Why Azerbaijan Is A Unique Opportunity

As part of its 2010 Scale Strategy, DOT is expanding its operations to focus on Southern and Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus region. The interest in the South Caucasus is a by-product of significant work done related to other projects in the region conducted by DOT over the last 5 years.

ICT has been made a priority development sector by the Azerbaijan government and private sector.  Minister Abbasov (Communications and IT) is focused on building human capacity in ICT to deliver the national economic and social goals.  Support of ICT-enabled programming has also been made by the Embassies of Canada for Azerbaijan (in Turkey) and of Azerbaijan in Ottawa.

In response to this need, DOT Azerbaijan will provide ICT-enabled training and programs to promote digital inclusion and 21st century community-led economic development through two key programs:

1) ReachUp! : Mobilizing Community Entrepreneurs - targeting disadvantaged community members who are unemployed/underemployed supports a country’s disenfranchised population, including women, youth, and remote communities, to lead themselves out of poverty by building ICT-enabled sustainable livelihoods, and providing access to opportunities and build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. Young ICT leaders (Interns) guide these community participants to apply ICT to generate micro/small businesses and community development projects and develop linkages to micro-finance resources.

2) Connected Communities and Business Program– leverages technology, empowers entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and extends the “voice” of the community to find solutions and resources at national and international levels. It is comprised of three core components:

• Community Voices - profiling the voice of the community by identifying small business and technology needs across communities and mobilizing resources and partnerships to address these needs
• Empowered Entrepreneurs and MSMEs – building the business and technology capacity of existing entrepreneurs and MSMEs and developing linkages to micro-finance resources and global e-business
• Connected Communities - identification of ICT-enabled community development initiatives and establishment of local ICT service companies

Key Partners

 DOT Azerbaijan’s stakeholderand funding consortium presently includes the following:

• CIDA
• Ministry of Communications and IT
• Ministry of Youth and Sport
• Ministry of Education (following visit to Canada)
• OSI Azerbaijan (Soros)
• UNDP
• RISQ (largest domestic ICT company)

Impact

The approach of DOT Azerbaijan is to leverage its programs in order to enhance the capacity and benefits to communities of economic and social development via youth employment, increased income generation, MSMEs and employment creation, community projects, and linkage to other national/international resources.

What’s Next

After its formal announcement to be made at BakuTel on November 21, 2007 in the presence of the Host Minister and technology companies participating in BakuTel, a Program Vision Workshop will be held to formalize the partnership and implementation plan of DOT Azerbaijan.

DOT Azerbaijan’s initial demonstration program is set to be completed in 2008.

Please visit our News and Resources areas for more information about Azerbaijan.