Community projects
Voices of Change: A Glimpse into Global Climate Action
The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company is launching a new initiative to spotlight global climate action through the international documentary competition, “Voices of Change: A Glimpse into Global Climate Action”. This competition seeks to engage filmmakers and production companies from around the world to document and share the resilience of communities, innovative climate solutions, and adaptation practices in response to climate change. By showcasing these powerful narratives, the competition aims to inspire, educate, and mobilize global audiences for a sustainable future. Through this initiative, participants are encouraged to contribute their voices to the collective effort to address climate challenges. Themes Water Resource Management Biodiversity Protection and Ecosystem Protection Indigenous Knowledge and Practices Renewable Energy Solutions Gender and Environmental Impacts Environmental Conservation Sustainable Development Practices Selection and Judging Criteria Selection Committee: A panel of experts in environmental science and filmmaking will review submissions. Criteria: Entries will be evaluated based on relevance to the themes, creativity, storytelling quality, originality, technical proficiency, and overall impact. Rights and Permissions Copyright: Filmmakers and production companies retain copyright of their works. Usage Rights: By submitting, authors grant the non-exclusive right to screen the documentaries during the event and use excerpts for promotional purposes to the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company. Permissions: Selected documentaries are allowed by the author to be promoted through COP29’s official channels, including the website, social media, and press releases. Submission Guidelines Format: Documentaries must be submitted in high-definition digital format (MP4, MOV). Length: 2 categories Long documentaries up to 50 minutes. Short documentaries from 5 to 30 minutes. Language: Submissions in any language are welcome, but English subtitles are required. Resolution: Minimum 1080p resolution. File Size: Maximum file size of 5GB. Metadata: Include a title, the director’s name, country of origin, and a brief synopsis of the documentary (250 words max) Submission Process Submission Method: Online submission via email: documentary.competition@cop29.az Entry Fee: There is no fee to enter the competition. Required Documents: Completed Submission and Release forms. Brief biography of the production company or filmmaker (150 words max). Deadline: All entries must be submitted by September 15th, 2024. Contact Information For any questions or further information, please contact documentary.competition@cop29.az
International photo competition "Climate Action in Focus"
In a bid to raise public awareness and focus attention on pressing climate challenges, the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company has announced the launch of an international photo competition titled Climate Action in Focus. This project aims to invite photographers worldwide to engage in a visual dialogue on the topic of climate change, providing a new perspective on climate challenges through photographic storytelling and leveraging modern artistic tools to catalyze global action. Aligned with the thematic focus of COP29, the Climate Action in Focus competition will span diverse areas, including the role of communities around the world in their cultural life and environmental protection, as well as the impact of climate change on landscapes, ecosystems, and flora and fauna. Key themes such as the conservation of forests and biodiversity, the protection of water resources, sustainable agriculture, adaptation, and the preservation of cultural heritage form the core of this project. Overall, the photographs submitted for the competition will be classified into four distinct categories: Climate Change Impacts; Climate Solutions and Innovations; Youth and Education; and Flora and Fauna. The photographs will be evaluated by a panel of experts based on various criteria, including creative approach, technical skill, and effective messaging. The winning photographers will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to the world, as their photographs will be featured in a dedicated exposition during COP29. Additionally, the selected photographs will be displayed on various platforms, including COP29’s official website and social media channels. Note that you can find more detailed information about the technical requirements and submission guidelines for the competition by visiting this link. The online submission process for the competition will remain open until the 15th of September. Aspiring and professional photographers who wish to be a part of this climate action initiative can submit their entries by the given deadline to photo.exhibition.cop29@cop29.az
“International Initiatives related to COP29” for NGOs
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan together with the Agency for State Support to Non-governmental Organizations announces the Competition “International Initiatives related to COP29” for NGOs. Submission of documents for the competition will start from July 16, 2024. The deadline for applications is August 16, 2024. After that, documents collected from NGOs will be examined and projects will be analyzed, in order to identify the winners. The projects presented should be relevant to the topic of global climate change. Upper limit of grant amounts and implementation period: Upper limit of grant amount on Medium Grant Competition (MGC) - 30000 AZN (implementation period up to 6 months) Upper limit of grant amount for Large Grant Competition (LGC) - 50000 AZN (implementation period up to 6 months: Requirements for participation in the competition: NGOs can only participate in the grant competition in the form of a coalition. The procedures are carried out in accordance with the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 14, 2023, No. 327 and 328 (in relation to local NGOs). Requirements for NGOs participating in the competition as a coalition: The coalition must comply with the format “minimum 1 local NGO (having state registration in the Republic of Azerbaijan) + 1 foreign NGO”; Only a local NGO should be the main implementing party in the coalition; The protocol on the establishment of the coalition, approved by all member-local and foreign NGOs, must be submitted (in Azerbaijani and English) Detailed information about the foreign organizations represented in the coalition should be provided (which country represents, field of activity, experience, website, etc. and other sources of information); The staff of NGOs participating in the coalition must have Project Management experience and capabilities in an international format; NGOs that have won large, medium and small grant competitions of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2024 and whose commitment is not completed by