Open democratic society characterizes developed “third” sector. Today hundreds of different NGOs function in Azerbaijan both registered, as well as non-registered ones. Starting from the beginning of 90-s our country faced rapid growth and strengthening of the role of non-governmental organization sector in all spheres of social life. To support this process various financial aid agencies from the USA and Western Europe assist local NGOs. The problem is that almost all local NGOs practically are not acquainted with the rules that are used in West for financing. Very few people have experience of applying to the funds on the level of western professional standards. According to American and Western European professional grant writers, to succeed in the search of financial support it is necessary to orient in the process of applying for grants; find and analyze suitable financial sources; with the help of professionally composed application for persuading the fund that they need to finance you. The search of financial means has become one of the important duties of non-commercial organizations. Constantly financial aid search – fundraising – turns into a special professional governing sphere and becomes one of the main elements of non-commercial sector development. Measures taken on the search of financial means by local NGOs, are usually held without any relations to system with marketing program and are based on intuition rather than on concrete knowledge about the procedure and methods of fundraising.

Main idea behind this training is to present an opportunity for volunteers to learn more about methods and techniques of writing grant projects and programs, also to find out more about main tools of contemporary fundraising. Participants of training were volunteers of our organization.

On 7 June, 2005 the Council of Europe Information Office in Azerbaijan together with the International Movement: Caspian-Partnership for the Future held a joint seminar named 'Azerbaijan's Integration to the European Institutions. Realities and Perspectives'. The acting director of Information Office Mr Ilgar Ibrahimli in his introductory speech stressed the significance of this kind of event for Azerbaijan and added that the main objective of seminar is to give detailed information to the seminar participants and to general public on European organizations, their activities and structure, and also information on the commitments to the Council of Europe undertaken by Azerbaijan.

The Project is being realized by South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security with financial support of Frederic Ebert Foundation. “Caspian – Partnership for the Future” Public Union represented Azerbaijan in this project. Project objectives are assistance in establishing atmosphere of trust in inner boundaries of Caucasus and popularization of European experience in the sphere of transboundary cooperation in Caucasus. Project duties include research of actual problems in boundary regions and their potential in the sphere of transboundary cooperation through holding monitoring and round tables; analysis of actual issues and preparation of transboundary development programs for separate regions and attracting international experts; development and strengthening of Caucasian Transboundary Cooperation by South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security.