Community

Social Investment

The success of projects in the Caspian region depends, in part, on the operators’ ability to create tangible benefits from these projects for the people of the region. To achieve this, bp and its co-venturers continue to implement major social investment projects, which include educational programmes, building skills and capabilities in local communities, improving access to social infrastructure in communities, supporting local enterprises through provision of access to finance and training, support for cultural legacy and sport, as well as technical assistance to public institutions.

In the first three quarters of 2024, bp and its co-venturers in the bp-operated joint ventures spent more than $0.8 million on social investment projects in Azerbaijan. During the first nine months of 2024, this included 23 ongoing educational projects, three local capacity-building and enterprise development programmes and one environmental initiative.

bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that it operates) will continue their social investment initiatives in support of local capacity-building and enterprise development throughout Azerbaijan to assist the country in strengthening its economy.

Some examples of such projects in Azerbaijan are:

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed  a capacity building initiative aiming to help vulnerable group of population from 13 districts of Azerbaijan acquire new skills to enhance their employment opportunities and income generation activities, as well as stimulate self-employment. A total of 395 beneficiaries completed the training based on the ‘Start and Improve Your Business’ modules of the International Labor Organization.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project in support of developing youth entrepreneurship in rural areas including communities in the Samukh, Yevlakh and Agdash districts. The initiative was based on a three-stage development programme. Stage 1 included selection and training of business-oriented young people from low-income families; Stage 2 aimed to provide them with necessary equipment and tools to start their small businesses, and Stage 3 supported the project participants through a mentorship programme to help them efficiently use the knowledge, skills and equipment provided by the project. A total of 65 beneficiaries received in kind-support and business training as part of this project.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed an educational project aimed at enhancing the knowledge of English and developing innovative teaching skills of a group of 60 teachers from three Ganja universities.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting an educational project to enhance English language proficiency and develop innovative teaching skills of up to 80 teachers from Sumgayit State University and Nakhchivan State University. To date, 40 subject teachers from Sumqayit State University have completed assessments to determine their English levels. Based on the results, teachers were assigned to appropriate groups and have then started training sessions, completing 80 hours of the programme’s 160-hour English language training.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) has launched an initiative to develop a mobile application for learning and teaching Azerbaijani Sign Language. The project aims to promote societal inclusion for people with hearing and speech challenges.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project aiming to contribute to the startup environment in the country. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of the Tusi incubation programme and support the linkage between investors and tangible startups.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project aimed at empowering autism specialists across Azerbaijan by providing access to international best practices, delivered by both international and local experts. The project covered specialists in Baku, Ganja and the Dashkasan, Samukh, Agstafa, Tovuz, Goranboy and Shamkir districts. The project scope included specialized training for 180 autism and therapeutic sport specialists, volunteers and other groups of people involved in the assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapy of autism, followed by practical sessions. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project aimed at creating an online educational platform for digital innovative entrepreneurship. The initiative enhanced the educational capacity of local universities and supported students in establishing sustainable businesses. The project produced training materials, an educational guide and a dedicated web platform to support these goals.  

