Workforce development agency to be established in Azerbaijan

Source: AzerNews

The Agency for Development of Labor Resources will be established in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection said on July 19.

As part of a project on the development of social security jointly implemented with the World Bank, 200 relevant standards have been prepared in Azerbaijan, the ministry said.

The purpose of formulating professional standards is the training of competitive staff amid the dynamic economic development of the fast-growing South Caucasus republic.

The project covers 100 standards of training, evaluation forms on 200 standards, proposals on the classification of professions, as well as the preparation of institutional and legal framework of the Center of Professional Standards.

Since establishing cooperation with Azerbaijan in 1992, the World Bank has financed 56 projects in various sectors of the economy for a total of $3.4 billion in loans and grants of the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). During this period, the WB has allocated $42 million to Azerbaijan for the development of projects and feasibility studies and the organization of training.

The current strategy of the WB's cooperation with Azerbaijan covers the period 2011-2014. It is based on such priorities as boosting the non-oil sector of the economy, including development of infrastructure and agriculture. In addition, the bank's activities are focused on improving the effectiveness of social services, including health, education, social security and water supply.

Currently the WB is working with the Azerbaijani government in two areas - the development of new projects and stepping up work under the existing project portfolio.