South Caucasus Regional Office

The Heinrich Böll Foundation, affiliated with the Green Party of Germany, is a legally independent political foundation. The regional office for the South Caucasus was opened in 2003. Its main objective is to contribute to the forming of free, fair and tolerant societies in the region. Therefore it supports and facilitates cooperation of individuals and organizations throughout the region who, based on the principle values of human rights, search for the change of undemocratic and intolerant attitudes in societies and politics, for the transformation of ethno-political and territorial conflicts into the direction of fair and non-violent solutions and for the sustainable development of people and communities. The Foundation encourages critical public debate to make processes of decision-making democratic and transparent.

• We conduct a regional on-site scholarship-programme for young researchers and NGO activists in the fields of modern history, sociology, and issues related to sustainable development;
• We promote regular dialogue at civil society level between the societies of the South Caucasus and their neighbouring states including Russia, Turkey and Iran; 
• We foster civil diplomacy initiatives for non-violent transformation of conflicts in the South Caucasus;
• We support initiatives for political and social empowerment of women and stimulate new approaches to gender democracy;
• We promote civic participation in critical debates, decision-making processes and democratisation by organising public discussions, festivals, round table meetings, etc.