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project to integrate and expand professional inclusive educational programmes through the Learning Management System technology. As part of the project, CHED (Childhood Health, Education and Social Development) and ‘Mektebim’ courses, along with training materials, were adapted and uploaded to a newly developed online platform. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a new initiative aimed at increasing employment opportunities for 60 local skilled workers from vulnerable households. As part of the project, skilled workers who had no chance in the past to receive professional vocational education will be able to pass certification exams and obtain official diplomas required for building sustainable job careers. The project will also cover the certification exam fees.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting an initiative to equip rural schools with innovative solar heating system and heat pumps. As part of the project, the procurement, delivery and installation of the solar panels and  heat pump have been completed.  • bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project to strengthen the educational capacity of the ‘Automation, telecommunications and computer science’ department of the Azerbaijan Technological University in Ganja in the area of cybersecurity.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project aimed at supporting the entrepreneurship education at secondary schools. As part of the project, 34 teachers from across Azerbaijan received training in teaching entrepreneurship. These teachers went on to train around 600 STEAM teachers across the country, equipping them with essential knowledge and effective pedagogical tools for introducing the basics of entrepreneurship at schools. These trained teachers then conducted sessions and other learning activities for about 8,000 students across 150 STEAM schools in 51 districts of Azerbaijan. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project that contributes to the development of national IT professionals within the ‘Technest’ scholarship education programme, initiated by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport in 2021. The first phase of the project has already been successfully completed. The current phase aims to help 289 new participants from low-income families get necessary skills in various IT areas, addressing the demand for IT specialists in the local labour market. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project designed to promote the culture of inclusive education in high schools. The initiative covered 24 schools selected from across the country including Baku, Sumgayit, Shirvan, Ganja, Absheron, Guba, Sheki, Gazakh, Khachmaz, Gabala and Aghjabadi. The project enhanced 280 schoolteachers’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills in inclusive education through a specifically developed training programme created together with foreign specialists.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project to support development of community-based agricultural tourism in the Tovuz district. The initiative aims to create income generation and employment opportunities for selected low-income families in Tovuz. The project included training of the staff from seven selected agro-tourism service providers - 27 people in total, provision of equipment and tools, refurbishment support, if required, and mentorship. Additionally, a forum and exhibition were organized in Tovuz to promote agro-tourism.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project aimed at increasing employment and income-generation opportunities for 25 beneficiaries from vulnerable families living in the Kurdamir district. The selected participants will receive vocational training in tailoring and makeup artistry.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project to establish the ICT cybersecurity laboratory at Mingachevir State University. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at engineering faculty, benefitting over 850 students of computer engineering, information technology, computer science and cyber/information security disciplines annually. As part of the project, the hardware and software components of the laboratory have already been delivered and installed. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a project aimed at helping war-affected people in the Tovuz and Agstafa districts build sustainable livelihoods. The project provided psycho-social and legal assistance, as well as organized a networking (social integration) camp for war-affected people. In total, around 600 people received psycho-social and legal support, and 25 people benefitted from a networking and recreational camp organized in the Gakh district.
• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed a training programme for a large group of students at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University. The programme aimed to develop inclusive teaching skills of undergraduate students specializing in primary school education. Some 140 students of the Primary Education and Correction faculty participated in the programme and received international certificates for mastering innovative methods and specifics of inclusive teaching. The programme was based on the international training method called DanceAbility® which promotes inclusiveness in treatment and rehabilitation of people with disabilities via universally common communication techniques. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) successfully completed an initiative aimed to provide schoolchildren—including those from rural areas and those with disabilities or special educational needs—with accessible, up-to-date learning resources. The project mainly focused on the development of comprehensive online learning content for mathematics, tailored for students in grades 5 to 9. The newly developed materials are publicly available through online application and offer a wide range of tools to support and enhance the learning experience.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for young people through provision of training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career development for up to 500 young people.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) launched an initiative supporting the war-affected people residing in Azerbaijan`s rural regions. The project is expected to provide self-employment, psychological and legal assistance for up to 200 individuals. 

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project aiming to enhance the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in Azerbaijan, thereby contributing to sustainable development and climate action. The project activities include conducting research and initiating campaigns to provide guidance to private and public sector organizations on incorporating circularity into their corporate vision and operational activities.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project aiming to support integration of Azerbaijani universities, students, entrepreneurs,esearchers, and startup community members into global and regional business ecosystem. This will be implemented through tailored training modules and strengthening capacity of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) launched an initiative to support development and publication of a book-album dedicated to Azerbaijan`s great poet Muhammad Fuzuli.

• bp (on behalf of its co-venturers in the joint ventures that bp operates in Azerbaijan) is supporting a project to help implement an inclusive judo initiative for individuals with mental challenges and disabilities. The project aims to foster social integration of people with disabilities and special needs, promoting inclusion through sport.
  

In addition, in the first three quarters, bp alone spent around $1 million on various social and sponsorship projects in Azerbaijan. These projects included 20 ongoing educational initiatives, one local capacity-building and enterprise development programme, four environmental initiatives, one project promoting the country’s cultural heritage and sport, as well as six conferences and workshops on various themes - in total 32 projects.

Some examples of these include:

• translation from English into Azerbaijani and publication of 14 academic textbooks on startup and innovation, corporate finance, marketing, social research, international relations, economic policy, managerial economics, statistics for business and economics, econometrics, psychology and information security. This project aims to enhance the quality of teaching in 16 disciplines at over 15 local universities.

• development and publication of an ‘Interdisciplinary relations – generation of new knowledge’ textbook for teachers, students and administrative staff at universities.

• provision of 400 schoolchildren of grades 8, 9 and 10 from 20 schools with the career guidance enabling them to make informed decisions about their future job endeavors.

• development and publication of textbooks on international medical law, mediation law, international public law for the benefit of local university students, teachers and researchers. 

