BLCD - Building Local Capacity for Development Project

Solicitation Number: SOL-112-12-000006

Contract Award No.: AID-112-C-12-00001 

Project Title: Building Local Capacity for Development (BLCD) Project

Description:

The purpose of the Building Local Capacity for Development (BLCD) Project is to provide selected Azerbaijani civil society organizations with an array of support (e.g., technical assistance, training, logistics, commodity procurement and grants-under-contract), in order to strengthen civil society’s ability to be relevant, effective and sustainable partners in initiatives to strengthen democratic and governance processes, improve health, and engender economic growth and prosperity.

To strengthen democratic and governance processes, improve health, and engender economic growth and prosperity in Azerbaijan, the Building Local Capacity for Development project builds the organizational and technical capacity of civil society organizations.

The Building Local Capacity for Development project works with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Azerbaijan to build their organizational and technical capacity to serve as relevant, effective, and sustainable partners in initiatives for improved democratic processes, health, and economic growth. Through the project, USAID and Chemonics partner with selected CSOs to develop higher operating levels of professional competence and more effectively engage with the CSOs’ constituencies. The project aims to:

• Strengthen the organizational and technical capacities of key CSOs engaged in national, regional, and community public interest agendas
• Develop professional CSO resource centers, accessible by smaller and less capable CSOs working on public interest agendas
• Improve legal and regulatory frameworks to safeguard CSO enabling environments, sustainability, and independent public interest agenda roles

Project Goals:

• Increase Azerbaijani CSO effectiveness, technical competency, and organizational resiliency
• Improve the relationship between CSOs and Azerbaijani state authorities that are mandated to advance a strengthened civil society role in national and regional development
• Better engage CSOs to actively lead efforts to address the adequacy of civil society law and regulations and to advocate for key reforms

Duration: four years