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Conference: The Role of NGOs in Azerbaijani Society

 

Rufat Aliyev, 

Debate in Civil Society 

 

While ISAR included an article about  this conference in its last bulletin, we include this article, taken from Saniya to 

present the viewpoint one local NGO about this ISAR-organized event which brought together local organizations to 

discuss their role in society. 

 

The first annual conference “The Role of NGOs Society  in Azerbaijani ” was held at the “Crescent Beach Hotel” in 

Baku from 1-4 March 2001. I could write pages about the conference as a whole but instead, I will just address what 

I feel are two of the key points from the sessions in which I took part.  First, I will share with you what I learned about 

why businesses work with the community, and second, I will share some of the main points discussed about NGO 

coalitions. 

 

During the Discussion on NGO-Business Relations, a representative of  BP spoke about the philosophy of charity 

and the modern concept of the “socially responsible business”.  While traditionally, business was concerned only 

about profit, during the 60s and 70s  social instability and racial and student disturbances of those  times began to 

shift much of the responsibility for social injustice and economic inequality towards the business community.   

 

At the time, consumers had very little trust in businesses.  As a result of this, public opinion began to press business 

to regulate their activity. Therefore, the business community came forward as an initiator of “socially responsible” 

behavior.  Thus the “Socially Responsible Business Concept” was developed.  While this concept can be interpreted 

in a variety of ways, it is a driving force that gets companies involved with NGOs and other groups working to help 

society. 

 

Following the four concurrent panel discussions on intersectoral relationships and cooperation, participants took part 

in workshops on one of four topics.  I was part of the group that worked on coalition-building.  Many of those in our 

group knew nothing about coalitions when the conference began.  However, after working with trainer Natalya 

Kirichuk from the Siberian Public Initiative Support Center this changed. 

 

In my opinion, there is some haste and artificiality in stimulating the formation of coalitions among nongovernmental 

organizations.  However, there does already exist in Azerbaijan some experience in working in coalitions.  Also, 

NGOs can draw from the  experience of many other countries.  In fact, a theoretical basis for the development of 

coalitions has already been created with recommendations for each of the various stages of the establishment and 

activity of coalitions. 

 

And what are coalitions?  Certainly there are many words that imply the same thing, such as cooperation, 

coordination, association and so on.   However, we are speaking about coalitions in the sense of unity, a union 

created on a voluntary basis for achieving a common purpose.  It should be noted that we are speaking of unions 

that specifically promote the goals of the participating organization and not of structural, financial or other forms of 

unions.   

 

There are two important characteristics of coalitions: 

First: coalitions are formed to achieve common goals  

Second: joining any coalition is voluntary. 

The main point here is that in coalitions, NGOs come together and unite voluntarily in pursuit of a common purpose.  

It should also be mentioned that for such coalitions to work effectively, democratic values must be included in the 

regulations and internal rules of any coalition. 

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At the conclusion of the workshop on coalition building, I became a member of a working group on “The Formation 

and Role of Coalitions”, which will continue to work on this issue over the coming year.  Our working group has the 

following plans: 

To create a training system for NGOs to enable them to pass and disseminate knowledge of coalitions. 

To analyze foreign practices and the experience of local NGO coalitions, to reveal their strong points, problems and 

to collect relevant data. 

Based on the results of the first two points, establish expert consultative services for NGOs regarding coalition 

building. 

 

(Information has been taken from the social-analytical agency “Saniya”.)