Contribution of Business Development Services for MSE Strengthening and Poverty Reduction: BDS Report for Azerbaijan

This study of Business Development Services in Azerbaijan is part of a broader study, supported by USAID/EGAT/MD, to explore the contributions of the Business Development Services (BDS) market development approach to strengthening micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) and to the amelioration of poverty. This research is based on a USAID-funded project implemented by Mercy Corps entitled Cluster Access to Business Services (CABS). The purpose of the Mercy Corps project was “to improve profitability for clusters of rural poor and women micro-entrepreneurs by increasing access to a network of trained veterinary and production advice service providers resulting in a significant expansion of the service and final goods markets.”