Azerbaijan is not yet a Party to the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (Protocol on SEA) to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). To better prepare for accession to the treaty the country requires to undertake a number of steps and develop a national system to apply SEA procedures according to the provisions of the Protocol, including: (a) Improving its legislative and institutional framework to fully comply with the Protocol; (b) Defining roles and responsibilities of various authorities in the SEA process; (c) Building national and local capacities, developing practical experience and national guidelines in application of the SEA procedures in line with the Protocol; (d) Raising awareness and common understanding of the benefits of the SEA at national and local levels and in different sectors, including the benefits of public participation and the consultation of relevant authorities.