Azerbaijan Social Work Public Union is only professional association of social workers in the country. The organization was initiated by the US educated Azerbaijani social workers in 2006 and registered by the Ministry of Justice in 2009. Organization is member of International Association of Social Workers. This is a membership based organization and unites more than 250 social workers including practitioners, students and educators. All strategic decisions made in General Assembly which gathers in every two years and members elect Board, Control-Supervision Commission, Chairperson democratically and transparently.

In order to fulfil its mission and objectives AZSWU operates in four different directions:

• Research – organization carries out different studies, needs assessment surveys for new social programs and services and evaluation of current services/programs/policies. Tremendous expertise in research in different fields help the organization to build its activities and programs based on real evidences and needs.
• Advocacy/Lobbying – AZSWU is one of the biggest advocators for eliminitation of social problems, adoption of new law, programs, strategies, policies concerning social development and social protection of population.
• Development of social services, policies and program –human resouces of the organization gives it opportunity to be involved in needs and evidence based program development. AZSWU team members give consultations to different international and local organizations and government agencies.
• Local capacity building – AZSWU is actively involved in increasing capacity of social workers, social service workforce and social work educators. The organization uses all interactive methods of informal education – training, workshop, living library, forum theatre, playback, tenSing, grass talks to strengthen capacity of its beneficiaries and also contributes to curriculum development at the universities providing social work education.