The State Service has been awarded the international prize "Excellence in Public Engagement for Cultural Heritage Azerbaijan 2026" in a competition organized by the authoritative American publication World Economic Magazine.
The award was granted for successful activities in ensuring public participation in the preservation and management of cultural heritage, introducing innovative approaches, digitizing cultural heritage sites, and effective database management. One of the key criteria for the award was the State Service's creation of a citizen-oriented service delivery model, as well as the provision of digitized services in six areas through a "single window" principle, ensuring prompt and transparent handling of citizen appeals. High praise was given to the ability for citizens to create a personal account on the MyCulture portal, use electronic services, and track the status of their appeals in real time. This approach was recognized as an effective model that increases citizen satisfaction and develops public participation.
The volunteer program "Friend of Heritage" ("İrs Dostu") was also highly appreciated. It aims to involve young people in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, develop their knowledge and practical skills in this field, and increase public interest in cultural heritage protection. Under the program, volunteers actively participate in the protection of cultural heritage sites, educational and informational events, research and monitoring activities, as well as organizational work. These initiatives were noted as an important contribution to strengthening public participation.
Receiving this international award confirms that the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in the field of cultural heritage protection, the introduction of modern management principles, the implementation of a digital development strategy, and the state policy aimed at actively involving society in cultural heritage preservation processes have received high international recognition.
It should be noted that in competitions organized by World Economic Magazine, laureates include government agencies and private organizations from Australia, the United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Canada, Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
During this year, the State Service has received a number of international awards in the field of cultural heritage protection and management, demonstrating Azerbaijan's growing international authority and recognition of its innovative approaches in cultural heritage preservation.