DPIDG Met with the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on ASAN Services

On 13 September 2022, UN DESA/DPIDG’s Director and his team met with Abdul Aliyev, Head of the International Relations Department, and his team from the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAPSSI) to exchange knowledge about the advancements of the ASAN service model and discuss future avenues of cooperation. The “ASAN service” centers, which won the United Nations Public Service Awards in 2015, was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in July 2012. Azerbaijan also received the UN “Special Award for Advancing Public Service through the Application of Digital Government” while hosting the UN Public Service Forum in 2019.

The objective of ASAN is to ensure that public services are delivered in a uniformed and coordinated manner  across Azerbaijan. “ASAN service” centers are designed to guarantee citizens’ satisfaction and to enhance the quality of the relationship between public servants and citizens. Mr. Ruslan Akbarov, Head of the Evaluation Sector of Monitoring and Evaluation Department, delivered a presentation about ASAN’s Assessment Index. The assessment is applied to all government organizations and entities to ensure quality service provision by using 143 parameters. So far, over 500 services were assessed using this methodology. The assessment has helped to further improve service delivery in Azerbaijan by putting in place action plans and providing advice on the application of innovative solutions. The stages of the assessment include: enhancing awareness of the Assessment Index among state entities; assessment of public services; analysis of the assessment, and announcement of the results. Ms. Nazrin Aliyeva, Leading advisor of the International Relations Department, also highlighted possible avenues of collaboration between ASAN and UN DESA, including through the participation of UN DESA officials in the 10^th Anniversary of the ASAN centers to be held on 16 December in Azerbaijan, possible organization of study tours and further dissemination of ASAN innovative practices through the UNPAN.

For further information on ASAN service centers, please visit their website.