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- TI Az
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Welcome to Transparency International Azerbaijan |
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This website is created with financial support of Eurasia Foundation, European Commission and BP Group Azerbaijan Business Unit. The views expressed in website represent TA’s opinion and not necessarily agree with official position of donors.
Transparency International is an international non-governmental organization, leading anti-corruption movement all over the globe. Berlin based Transparency International Secretariat coordinates anti-corruption activities in more than 90 countries of the world through its national chapters. The chapters are independent local NGOs free to choose their own polices and raise funds for their activities. Transparency International is based on the principle that as corruption is a country specific phenomenon, local organizations can be much more efficient that any efforts taken or imposed from the outside. Transparency Azerbaijan was established in October 2000 by representatives of civil society and academia and fully accredited as a national chapter in October 2001. We work mainly in the areas of public awareness raising, business ethics and research into reasons and forms of corruption in Azerbaijan and ways to reduce this destructive social phenomenon.
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| CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX 2011 | | | |
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 | The Transparency International national chapter in Azerbaijan presents the TI Corruption Perception Index 2011. This year Azerbaijan obtained a score of 2.4 which is the same as the last year (on a scale from 10 -very clean to 0 -very corrupt) and was ranked 143-d among 183 countries surveyed in 2011 (in 2010 the country was ranked 134-th out of 178). Transparency International emphasises that while the score reflects developments within a given country, the ranking establishes a connection between these trends and trends in the international context. In this perspective, the change of Azerbaijan’s position should be interpreted as a result of the increase of the number of countries in the Index and better achievements by other countries. Finally, since data for 2011 CPI were mostly gathered in 2009 and 2010 – the Index does not fully reflect progress realized in the course of the current year.Ranking enables TI to build an index, but a country's rank can change simply because new countries enter the index or others drop out, while a country’s score is a much more important indication of the perceived level of corruption in a country and allows to compare developments in a country over time. 2011 data for Azerbaijan was drawn from 7 different sources by 6 institutions. There was a change of sources from 2010. The gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not “big”. Armenia’s 2010 and 2011 score – 2.6 (dropped from 3.0 in 2007; 2.9 in 2008 and 2.7 in 2009) – is not terribly good either and is on a declining trend. Since Azerbaijan’s economic potential is immense, it invites more international scrutiny. That can be another reason why the international business community is apparently somewhat more critical about the situation in Azerbaijan than in other comparable countries. Russia showed considerable increase from 2.1 in 2010 to 2.4 in 2011. Other countries of interest to us are: as compared to 2010 in 2011 Turkey and Kazakhstan declined (from 4.4. to 4.2 and from 2.9 to 2.7); while Georgia increased from 3.8. to 4.1. and Iran from 2.2. to 2.7. For more detailed information please visit http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2011/. |
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| GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY DISCUSS VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW IN LABOR RELATIONS | | | |
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 | Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss Violations of Law in Labor Relations. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on increasing transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the State Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Anti-Corruption Department, as well as local and international NGO representatives participated in the roundtable. Participants agreed that despite Government of Azerbaijan efforts to ensure labor safety, define relations, rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, punish perpetuators of labor law and bring the domestic legislation in line with international standards, a number of challenges in this area remain. Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize opportunities for corrupt practices in labor relations, and proposed ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area. Tahir Musayev, Head of the State Labour Inspection Service’s Supervisory Department for Social and Legal Issues told participants about efforts undertaken to protect employees’ labor rights in Azerbaijan. Sahib Mammadov, Chairman of the Citizens Labor Rights Protection League, discussed Azerbaijan’s experience with dispute resolution of individual labor disputes. Sevgim Rahmanov, Head of Traders and Producers’ Union, discussed how to reduce small entrepreneurs’ labor law violation. Rena Safaraliyeva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations to prevent violations of the law in labor relations. Participants praised the exchange of views between government and civil society that took place at the roundtable. They also decided to deliver to the Ministry written recommendations from civil society organizations on improving transparency and accountability in the area of labor relations. Participants also addressed the media at the end of the event. |
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| TRANSPARENCY AZERBAIJAN AND “AZERSU” DISCUSSED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN WATER SUPPLY | | | |
