From September 2009 the Human Dynamics Team will work for the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan and its Programme Administration Office (PAO) through an 24 months EC financed contract on “Implementation of Twinning, Taiex & Sigma operations in Azerbaijan”
The overall objective of the project is to support the capacity of Azerbaijan to make the best use of EU assistance and in particular of the Institutional Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA instruments.
Implementation of the Project will concentrate on three major components:
- Component 1: will deal with the organisation and development of awareness raising activities, such as the regular updating and maintenance of the website, the distribution of quarterly newsletters and the constant updating of potential Twinning beneficiary institutions with regards to the implementation of Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA operations. The ultimate objective of this project is to raise sufficient awareness of this EC assistance programme within the Azerbaijani line Ministries so as to make them better use these instruments, contributing to the implementation of the objectives set in the ENP Azerbaijan Action Plan, the PCA and the National Indicative Programme. The implementation of the other two components heavily depends on the success achieved in this crucial aspect of raising awareness.
- Component 2: puts particular emphasis on the Twinning procedures and the provision of regular advice and support to the stakeholders involved in the Twinning procedure, from project identification to projects completion. In order to achieve this objective, constant communication will be held with stakeholders, as well as organising several working groups, each including a main aspect of the Twinning procedure, and the efficient follow-up of the main activities. Every activity establishing best practices will be documented and set in a manual so as to contribute towards the establishment of the PAO’s “institutional memory”. This Component is crucial to assist line Ministries in the identification of possible Twinning projects and in the effective development of project requests. The hands-on approach envisaged within the activities undertaken, will establish a more focused and successful learning process.
- Component 3: will focus on the training activities to be provided to the PAO staff and to the Twinning projects beneficiary. It will run in parallel to the other Components and determine objectives which are related to mainly Component 2. There are two main activities within Component 3: (i) the provision of general training and (ii) the establishment of specific training activities, specifically with regards to the Twinning cycle. This could include a study visit either to an EU Member State or to a country which is part of the ENP region so that best practice can be transferred.