RESTART
INITIATIVE
Building Connections for Development in
Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus
Papers and Reports
Economic Connectivity |
Armenia-Azerbaijan Dialogue Series (ECAADS)
White Paper
Jeanene Mitchell, PhD, Frank Garrison, Bernhard Knoll-Tudor
September, 2023
ECAADS is the only post-2020 initiative that brings together technical experts from both Azerbaijan and Armenia in small bilateral formats under the broad umbrella theme of economic connectivity.
Conducted in Berlin and Tbilisi over 12 months as a joint project between Restart Initiative and the Hertie School, five dialogues gathered inputs from 3-4 experts from both countries on each occasion. They focused on the key themes of regional transport cooperation, energy (hydrocarbon and renewables), water management, cooperation in markets and skills building and on future economic connectivity scenarios.
This white paper is a mid-term report which includes the findings of the first five dialogues and recommendations which have been proposed for future projects and bilateral collaboration.
You can read the full white paper here:
The Three Objectives of the ECAADS Dialogue Series
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To foster dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani experts, establishing a track record for interaction between technical experts, academics, policy professionals, and private sector representatives, thus creating corridors of conversation to further associated common objectives and a baseline for cooperation in other areas.
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To explore possibilities for regional cooperation in various economic sectors with a focus on economic development after a peace agreement, with attention to mainstreaming and the inclusion of women in these processes, thus kick-starting self-sustaining cooperation that may create a more favourable environment for normalisation on the ground;
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Based on the outcomes of the 12 dialogues and consolidated recommendations pre-endorsed by participants, to develop proposals for projects for EU institutions (DGs NEAR & INTPA, ECHO) and other international organisations (UNDP, IFIs) and development assistance providers to fund economic development projects that promote connectivity and economic prosperity that cements peace and regional stability.
The global COVID-19 pandemic heralded an unprecedented scale of digital technology use. As the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 forced people to turn to e-learning, remote work, online shopping, and other e-services, the digital world became an even more inexorable part of daily life – albeit for those with digital literacy skills and access to technology.
Public-Private Partnership Consortium: Digital Skills Building 4 Karabakh
Khalisa Shahverdiyeva and Jeanene Mitchell, PhD
April 23, 2022
By improving its digital connectivity, Azerbaijan has the potential to improve sustainable economic growth, access to online services, and e-governance (World Bank, 2021). In light of objectives for the resettlement and redevelopment of Karabakh, it is essential to address the existing digital obstacles of online service provision and employment skills of returning IDPs, public administrations and businesses in the region. Doing so also has the potential to increase economic engagement and reduce precarity among vulnerable populations, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan – which in addition to IDPs include women, daily wage earners, youth, children, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.