Project Summary

The project focuses on below specific objectives: Initiating and building capacity of the Youth Internet Governance Forum in Azerbaijan; Electing the potency of the TASIM project, envisioning potential business opportunities and supporting partnership appliances; Capacity building for the development of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and the advancement of the existing communication infrastructures; Convening of the 6th Regional Internet Governance Forum in Azerbaijan; Developing Smart city Road Map for Baku, Azerbaijan; and Evolving National Concept and innovative frameworks for digital economy development.

The Project shall be implemented under national implementation modality. The MTCHT will be the responsible executing entity. UNDP will be acting as Responsible Party to provide technical assistance, capacity development and operational support in the project implementation related to procurement, recruitment, contracting and execution of direct payments to suppliers under the conditions regulated by the Letter of Agreement on Service Provision and Project Support between the Government and UNDP. The Minister of MTCHT and UNDP Resident Representative will head the project Steering Committee.

The project will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 9: “Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes”; Target 9.C “Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet”.

Project Objectives

The objective will be achieved through the delivery of following project components: 

• Initiating and building capacity of the Youth Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Azerbaijan; 
  
• Electing the potency of the TASIM project, envisioning potential business opportunities and supporting partnership appliances;
• Capacity building for the development of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and the advancement of the existing communication infrastructures;
• Convening of the 6th Regional Internet Governance Forum in Azerbaijan;
• Developing Smart City Road Map for Baku, Azerbaijan;
• Evolving National Concept and innovative frameworks for digital economy development.
   

Expected Results

The Project will offer holistic support to economic empowerment, skills development and business investment in the ICT and innovation sphere, as well as will focus on developing capacities and rolling out innovative approaches for better integration of the most vulnerable sections of the workforce into formal employment, including women and persons with disabilities.

The specific objectives of this action are formation and development of new directions and opportunities that will strengthen ICT of Azerbaijan at national and international levels, infrastructural advancement of the institutions, convening of the diverse pivotal ICT events, as well as to contribute to innovative ICT improvement processes in the country.

Project Accomplishments

2018

• Negotiations were conducted with Internet Governance Forum Secretariat in Geneva regarding the establishment of the Youth IGF Forum Secretariat Azerbaijan within IGF 2018;
• Website and logo of Youth IGF Azerbaijan were developed;
  
• Procurement of mobile signature server for Data Processing Centre of MTCHT was successfully processed ;
  
• Two latest Apple Monoblocks were purchased for the ministry within framework of the capacity development in innovation, particularly for the jointly organised Idea to Business contests;
  
• Project Manager and Project Director successfully participated at the Global IGF 2018 in Paris France 12-14 November 2018;
  
• “Working together at the regional level – projects & forums” open forum was organised within IGF 2018. (35 men; 22 women)
  
• 6th RIGFAZ was promoted via Azerbaijani Booth within the framework of IGF 2018 Village;
  
• Road Map on Smart City development in Azerbaijan is on the final phase. Shamakhi was selected as a pilot city.
• Innovation Road Map Presentation within the framework of Innoweek 2018 where 4 reports written by Mr. Edward Roche for the project on innovations were presented at the Heydar Aliyev Center, and during the event Guest Participant Ms. Andrea Boyle made presentation regarding smart city development. Number of participants 250. (180 men; 70 women);
  
• Idea to Business contest was convened together with MTCHT in the regions of Azerbaijan (Shaki, Sumgait, Ganja and Nakhchivan) and Universities of Baku whore than 100 participants per event. (approx.. 60 men; 40 women per event);
  
• Grand Final of Idea to Business was organised in Baku at Heydar Aliyev Center dated 26 October 26, 2018. Number of Participants 300. (220 men; 80 women);
  
• InnoCamp in Shaki, Azerbaijan was organised together with MTCHT dated 29 September 2018. Number of participants 150. (110 men; 40 women);
  
• Equipment for Robotech Lab initiative was procured within project for the MTCHT dated 30 August 2018 - 5679 USD;
  
• Robotech Lab opening and further functioning at School N23 were organised dated 16 November 2018.