“Umid” Support to Social Development Public Union has already initiated to implement the final phase of the project titled “Expanding application of the principles of openness, transparency and accountability through further strengthening the role of civil society institutions in public life” under the Empowering Civil Society Organizations for Transparency (ECSOFT) program funded by USAID Azerbaijan Mission. 

According to Ednews, referring to this stage, a seminar was held in Guba with online and offline audience on July 27th, 2022 with the aim of forming the “Local Government - Civil Society Dialogue Platform”. The seminar was participated by the local ExCom representatives, members of Municipalities from 9 target communities of Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, Shabran rayons, representatives of several NGOs and business entities, executive director of "Umid" Support  to Social Development Public Union and its employees, coordinator of the Government and Civil Society Dialogue Platform on Open Government Partnership Initiatives, vice president of “Constitution” Research Fund, and member of the Supervisory Board of Agency for State Support to NGOs (35 people in total: 5 women, 30 men).

Alimammad Nuriyev, coordinator of the platform, delivered a report on "Implementation of the Open Government Initiative in Azerbaijan: Government-Civil Society Dialogue Platform for the Promotion of Open Government" and gave detailed information to the participants of the seminar about the work done and the participation of civil society in these processes. In conclusion, he underlined the great importance of the initiative of creating the Local Government-Civil Society Dialogue Platform for the Promotion of Open Government and considered it worthwhile.

The event continued with the presentation of information on the project “Expanding application of the principles of openness, transparency and accountability through further strengthening the role of civil society institutions in public life”, the participants' proposals regarding the project were listened to, and their questions were answered.

Zaur Ibrahimli, vice-president of "Constitution" Research Foundation, presented the Regulations and the Memorandum of Understanding of the Local Level "Government-Civil Society Dialogue Platform for the Promotion of Open Government" at the seminar. The mentioned documents were adopted by voting. At the same time, Eynulla Kheyrullayev, director of Guba NGO Resource and Training Center, was nominated to be the coordinator of the newly created Local Level Platform. The proposal was voted on and accepted unanimously. Consequently, a Local Level "Government-Civil Society Dialogue Platform for the Promotion of Open Government" was established with the participation of 2 local NGOs, 4 government bodies, 4 local Municipalities and 4 Community Development Councils.