First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the International Eurasia Press Fund, the international analytical information portal EDNews.net, the management, the translators for the translation service and disseminating the article in the Azerbaijan’s media.

 

Please click on the link for the full article: https://ednews.net/en/news/society/427831-muhammad-yunus-announced-post-pandemic-programme

 

The article is irreplaceable in terms of a concise and comprehensive reform message to the world community. As noted in the introduction to the op-ed, the programme can be considered as a concept of reconstruction for the post-pandemic period. Of course, there are special thanks to IEPF President Umud Mirzayev for his initiative in translation of the book "Banker of the Poor" authored by a "giant" person like Muhammad Yunus into Azerbaijani and organising the presentation of the book with the participation of scientists, civil society organisations and officials, as well as arranging his visit in Azerbaijan. 

 

First of all, I would like to draw your attention to the title of the article. The concept of "reconstruction" does not leave a positive impression on our memory; the programme can be rather called a "Sustainable Development Programme". By the way, it is expedient to update the UN Sustainable Development Programme in accordance with the current situation.

 

The article compares the damage caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and the scale of the opportunities it creates. I agree, "no matter how great the damage, the opportunities it creates for us are unparalleled," but the damage is obvious, how do we measure the scale of the opportunities? I do not mean to question what a ‘giant’ like Muhammad Yunus said, but I would like to get additional advice from the author on how to use these opportunities. Yes, it is already clear to everyone that the world will not be the previous world, as many say, but what will change, how will it change, who will change? In response to these questions, the article provides very brief messages. As the article says, we must start the "reconstruction" package with plans and activities that mobilise the public consciousness. Given that we are in crisis, all plans must be ready today. Because when the crisis is over, the old ideas and methods that have rusted will reappear. It is very beautiful and appropriate, we cannot be late in any day, the rusty old ideas and methods (I would add the word insidious) are looking for a moment, they always use the phrase "we are not ready" to the public and seek opportunity to bring up their insidious, rusty and old ideas. We, as the Azerbaijani society, must be ready for this, we have proven that we can build and manage this struggle ourselves. The serious and professional decision-making ability of the country's leadership in a timely manner, the approach of the majority of government agencies have proven that Azerbaijani society can overcome many difficulties without outside intervention and support. Unwillingly, our state has repeatedly faced a state of emergency or critical situations close to it. In each of these problems, the state has taken immediate action. In each of these processes, it developed an effective management method. It was from these events that we were able to apply the right approach during the pandemic, gaining experience and analysing the situation correctly. In this process, civil society has a significant responsibility.

 

Another point of interest in the article is to raise the issue of the formation of a hatred for the processes taking place in the world before the pandemic. Yes, we have both the right to sin and the right to hate. Based on this opinion of Muhammad Yunus, it is our civic duty to send serious messages to those who want to return to the previous period. As the article puts it, “Should we go back to that world? Choice is ours.”  I think the Azerbaijani state has already made its choice, and the recent reforms prove it. We have no intention to go back to the pre-pandemic period.

 

Further to a point that caught my attention in the article was the emphasis that the economy is a tool, not a major force. The question of whether the economy or the management is first has been debated at various times. Now, Mr. Muhammad Yunus has once again clarified this issue, emphasising that the economy is only a tool. As the article recommends, "We must not forget for a moment that this is a tool we have developed," "In a post-pandemic, the reconstruction programme must be based on a social and environmental consciousness at the heart of all decisions," is a message of how to use this tool. Yes, this point is taken into account in various projects around the world, but at best, 1-2% of revenues are allocated for environmental damage. In my opinion, the implementation of projects that will harm the environment should be minimised and kept under strict control. Furthermore, the amount of funds allocated for its restoration should be increased several times, and social issues should come to the fore.

I would rather add the words "international financial institutions" and "donor organisations" to the opinion of esteemed Muhammad Yunus that "governments should guarantee that no one will be offered even one dollar unless they are sure that society will bring maximum benefits to society and the environment compared to all other options."

One of the most interesting parts of the article is the Social Business section. This is an issue that Muhammad Yunus dedicated his life to. As mentioned at the beginning of the review, hundreds of his articles, lectures and books have been published in this field. This issue has been on the agenda in Azerbaijan from time to time (https://socialentrepreneur.az/,    https://ednews.net/az/news/society/200440-sosial-sahibkarliq-ve-onun-azerbaycanda-formalasdirilmasi-imkanlari-arasdirilir,                https://www.facebook.com/pg/Sosial-Sahibkarl%C4%B1q-2032386266992208/about/?ref=page_internal). 

 

There has always been a factor in the national mentality, customs and traditions of Azerbaijan, such as the acceptance of social responsibility of its community. The recent budget is a social budget, which is a proof that our state is a socially oriented state. The issue of corporate social responsibility is always on the agenda, but requires a more serious approach. Business must realize its responsibility to society, and a culture of corporate responsibility must be formed. In the past, the Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan raised this issue. 

 

During the pandemic, Azerbaijan became one of the countries that paid more attention to the social factor in all these issues, and despite all the economic difficulties it was able to maintain the status of a social state, as always.

 

In this article, Mr. Muhammad Yunus gave a message to the world community about the importance of bringing "Social Entrepreneurship and Social Policy" back on the agenda. "In a comprehensive restructuring plan, I propose that the leading role be given to social business, a new form of business," the author said, laying the groundwork for a roadmap on where the main direction of the economy should go.

 

I partially agree with the author's view that "governments should take care of the poor and unemployed through traditional welfare programs, strengthen the health care system, and launch a program to support businesses with weak social business choices by improving all necessary services." I think it should not be forgotten that education is also a priority in this sentence. In general, the education system should be restructured, and universities should return to the system of classical training and educational institutions, not to business universities or business centres (there are training and other centres for this).

In general, as noted in this article, the author provides a guide for governments to develop guidelines for a roadmap for social business development.

 

By giving the message where the author says "As long as the economy remains a science for profit growth only, we cannot fully rely on a social and environmental restructuring program," he proposes a restructuring of the economy and science and a rapid increase in the share of social entrepreneurship in the economy. 

 

In the op-ed where Muhammad Yunus mentioned as "People are born not as job seekers, but as entrepreneurs,” he also indirectly gave a message about the roles and responsibilities of civil society organisations in the post-pandemic period. "The restructuring programme must eliminate the traditional division of labour between citizens and the government," he said, recalling the important role of civil society organisations, which claim to establish a link between citizens and government and have won this right over the years.

 

At the end of the article, the author reiterates the seriousness of the issue by saying that “if we are late, we will give the opportunity to those of who want to persuade the society with "their cunning, rusty, old ideas." We must be sure that the activities and opportunities of these people will give us a new, more dangerous and ugly world.