The European Union has launched a new project on civil service reform in the Republic of Azerbaijan

In 2017 February 14th State Examination Centre of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan and the Office of the Government of Lithuania together with the partners have launched the Twinning Project “Support to further reforms of the civil service system in Azerbaijan”.

The project, with a total budget of 1,2 million EURO, is financed by the European Union and will be implemented in partnership with the Government of Lithuania and Civil Service Department throughout a period of time of two years. The project purpose stands in improving the capacity, tools and efficiency of the State Examination Centre, developing and implementing the new classification of occupations and linking it to the recruitment, performance appraisal and remuneration systems.

Ms. Malena Mård, Head of European Union Delegation to the Republic of Azerbaijan stressed that EU delegation always supported the reforms of the civil service. Moreover, she is very glad that Republics of Lithuania and Azerbaijan are the partners for the 7th time implementing Twinning projects and hopes that this project will contribute a lot to the reforms of the civil service in Azerbaijan.

Mr. Valdas Lastauskas, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Azerbaijan congratulated both countries having started the implementation of the project and expressed his happiness that only highly experienced Lithuania experts will share their best practice with the colleagues of National Examination Centre.

Also, present at the ceremony, Mr. Alminas Mačiulis, Member State Project Leader, Deputy chancellor, Government of the Republic of Lithuania stressed that with the help of World Bank, SIGMA, EU and other funds for many years had been working with an aim to improve the civil service system and the fact that Lithuania was awarded to implement this project is a proof that hard work gave good results. In his return, Mr. Fuad Mayilov, Beneficiary Country Project Leader, Head of Department of Strategic Development of the State Examination Center expressed his hope that this project will be important not only for Azerbaijan but also for Lithuanian institutions too.

During the conference, the Member State Resident Twinning Advisor Mr. Edvardas Žukauskas presented the objectives, targets and the implementation of planned activities of the project.

Lithuania in the kick-off event was also represented by the Director of the European Social Fund Agency (which is in charge of project administration) Mr. Povilas Česonis and project’s experts: Mrs. Renata Sadzevičiūtė, Ms. Goda Aleksaitė, Mrs. Reda Rekašienė, Mrs. Dalia Šadžiuvienė and Mr. Arvydas Kazlauskas.

Up to70 participants from various public administration institutions have participated at the opening ceremony and attracted a lot of media attention.