THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN AZERBAIJAN

The chapter discusses the role of social work in Azerbaijan in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Before discussing social work’s role in meeting SDGs, the chapter gives a background about the history of social protection and social work, and their pre, during, and after Soviet time development. The chapter describes the current system of social protection which was inherited from the Soviet regime like many post-Soviet countries. Later the chapter debates the unique achievements and challenges of social work in playing a decisive role in achieving of 10 out of 17 SDGs in Azerbaijan. Social workers of Azerbaijan face a double challenge: first, establishing themselves professionally and second, playing their important role in achieving the SDGs. However, despite being a very young profession, with a history of no more than 17 years, social workers in Azerbaijan are actively involved in the implementation of SDGs 1, 5, 10, and 16.