UN, Azerbaijan sign new Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025

The United Nations (UN) Country Team and the Government of Azerbaijan have signed today the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) – a new cooperation document for a period from 2021 to 2025.

Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Ghulam Isaczai, the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan signed the document, the result of an 18-month consultation involving stakeholders in government, civil society, and the private sector.

The Cooperation Framework identifies four priority areas for partnership: inclusive growth that reduces vulnerability and builds resilience; stronger institutions for better public and social services delivery; protecting the environment and addressing climate change; and achieving a gender-equitable society that empowers women and girls.

“Azerbaijan has effective cooperation with the UN specialized agencies. As part of this cooperation, we have signed a series of documents and implement joint projects,” said Mr Jabbarov. He emphasized that the Cooperation Framework would contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, ongoing reforms, projects to achieve the “Azerbaijan 2030: national priorities for socio-economic development” vision document and to the development of human capital. “I would like to emphasize the importance of partnership with the UN specialized agencies in ensuring the great return to the de-occupied territories. Relevant steps have already been taken in this direction,” Mr Jabbarov added.  

Mr Isaczai highlighted the people-centric approach to cooperation, at a time Azerbaijan has started addressing the challenge of long-term recovery from COVID-19 and the recent conflict. 

“The cornerstone of this framework is an investment in building resilience and in transforming the economy. It seeks to protect people from the effects of these events, strengthen human capital and make institutions more responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable in society”, said Mr Isaczai.

The UN Country Team continues working closely  with the government to address the socioeconomic fallout of the pandemic and recovery needs in conflict-affected areas.

“Leaving no one behind and deploying a rights-based approach are the founding tenets of our joint strategy with the Government to recover and build back better”, Mr Isaczai added.

The UNSDCF is the fifth UN-Azerbaijan cooperation framework and is based on an analysis of Azerbaijan’s progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The implementation of the Cooperation Framework puts the UN development system reform into practice, emphasizing transparency, accountability and joint action in the delivery of all development results.