August 16, 2024, cannot be the main implementing party in the coalitions; 1 NGO can only be represented in 1 coalition; The coalition can submit projects for both competitions (MGC and LGC), in which case only 1 of the projects that meet the competition requirements will be funded. Which criteria will be preferred in the competition: That the NGO which is the main implementing party itself or the organization participating as a foreign partner in the coalition has had an observer status at the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as have international experience related to previous COPs or climate change issues; That an organization with UNFCCC observer status participating as a foreign partner represents developing countries (DCs), especially least developed countries, small island developing states; Having a letter of support related to the submitted project from a foreign partner represented in the coalition. Documents required for the competition in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated September 14, 2023, No. 327: project proposal; project implementation plan; project cost estimate; financial feasibility of the project budget; Copies of the charter, registration certificate and extract from the State Register of legal entities of each local NGO participating in the coalition; Copy of Tax Accounting Certificate of NGO (in relation to local NGOs); Copy of documents confirming the identity of the authorized representative of the NGO (in relation to local NGOs); Information on the bank account of the main implementing NGO to which the grant amount will be transferred; Information on whether or not each local NGO participating in the coalition receives grants from the institutions included into the "list of institutions financed from the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which can issue grants to legal and natural persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan according to their fields of activity", approved by Decree No. 654 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 21, 2015; A document confirming the distribution of at least 10 different pieces of information about the activities, implemented projects, and programs of the main implementing NGO in the last 3 years on MGMs, as well as programs, and at least 20 different pieces of information about the activities, implemented projects, and programs of the same NGO in the last 5 years on LGMs in the media subjects; Protocol approved by local and foreign NGOs; Application form for foreign organizations represented in the coalition. The following projects are not admitted to the competition: Projects whose content contradicts with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, laws and other normative legal acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 327 and 328 dated September 14, 2023; Projects with the same content that had been financed from the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a result of previously held competitions; Projects of NGOs that have been deprived of the right to participate in the competition by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan for violating their obligations under the Grant Agreement, as well as those that have debts to the Agency. Project evaluation criteria After passing the technical examination, the projects are evaluated on a 100-score system according to the following criteria: clarity of the purpose of the project; innovativeness of the project; justification and sustainability of the project implementation period; correspondence of the project budget to the amount of the grant; experience of the NGO and its staff in accordance with relevant project topic; project risk analysis; correct identification of project beneficiaries; cooperation with relevant partners and media during project implementation; compliance of the project topic presented by the NGO with the objectives of the charter; expected outcomes of the project. Technical requirements: The main implementing NGO submits the project electronically through a special section on the website of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ngoagency.gov.az/az) (the corresponding section will be active on the website of the Agency on July 16-August 16, 2024); Project proposal documents submitted in person, by mail or by e-mail are not accepted. Contact information: Agency for State Support to Non-governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Yasamal district, Huseyn Javid avenue, block 520, house 20. office@ngoagency.gov.az | +994(12) 493-15-81
COP29 Presidency Launches COP29 Academy
The COP29 Presidency is assessing the impact of COP29 on Azerbaijan and its capital Baku, to be held from 11 to 22 November this year. Azerbaijan aims to ensure that the conference is able to make positive contributions to our planet through climate action, and that at the same time tens of thousands of visitors to Baku enjoy the best experience and hospitality. The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company announces the launch of a new project in this regard – the COP29 Academy – to ensure the active involvement of young people in tackling climate change and raising awareness about ecology. The aim of the Academy is to find and support the university graduates with the best professional skills, leadership, and thorough knowledge of climate and sustainability, and through these exceptional young people to inform society about the vital importance of sustainability. Through mentoring, continuing professional development, and opportunities for personal development, this programme will act as a platform for the participants to gain knowledge about sustainability and share it with their peers, families, and community. The Academy invites applications from graduates in any subject areas. Those who are registered will have the opportunity to attend seminars with appropriate specialists to develop competence in communication, project management, professional behaviour, and other soft skills. The participants in the COP29 Academy will be recruited by the Operating Company and contribute to the organisation of COP29 as members of staff. All candidates who graduated from accredited universities in 2023 and 2024, are Azerbaijani citizens and currently unemployed, active in their communities, and have foreign language skills of an advanced level can register by filling in the form at this link by 22 June 2024. Candidates selected on the basis of the programme requirements will be invited to interview. More detailed information about the programme can be found at www.cop29.az, by writing to academy@cop29.az, or by calling the hotline +994125352928. COP29 in Baku will have a major impact not only on young people but on the workforce as a whole in Azerbaijan. The COP29 Presidency is working to ensure the conference leaves a legacy of achievements in the capital Baku and outside the city in areas such as creating human capital, improving infrastructure, and supporting sustainable development.