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 | Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a discussion of successes and challenges in water supply. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on ways to increase transparency and accountability. Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Energy, Baku City Housing and Utilities Department, Prosecutor’s Office, Anti-corruption Commission, NGOs and International Organizations. The relevant government entities had made some efforts to improve supply of water to the population and reduce corruption in this area of service. The new initiatives include the improvement of appeal mechanisms and their transparency, new contracts with consumers, installation of meters, and etc. The main goal of the roundtable was to identify and discuss current deficiencies in efforts to minimize corrupt practices in supply of water to the population, as well as to enhance safety standards in this sector, and also explore ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area. During the event Hanver Abasov, Head of Commercial Department of Azersu OJSV, spoke about recent reforms in supply of water to the population of Azerbaijan. Alimamed Nuriyev, President of the Constitution Research Fund and coordinator of Information and Cooperation Network of Anti-corruption NGOs, discussed existing problems in consumer-supplier relations in provision of water to the population. Alekper Agasiyev, an expert on the utilities sector from the Constitution Research Fund, talked about typical violations of the consumer’s rights by water suppliers. Rena Safaralieva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations on improving transparency in water supply. The participants praised the value in this exchange of views between government and civil society. They made some other recommendations and suggestions on the improving transparency and accountability in the area of water supply which will be submitted in writing to the respective agencies. Participants also addressed the media at the end of the event. |
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| Lack of budget transparency hinders Azerbaijan’s defence sector accountability | | | |
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 | • Transparency Internationals Defence and Security Programme’s new report finds that many countries disclose only limited or no information on national defence and security spending to their citizens, hindering the ability of the public to hold their defence and security establishments to account for their spending decisions. • Azerbaijan scored Moderate to Low, indicating that the government provides too little information to the public and legislature to effectively hold the defence and security establishments accountable. ‘The Transparency of Defence Budgets’, a new report released by Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme finds that most of the 93 countries studied disclose too little defence and security spending information to their public. The report also shows many countries severely restrict the information available even to their legislatures. Accessibility to defence budget documents (including budget proposals and audit reports) are important, as they are a key tool that the public and civil society can use to hold their governments to account. • Transparency Internationals Defence and Security Programme’s new report finds that many countries disclose only limited or no information on national defence and security spending to their citizens, hindering the ability of the public to hold their defence and security establishments to account for their spending decisions. • Azerbaijan scored Moderate to Low, indicating that the government provides too little information to the public and legislature to effectively hold the defence and security establishments accountable. ‘The Transparency of Defence Budgets’, a new report released by Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme finds that most of the 93 countries studied disclose too little defence and security spending information to their public. The report also shows many countries severely restrict the information available even to their legislatures. Accessibility to defence budget documents (including budget proposals and audit reports) are important, as they are a key tool that the public and civil society can use to hold their governments to account. |
The report identifies the main aspects of defence budget transparency, including an overview of current practices and the risks that arise at each stage of the budgeting process. It also ranks 93 countries according to their defence budget transparency. The report’s general findings in the pie chart below show nearly 65% of countries studied score moderate or below.  | Azerbaijan scored Moderate to low, indicating that the government provides too little information to the public and legislature to effectively hold the defence and security establishments accountable for their spending decisions. According to the research of the Open Budget Index , Azerbaijan publishes all its budget documents, yet according to the OBI’s researcher, there is no information on the amount of spending on secret items. Few details of the defence budget are provided to the Azerbaijani parliament, and legislators are not provided with audit reports in order to oversee spending in these areas.
‘The defence and security sectors present a particular challenge regarding transparency and access to information. Confidentiality is central to certain aspects of their work, but national security is too often used as an excuse for highly aggregated budgets, over-classification, and even as a veil for corrupt activity,’ explains Mark Pyman, Director of Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme. |
‘Protection of confidential information is compatible with accountability, if effective and robust systems of monitoring and control are in place and the legislature is allowed adequate oversight,’ he adds.
NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The scoring system for this report was based on seven questions from the International Budget Partnership’s 2010 Open Budget Index questionnaires, which measure the amount of information a government provides to its public.
2. The ranking system methodology rates countries based on the availability of information, but it does not judge the accuracy of such information. The ranking also does not cover the existence of off-budget expenditure. Nevertheless, according to a 2009 study by Global Integrity, extra-budgetary spending from the State Oil Fund is problematic. These funds, which are not included in the budget, only need approval of the president, not the parliament. Global Integrity also reports that details of military expenditure do not require approval by the legislature.
