Supporting business and professional associations in Azerbaijan | BAA OAA LLDI 2019 ADDENDUM04 AZERBAIJAN

Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA OAA LLDI 2019 ADDENDUM04 AZERBAIJAN

USAID Baku announced a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Supporting business and professional associations in Azerbaijan" (Funding Opportunity Number: BAA OAA LLDI 2019 ADDENDUM04 AZERBAIJAN). The core aim is to stimulate economic growth in Azerbaijan's non-oil sectors by strengthening business and professional associations through innovative partnerships between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector. The opportunity is framed around the idea that durable, practical collaboration among local associations, entrepreneurs, and companies can help diversify the economy and create broader, more resilient opportunities outside the oil industry.

A central feature of the opportunity is its partnership model. USAID is looking for approaches that multiply outreach and engagement by connecting a wide range of stakeholders, including community-level organizations, entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized business owners, other international donors, corporations, and the Government of Azerbaijan. The logic is that each party brings something useful to the table (resources, networks, credibility, technical skills, market access, or policy influence) and each has something to gain (better services for members, improved business climate, stronger local networks, or shared economic outcomes). USAID also emphasizes that these proposed activities should complement its ongoing collaboration with the Government of Azerbaijan, reinforcing broader USAID goals of strengthening the bilateral partnership and supporting economic diversification.

In terms of who should lead, USAID makes a clear point about local leadership. The agency is not looking for consortia led by international organizations. Instead, it intends to prioritize consortia or coalitions led by local entities, whether those are Azerbaijani civil society organizations or private sector organizations. International organizations are not excluded, but they are expected to participate as partners rather than leads, and USAID specifically invites expressions of interest from international groups willing to join a locally led consortium. This structure is meant to keep ownership, credibility, and sustainability rooted in local institutions while still allowing international expertise to play a supportive role.

The opportunity is issued under an "Other" funding instrument type and spans a broad set of activity categories, reflecting the many ways business and professional associations can influence economic development. The listed areas include agriculture, business and commerce, community development, consumer protection, education and training, employment and labor, energy, environment, health, housing, law and justice, natural resources, regional development, and science and technology, among others. This breadth suggests USAID is open to a variety of practical solutions as long as they strengthen associations and contribute to non-oil economic growth in Azerbaijan.

There is also a key eligibility restriction tied to recent USAID funding history. Under this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), USAID states it cannot make an award to any organization that has been a USAID recipient of USD 5 million or more within the last five years. This appears intended to widen access for smaller or less frequently funded organizations, encouraging newer entrants and locally grounded groups that may not have recently managed large USAID awards.

From the posted timeline details, the opportunity was created on March 17, 2020, with an original closing date of April 16, 2020. The source information does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full announcement documentation for budget parameters, selection criteria, submission requirements, and the precise definition of what USAID considers an "innovative solution" in this context.

• The Azerbaijan USAID-Baku in the agriculture, business and commerce, community development, consumer protection, disaster prevention and relief, education, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, housing, information and statistics, income security and social services, law, justice and legal services, natural resources, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting business and professional associations in Azerbaijan" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-04-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for BAA OAA LLDI 2019 ADDENDUM04 AZERBAIJAN

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