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Advisory Projects in Azerbaijan


IFC is implementing or has completed the following advisory projects:

CURRENT PROJECTS

Azerbaijan & Central Asia Microfinance Transformation Support Project
Azerbaijan Business Enabling Environment Project
Azerbaijan-Central Asia Leasing Facility
Azerbaijan Corporate Governance Project
Azerbaijan Energy Efficiency Survey Project
Azerbaijan and Central Asia Primary Mortgage Market Development Project
Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan/Supplier Finance Facility Project
SME Linkage Program

COMPLETED PROJECTS



CURRENT PROJECTS


Azerbaijan & Central Asia Microfinance Transformation Support Project
2008 – present
Supported with funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and IFC

The Project is centered in Almaty and its objectives are to assist and support Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) based in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan. It focuses on those institutions that wish to transform their activities from being traditionally credit based to being able to provide their customers with a broader range of financial services. Normally these services would include the acceptance of deposits and could also require profiling of institutions before they are able to obtain a full banking license.
In keeping with the IFC strategy for Central Asia, which is to support competitiveness of the private sector in areas with social development aspects such as micro loans to the poor, IFC brings additionality through the Project by aiming to combine advisory services with investment funds. This leverages the effectiveness of both components in enabling MFIs to expand their outreach and services and thereby help their clients to raise their standards of living and improve their livelihoods.
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Azerbaijan Energy Efficiency Survey Project
2008 – present
Supported with funds from IFC

The main goal of the project is to assess the current market for energy efficiency financing in Azerbaijan and to raise awareness among local financial institutions, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and policy makers about existing opportunities for energy efficiency financing in the country. Similar surveys have been conducted in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, and Belarus.

By identifying best practices in SME energy efficiency and finance, the survey will also provide benchmarks with other countries and might lead to a more comprehensive program to increase energy efficiency in Azerbaijan and the region.
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    The Challenge
    The energy sector is crucial for the strategic goals of Azerbaijan both as input for non-oil growth and jobs and as consumption for poor households. Challenges include implicit subsidies (estimated at 11 percent of GDP in 2001) resulting from a combination of non payments, tariff cross-subsidies, and excessive operating losses.

    In addition to policy and operational issues, there are significant environmental issues in the energy sector of Azerbaijan because of the outdated technologies, inefficient equipment, limited pollution control mechanisms, inadequate waste management, and the poor quality of raw materials. Environmental degradation has been growing as many households have attempted to cope with reduced gas supplies by switching to fuel, wood, or oil.

    Though the Azerbaijani Energy Efficiency market has been growing, international organizations (such as IFC) which provide advisory services and share the international best practices with the local energy sector could give the sector a much needed boost.

    As part of IFC’s commitment to support sustainable economic growth, we have accumulated vast experience in financing investments in energy efficiency worldwide.
    The IFC Approach
    • Conduct a survey of local SMEs and FIs and an assessment of EE legislation in Azerbaijan
    • Describe the survey’s findings in the authoritative report
    • Conduct a series of seminars for targeted FIs to introduce the concept of EE financing
    • Conduct a media training for local journalists (on the subject of EE)
    • Organize a press conference for interested parties on survey findings
    • Publish and disseminate the report of survey results to interested stakeholders
    • Increase awareness of EE among targeted FIs, SMEs, government, mass media and general public
    • Conduct a larger dissemination event/round table for interested stakeholders.
    Anticipated Impact
    • Banks begin to explore EE financing
    • The awareness of EE among all interested stakeholders: FIs, SMEs, government, mass media, and general public is increased
    • Advisory and investment opportunities in the country are developed

    IFC's Expertise in Energy Efficiency
    As part of IFC’s commitment to support sustainable economic growth, we have accumulated vast experience in financing investments in EE worldwide. IFC’s EE projects are structured around:
    • Financial Institutions - to help them develop their own products for financing investments in EE through trainings, joint promotional activities, resource materials, and advice on transactions.
    • Industrial clients (SMEs) - to help them improve the efficiency of their own operations, to assist in analyzing EE projects under consideration and in identifying opportunities to save energy;
    • Energy generators - to assist them invest in renewable energy technologies and build relationships with potential clients and with FIs.
    • National governments - to help them develop policies that stimulate investment in sustainable energy / EE projects, also promote EE through information campaigns.

Azerbaijan Business Enabling Environment Project
www.ifc.org/azbee
2008 - present
Supported with funds from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO) and BP on behalf of its co-venturers

The project works to improve the business climate in Azerbaijan by streamlining select administrative procedures, such as registration, permits and licensing, thereby removing key regulatory barriers to business entry and operations.
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Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan/Supplier Finance Facility Project
2007 – present
Supported with funds from BP and its Oil & Gas Partners

The project leverages the large oil and gas presence in Azerbaijan to help develop local SMEs around BP’s supply chain. The project works to expand access to finance for local suppliers through the $15 million Supplier Finance Facility and Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan.
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Azerbaijan and Central Asia Primary Mortgage Market Development Project
Phase 1, 2005 – 2006, supported with funds from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO)
Phase 2, 2006 – present, supported with funds from the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO)

The project focuses on improving the housing finance legislative framework in Azerbaijan and Central Asia by building institutional capacity for mortgage lending and raising mortgage awareness. By partnering with policymakers, banks, and key stakeholders in the mortgage market, the project works to increase access to affordable housing in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
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Azerbaijan-Central Asia Leasing Facility
www.ifc.org/acalf
2005 – present
Supported with funds from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO)

The project facilitates the development of the leasing industry in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan by strengthening the capacity of selected financial institutions, improving their Management Information Systems, and facilitating improvements in the regulatory framework for leasing in each country.
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Azerbaijan Corporate Governance Project
www.ifc.org/acgp
2003 - present
Supported with funds from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO)

The project works to improve corporate governance practices at Azerbaijani joint stock companies and banks, thus helping them enhance their operations and increase their ability to attract financing and investment. To strengthen the national level of corporate governance, the project works with policymakers to improve corporate governance regulations throughout Azerbaijan. The project partners with educational institutions to assist them in developing corporate governance courses. The project also conducts a national public awareness campaign on the importance of corporate governance.
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SME Linkage Program
2002
Funded by IFC and Private Oil Companies

This program, which is linked to IFC’s proposed investments in the Azeri, Chirag, and Deepwater Gunashli (ACG ) oilfield and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline projects, is part of the Corporation’s strategy of working closely with clients and partners to provide developmental support through linkages to major investment projects. Linkage projects have been particularly successful in the extractive industries.

The support is directed at expanding local supply and distribution chains to create more opportunities for smaller businesses and to assist in sustainable community development efforts. Specifically, the Azerbaijan small and medium enterprise linkage program is designed to improve the capacity and know-how of local Azeri companies active in the oil and gas service and supply sectors in order to help them benefit from investments in the oil industry. The Program’s clients benefit from (i) provision of targeted advisory services, (ii) improved access to finance and (iii) the creation of local business development service providers.
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