The real needs and proposals of business representatives in the field of CSR have been recorded
“Entrepreneurs and companies do not have much experience working with the NGO sector, and they need to build knowledge and skills in this area. At the same time, they are not familiar with the sector, yet they show great interest in supporting public initiatives,” these thoughts were voiced at seminars held for entrepreneurs and companies.
As part of the project “Strengthening NGO-Business Partnership: Joint Initiatives for Social Responsibility,” the next online seminar intended for company representatives was held. The project is implemented by the “Prioritet” Socio-Economic Research Center Public Union with the financial support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Following the first highly anticipated training session held on September 14, 2026, the second online seminar organized on September 18, 2026, successfully concluded the seminar program designed for entrepreneurs. Realized in partnership with the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of the Azerbaijan Republic (ASK), the seminars were attended by entrepreneurs representing various economic fields, CSR and ESG managers, as well as representatives of civil society institutions.
Speaking at the event, Ayaz Adilov, the Baku-Absheron-Khizi regional coordinator of KOBIA, and other responsible representatives of the organization highlighted the importance of strengthening the culture of social responsibility in the local business environment and ensuring the sustainability of institutional dialogue with civil society.
Project manager and chairman of the “Prioritet” Socio-Economic Research Center Public Union, Zaur Ibrahimli, noted that these seminars, which involved a total of more than 40 company representatives, aim to establish an atmosphere of trust between the business sector and NGOs. He stated that based on the results of large-scale surveys conducted within the project and international experience, an Analytical Report and Proposals Package will be prepared and submitted to state and private sector institutions, creating the ground for signing memoranda with business associations.
Speaking as an expert at the seminar, Ceyhun Atayev, Managing Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Azerbaijan (AFchamber) and a renowned expert in CSR and sustainability, delivered a detailed presentation on the topic “Establishing Transparent and Effective Partnerships with NGOs – Cooperation in Modern CSR Strategy.” In his speech, C. Atayev explained the criteria for the corporate sector to select the right partners in cooperation with NGOs (reputation, competence, transparency, and compliance – the 5C model), principles of co-designing projects, proper mobilization of resources, and risk management through practical examples and case studies. In particular, the methods of aligning CSR initiatives with international ESG standards, and determining real social impact and measurable KPIs provided to society rather than just activity results, aroused special interest among the seminar participants.
The seminars, held in an interactive format and concluding with a Q&A session, recorded the real needs and proposals of business representatives in the field of CSR.
At the end of the seminar, project manager Zaur Ibrahimli stated: “Entrepreneurs and companies do not have much experience working with the NGO sector, and they need to build knowledge and skills in this area. At the same time, they are not familiar with the sector, yet they show great interest in supporting public initiatives. Meanwhile, the NGO sector must enhance its capacity to present professionally prepared project proposals that will attract business attention and build practical cooperation. Initiatives to overcome these challenges must be expanded. The ‘Prioritet’ Socio-Economic Research Center will continue to work in this direction.”