• translation and publication of the textbook ‘Limits of the Market’ by Paul De Grauwe for the benefit of local university students majoring in economics, macro-economics, as well as teachers of economy, economic theories, finance and political science.

• development and publication of a book on the evolution of Azerbaijan's oil and gas industry from the second half of the 19th century to the present day.

• establishment of the digital library at Azerbaijan Technical University.

• establishment of the ICT & cybersecurity laboratory at Baku Engineering University.

• expansion of the laboratory infrastructure for three departments of Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction: construction of engineering systems and facilities, technological machinery and facilities, and land reclamation and water management.

• establishment of a graduate programme in chemical engineering at Sumgayit State University. The project scope includes upgrading the chemical engineering laboratory, developing a new curriculum and enhancing the knowledge and teaching skills of university faculty.

• establishment of a publication centre and support for the restoration of a greenhouse at Azerbaijan State Agricultural University.

• support for the establishment of a dual master’s degree programme in renewable energy at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University.

• funding for the training of 22 talented Azerbaijani nationals to prepare them for admission to leading international universities. This follows the successful completion of the first phase of the project, which enabled the enrolment of 15 talented Azerbaijani nationals in world-known universities. To date, 21 out of 22 students have already received admission to leading universities.

• support for the restoration of two underground water-supply sources in the Tovuz district. Once restored, the two sources will be capable to provide up to 2.5 million cubic metres of fresh water annually, enough to meet the household consumption and land irrigation needs of about 15,000 community members.

• support for the establishment of a new water supply system in the Goychay district. The system will be designed to collect, settle and clean floodwater making it suitable for land irrigation. It is intended that the system will have a capacity of cleaning over 500,000 cubic metres of water annually, enough to irrigate up to 100 hectares of land.

• support for establishing up to 25 water systems for drinking, irrigation and sanitation in the Kurdamir, Ujar, Agdash, Yevlakh, Goranboy and Samukh districts. The project will cover about 20 rural communities with a total population of approximately 25,000 people.

• support for the restoration of biodiversity in the Zangilan district by planting indigenous tree species and providing aftercare for them.

• support for the enhancement of work skills and knowledge of up to 80 volunteers of the “ASAN Volunteers” Youth Organization Public Union.

• sponsorship of the publication of works of young writers, representing contemporary Azerbaijani literature.

• support to the promotion of Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage through the development and publication of a book-album showcasing rare artworks created by Azerbaijani artists from the 1960s to the present day.

• support for the publication of 24 transliterated issues of ‘Dirilik’ magazine, which  played a significant role in shaping the political, cultural, and artistic identity of society during the establishment of independent statehoods following the fall of tsarist rule in Russia.

• support for the development of Azerbaijan’s national sport by extending bp’s decade-long partnership with the National Olympic and Paralympic Committees until the end of 2024.

• sponsorship of the IADC Drilling Caspian 2024 conference and exhibition – an event that brought together industry leaders and drilling professionals to discuss challenges and share best practices in the field. 

• sponsorship of the World HR SUMMIT 2024 organized by the Azerbaijan HR Institute in Baku. The event brought together the top human resources representatives to discuss the global novelties and development of the cutting-edge innovations and technologies in the field of human resources.

• support to the “EY Entrepreneur of The Year” business awards competition encouraging entrepreneurship and recognizing the achievements of inspiring businesspersons.

• sponsorship of the Azerbaijan Business Case Competition 2024. The purpose of the competition was to create a practical environment for students to develop their business analysis and presentation skills for preparing them to become future business leaders of the country.

• arrangement of a three-day engineering bootcamp, where a group of our employees provided training sessions on petroleum engineering, safety, low carbon and agility for 41 students from three local universities, focusing on the practical application of theoretical knowledge. The students received bp internal certificates upon the completion of the bootcamp.

• sponsorship of the 6th International Scientific Conference of Economics and Management researchers organized by the Azerbaijan State Economic University. 

• support to and active participation in the major energy industry event of the year – the 29th Baku Energy Week, including the Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition and Baku Energy Forum.

• sponsorship of the “Caspian Basin International Conference 2024: Meeting the challenges of a world in transition” event organized by the UFAZ Scientific Committee. 

• sponsorship of the ‘International Forum on Green World Solidarity: Shifting from Waste to Value for a Sustainable Future’. 

• sponsorship of and active participation at the annual Baku Summer Energy School organized by ADA University's Institute for Development and Diplomacy.
  

Further information:

Tamam Bayatly at bp’s press office in Baku. 

Telephone: (+994 12) 525 58 95