Huseynov: Azerbaijan maintains leadership in SDG implementation within CIS

Azerbaijan continues to maintain a leading position in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and is among the world's leading countries in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Huseyn Huseynov, Advisor to the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Report informs.

Speaking at the 8th SDG Dialogue: Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development Beyond Aid and Traditional Official Development Assistance (ODA) event in Baku, within the framework of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group's 51st Annual Meeting, the official highlighted that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to transparency, accountability, and evidence-based monitoring in SDG implementation.

"By presenting four Voluntary National Reviews in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2024, Azerbaijan has maintained its leadership in the CIS region and is among the top 10 countries globally. Work is currently underway on the fifth Voluntary National Review, to be presented at next year's High-Level Political Forum. More than 50 state programs, strategies, and action plans have been aligned with the SDGs, ensuring stronger policy coherence among government institutions. Financing sustainable development remains one of Azerbaijan's key priorities, with major initiatives undertaken to strengthen the sustainable finance architecture," he noted.

Huseynov added that integrating SDGs into national planning systems and marking targets within state programs plays a crucial role. He highlighted the development of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), closer alignment of budget planning with development priorities, and the Central Bank's Sustainable Finance Roadmap as key directions. Azerbaijan has also used the SDG Investor Map to identify financing gaps and strengthen domestic resource-based approaches, alongside assessments of state expenditures against SDG categories.

"Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are playing an increasingly important role in modernizing infrastructure, supporting industrial development, expanding transport links, implementing renewable energy projects, and fostering economic diversification. This mechanism not only mobilizes additional investment resources but also contributes to efficiency, innovation, and long-term sustainability," the official concluded.