Strategy for 2009-2013.” says Rashad Rasullu, ATIB’s Secretary General.
In a national TV talk-show, Sabit Bagirov, President of the Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, declared: “The training allowed participants to acquire important knowledge about advocacy and market approach to issues concerning business associations management. They gained a better understanding of what focusing on members’ interests means and of ways to secure a growth in organizations’ membership. On the whole, the training will definitely help increase the efficiency of the business associations which participated in it.”
CIPE Regional Office, based in Bucharest- Romania, organized a four-day training program attended by 26 participants representing fifteen associations from the capital city Baku, as well as from the regions. The training focused on analyzing the role of the organizations in correlation with the environment and the markets they are operating in, as well as their members’ needs and expectations.
“For our second part of the training, we took into consideration the fact that some of the Azeri business associations managed to put together a National Business Agenda aiming to reduce the barriers on doing business. For them, now begins the most important part of the process. This was the reason why we decided to concentrate on advocacy campaigns, public consultation procedures, communication with the media, how and where associations can get involved in advocacy based on the legislative process in Azerbaijan.” says Camelia Bulat, Program Director of CIPE Regional Office.
The Azerbaijan-Turkey Business Association (ATIB), one of Azerbaijan most dynamic business support organization, sent seven employees from different management levels to CIPE’s training. “I can say that our office sharply reduced its activity for the four days of the training. However, the knowledge that was acquired will soon allow us not just to compensate the time we missed, but also to achieve higher results in the work of our association. We have already decided to make additional changes to ATIB Strategy for 2009-2013.” says Rashad Rasullu, ATIB’s Secretary General.
In a national TV talk-show, Sabit Bagirov, President of the Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, declared: “The training allowed participants to acquire important knowledge about advocacy and market approach to issues concerning business associations management. They gained a better understanding of what focusing on members’ interests means and of ways to secure a growth in organizations’ membership. On the whole, the training will definitely help increase the efficiency of the business associations which participated in it.”
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The CIPE Development Institute is a joint effort with CIPE partners and distinguished global scholars. It features multimedia presentations, lesson plans and study materials on the topics of democracy, market economy and international development, geared to students and professors in developing countries. But the curriculum is also free to any person or organization interested in these topics. CIPE's goal is simple: help students worldwide become positive agents of change.
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KEY RESOURCES
- CIPE Development Institute
- Business Fighting Corruption Portal
- National Business Agenda Handbook (English)
- National Business Agenda Handbook (Romanian)
- National Business Agenda Handbook (Russian)
- Advocacy Guidebook (English)
- Advocacy Guidebook (Armenian)
- Advocacy Guidebook (Russian)
- Corporate Governance Handbook
- A Practical Guide to Advocacy Campaigns: The Romanian Experience
- Guide for Business Associations - Montenegro: How to Advocate Effectively (Serbian)