3. Transparency International UK’s Defence and Security Programme helps to build integrity and reduce corruption in defence and security establishments worldwide through supporting counter corruption reform in nations, raising integrity in arms transfers, and influencing policy in defence and security: www.ti-defence.org Transparency International UK is part of the global movement against corruption: www.transparency.org.uk. | |
| GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY DISCUSS PROBLEMS IN DISTRUBUTION OF PENSIONS AND THEIR SOLUTION | | | |
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 | Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, organized a discussion of problems in access to pensions and their solution. The roundtable was one in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between government institutions and NGOs on ways to increase transparency and accountability. Representatives of the State Social Protection Fund, the State Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor’s Office, as well as local and international NGOs participated in the roundtable. The Government of Azerbaijan has taken some measures to improve pension assignment and delivery and to reduce corruption in this area. These measures include payment of pensions through plastic cards, making the pension calculation process more transparent, and introducing penalties for officials involved in corrupt practices. |
Roundtable participants identified and discussed current deficiencies in efforts to minimize corrupt practices in pension assignment, and to increase transparency and accountability in this area. During the event, Elshan Mamadaliyev the head of Labor Pensions Department of the State Social Protection Fund Office spoke about the distribution of pensions in Azerbaijan. Azer Mehtiyev, Head of Assistance to Economic Initiatives Public Union talked about problems in pension allocation in Azerbaijan. Rena Safaralieva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations on improving transparency in pension distribution. The participants praised the value in the exchanges of views between government and civil society. They decided to deliver, in writing, to the government agency all the recommendations from civil society organizations on improving transparency and accountability in the provision of pensions. Participants also addressed the media at the end of the event. | |
| Rena Safaralieva gave interview to foreign television | | | |
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 | “Rena Safaralieva, executive director of Transparency Azerbaijan gave interview to the UN TV team. She spoke of the activities of Transparency Azerbaijan in the field of combat against corruption and the progress the organization has made in 10 years since its inception, its accomplishments and challenges. Rena Safaralieva emphasized that 10 years ago people were afraid to talk about corruption, today the situation has changed dramatically. “Alongside with our colleagues we have achieved substantial accomplishments and managed to convince people of that combat against corruption is a serious matter”. Rena stressed many problems remaining in this sphere. The UN TV will prepare a documentary on human rights situation in Azerbaijan, combat against corruption and directions of the country’s development. |
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| Training program for journalists and students studying journalism | | | |
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 | On 23 June 2011 Transparency Azerbaijan, national chapter of Transparency International organized a training program for journalists and students studying journalism. The program entitled Legal Means To Get Access To Information and Transparency of Public Agencies was organized within the framework of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centers project funded by the USAID. Participants received information on the types and forms of corruption and the role of media in the combat against corruption. At the same journalists had an opportunity to share their problems encountered when attempting to obtain information and were provided with information on relevant legal means. |
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| TRANSPARENCY AZERBAIJAN AND “AZERIGAS” DISCUSSED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GAS SUPPLY | | | |
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 | On June 28, 2011, the non-governmental organization Transparency Azerbaijan, with support from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), organized a roundtable to discuss successes and challenges in gas supply. The roundtable was the next in a series organized by Transparency Azerbaijan to facilitate dialogue between the government institutions and NGOs on ways to increase transparency and accountability. Participants of the roundtable included the representatives of Ministry of Energy and Fuel, Baku City Housing and Utilities Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Prosecutor’s Office, NGOs and International Organizations. The relevant government entities had made some efforts to improve supply of gas to the population and reduce corruption in this area of service. The new changes included the improvement of appeal mechanisms and their transparency, introduction of new service contracts and procedures for gas meters installation, application of pre-paid smart meters, etc. |
The main goal of the roundtable was to identify and discuss current deficiencies in efforts aimed at minimizing opportunities for corrupt practices in supply of gas to the population, as well as to enhance safety standards in this sector, and also explore ways to increase transparency and accountability in this area.During the event Elbrus Mammadov, head of legal department of Azerigas, spoke about recent reforms in supply of gas to the population of Azerbaijan. Alimamed Nuriyev, President of the Constitution Research Fund and coordinator of Information and Cooperation Network of Anti-corruption NGOs, discussed existing problems in consumer-supplier relations in provision of gas to the population. Alekper Agasiyev, an expert on the utilities sector from the Constitution Research Fund, talked about typical violations of the consumer’s rights by gas suppliers. Rena Safaralieva, Executive Director of Transparency Azerbaijan made general recommendations on ways to improve transparency in gas supply.The participants praised the value in this exchange of views between government and civil society. Participants of the roundtable made some other recommendations, suggestions on the improvement of transparency and accountability in the area of provision of target social aid which will be submitted in writing to the Ministry.
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 Posted by TI Az
I would say that Ministry of Education is one of f[more ...]
19 Mar : 02:26
Posted by Elvin
I`m much concerned of quality of work done by the [more ...]
19 Mar : 02:08
Posted by TI Az
What do you think of hotline numbers of various pu[more ...]
02 Sep : 00:00
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 TI Az27 Jan : 14:34A number of recommendations were prepared, discussed and presented to the Ministry of Education as a follow-up of the round table “Problems of the pre-school education and possible measures to be taken” organized by Transparency Azerbaijan and Ministry of Education with participation of Azerbaijan civil society representatives.
TI Az21 Oct : 13:22We are pleased to announce that the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) will be launched on Tuesday, 26 October 2010.
TI Az08 Oct : 14:55Revenue Watch Institute (RWI) and Transparency International (TI) launched Revenue Watch Index on 6 October 2010
TI Az23 Apr : 16:38On 18 May 2010, Transparency Azerbaijan will be organizing the presentation of the project Monitoring Implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan for Azerbaijan
TI Az15 Nov : 15:48Presentation of the Corruption Perception Index 2009 developed by Transparency International will be held on 17 November 2009.
Proxy04 Sep : 14:59Welcome everyone!
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| If power corrupts, weakness in the seat of power, with its constant necessity of deals and bribes and compromising arrangements,corrupts even more. |
| Barbara Tuchman |
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[ .:Transparency International - Azerbaijan:. ]
