A regular meeting of the Working Group on Inclusive Social Development and Social Protection was held to discuss the implementation of the targets set out in the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022–2026.”

The meeting was held via videoconference. During the meeting, a report on the monitoring and evaluation of work carried out during the first half of 2026 under the Strategy’s objectives of “Ensuring that Every Citizen Benefits from Development” and “High and Fair Social Protection,” within the framework of the National Priority of a “Dynamic, Inclusive and Social Justice-Based Society,” was discussed.

Rashad Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population and Head of the Working Group, highlighted the achievements of the social reforms implemented in recent years. He noted that the current year is the final year of the Strategy and that targeted efforts are continuing this year to achieve the established objectives. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-institutional coordination in this area.

Terana Salifova, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, provided information on the overall implementation status of the Strategy and the main areas of the monitoring process. Taking into account that the implementation period of the Strategy concludes this year, she emphasized the importance of accelerating the implementation of the planned measures.

Elnur Alakbarov, Deputy Chair of the Working Group and Head of the Economic Analysis Department of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, subsequently presented the preliminary results of the monitoring and evaluation of the relevant objectives of the Strategy for the first half of 2026.

The presentation covered the results achieved, the progress made towards the targets, areas where implementation needs to be accelerated, as well as the key challenges and recommendations identified during the monitoring process.

The meeting included an exchange of views on the work carried out and the tasks ahead in such areas as improving the wage system, promoting employment in the private sector, formalizing labour relations, expanding access to the labour market for vulnerable population groups, improving the targeted state social assistance and pension systems, as well as expanding social services and rehabilitation opportunities.

In addition to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population and the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, senior representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Science and Education, the Ministry of Health, the Central Bank, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, and the Youth Foundation are represented in the Working Group on Inclusive Social Development and Social Protection.