Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Khalilova / The Azerbaijani Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies and the World Bank (WB) will announce on 28 September the seven grant winners for the implementation of projects in the sphere of information technology, the WB's Baku Office said on 24 September. Cooperation over the WB's small grant program was for the first time realized by the State body.
The protocol between the Bank and the Ministry of Communications over the program on Information Society - new stage of development was concluded in March 2007. The participation share of the Ministry comprises $15,000 and the World Bank's - $34,000. Around $5,000-7,000 will be spent on each selected project.
The document signed envisages support to develop information societies and other programs, encouraging participation in the civil society to develop information technology.
NGO registered at the Justice Ministry are allowed to participate in the competition for the election of grant beneficiaries. In accordance with the terms of the rivalry, proposals submitted for receiving grants should cover the application of new information technology, reforms in health and education sectors, transparency of budget and anti-corruption, integration of youth into the civil society, socials security, public transparency, as well as poverty reduction and protection of human rights.
The small grant program for NGO is implemented in Azerbaijan every year beginning from 2000. So far, 53 grants worth $250,000 have been allocated under the program.