Azerbaijan’s ASAN Service Expands to South America with Colombia Partnership

The reach of Azerbaijan’s ASAN service, a one-stop shop for social services, has now extended to South America following its successful implementation in Europe and Asia.

On Thursday, at the World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Colombia’s relevant institution to collaborate on public service delivery.

The document reflects a shared commitment to introducing the ASAN service model in Colombia, marking its first implementation on the American continent.

The MoU also outlines plans for internship programs at ASAN service centers for Colombian public servants, as well as the exchange of best practices in public service delivery through the expertise of the State Agency.

Following the signing ceremony, both sides discussed the steps needed to implement the agreement, with Colombian officials expressing their intention to take concrete actions to advance cooperation with ASAN.

ASAN service currently has agreements with 25 countries, including Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Afghanistan, and South Korea, among others, exporting its top-tier service model to these nations. As part of the recently endorsed “Contribution Agreement” with the UN, ASAN service will be promoted among UN member states across four continents.

This year’s World Government Summit, held on February 11–13 in the UAE, convened under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.” The event brought together hundreds of representatives from governments and international organizations, as well as thought leaders and private sector executives from around the world. It fostered international cooperation in identifying innovative solutions to future challenges, ultimately inspiring and empowering the next generation of governments.

The Azerbaijan Service and Assessment Network (ASAN), which translates to “easy” in Azerbaijani, is a comprehensive service network designed to simplify access to public services and enhance communication between the government and citizens.

The network offers a wide range of services, making it a one-stop shop for citizens seeking public assistance. ASAN currently operates 28 centers across Azerbaijan, delivering over 360 services through its high-tech system. The satisfaction rate among Azerbaijani citizens is an impressive 99.8 percent.

These services include birth, death, and marriage registration, ID and passport issuance, migration services, driver’s license issuance, real estate registration, and electronic visa processing for foreigners, among others. ASAN also provides 55 utility services through three cutting-edge centers, further enhancing government-to-citizen interaction. Additionally, for residents in remote areas, ASAN offers a “service on wheels” option through its Mobile ASAN buses.

Last year, the government of Azerbaijan introduced the ASAN service in the country’s liberated territories. This advanced public service has been launched in Shusha in the Karabakh (Garabagh) region and Zangilan in East Zangezur.

In 2015, the UN recognized ASAN Service as the “Best Public Services Concept.” In 2023, ASAN was awarded the title of “World’s Most Advanced Public Service” at the 10th World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Competing against contenders from 80 countries, the network won the award as part of the Global Government Excellence Award Program.

ASAN Service has also been recognized by StartupBlink, a leading global startup mapping organization, with the title of “Best Startup Results in the Caucasus.” This recognition highlights ASAN’s role in fostering innovation and supporting startups through effective mechanisms that drive ecosystem development.