United States Agency for International Development - Azerbaijan

**Country Overview** Azerbaijan is an oil-exporting, middle-income country that borders the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. Located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe, this Muslim-majority country is a secular state with strong traditions of religious tolerance. USAID promotes private sector growth, investment, and employment, focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises in the non-energy sectors (e.g., agriculture and tourism). In addition, USAID strives to address challenges that make communities vulnerable, including combating trafficking in persons and gender-based violence, improving the emergency healthcare system, addressing climate change, improving gender equality and women's economic empowerment, and supporting government and non-governmental organizations to provide essential public services while increasing citizen participation in public life. Since 1991, USAID has invested $431 million in programs to support Azerbaijanis, including humanitarian relief, the health sector, and economic and governance reform.