Director of the STEM Analytical Center Orkhan Yolchuyev spoke at the Civil Society Week forum in Tashkent, taking part in a roundtable discussion on “The Role of Think Tanks in Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability .”

In his speech, he provided a detailed overview of the evolution of think tanks in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the complex path of their development and consolidation as independent and influential expert institutions. Orkhan Yolchuyev noted that Azerbaijan’s Victory in the Karabakh War became an important stimulus for the activation of think tanks, the expansion of research topics, and the enhancement of their role in the decision-making process. He underscored that modern Azerbaijani think tanks are increasingly using evidence-based analytical approaches, supporting government agencies in analyzing, shaping, and evaluating policy.

Forum participants expressed great interest in STEM’s work, particularly initiatives such as “Soul Geography”—a platform for cooperation between experts from Central Asia and Azerbaijan—as well as other projects of the center aimed at fostering regional expert dialogue.

At the end of the discussion, participants took a commemorative group photo, highlighting the importance of continued cooperation among the region’s think tanks to strengthen sustainable democratic governance and increase accountability.