Social Work in Azerbaijan: Achievements and Challenges of the Profession

The social work profession re-emerged in Azerbaijan after the fall of the Soviet Union, but its achievements and challenges remain largely unfamiliar outside of the country. This article reports results from a qualitative study on the profession in the South Caucasus nation of over 10 million. Analyses of data from in-depth interviews and focus groups suggest that the profession has grown rapidly and has achieved institutional acceptance since its re-emergence after the fall of the Soviet Union but that several challenges persist. The author concludes with a series of recommendations for further development of the profession in Azerbaijan.

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