Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to establish a professional holiday for ASAN Service employees December 29. According to the decree, and taking into account that the first ASAN Service center has been operating since December 29, 2012, this day is celebrated annualy as a professional holiday of ASAN Service employees.

The State Agency for Citizens’ Service and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been established in accordance with Decree No. 685 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 13, 2012, and “ASAN Service” centers were established of the same decree, subordinated to the State agency. The Centre started its work by implementing 23 services offered by nine public authorities.

Services in the centers are rendered based on the “single space” approach. Thus, a citizen can benefit from various public and private services in one center (single administrative building) at the same time entering through only one door. ASAN Service is one of the important components of e-government.The purpose of establishment of ASAN Service is reducing costs and loss of time of the citizens, achieving a compliance of ethical behavior and courteous treatment towards the citizens, increasing of professional level, strengthening the confidence in the state institutions, increasing the transparency, strengthening the fight against corruption, wider using of electronic services, increasing efficiency of the institutional reforms in this area.

The State Agency for Citizens’ Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan attracts attention with its successful activity in solving issues that citizens face in everyday life, in the sphere of tourism, small business, youth development and etc.

Establishment and unified management of “ASAN Kommunal” centres, which provide public utilities and other client services to individuals and legal entities in a single space based on the principles of activity and standards of “ASAN Service” centres deserve special attention. On 4 May 2016, within the framework of “ASAN Service”, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of “ASAN Kommunal” centres, which provide for the implementation of public utilities and other client services. 45 types of public utilities of Azerigas PU, Azersu OJSC and Azerishig OJSC are provided in “ASAN Kommunal” centres, which are guided by the principles and standards of “ASAN Service”. At present, 55 types of services of Azerishig OJSC, Azersu OJSC and Azerigas PU are presented to citizens in “ASAN Kommunal” centres.

“ASAN Radio” 100 MHz frequency, established by Order of President Ilham Aliyev, has begun broadcasting since 24 December 2015. ASAN Radio is the first and only radio specialising in the field of public services.

It should be noted that from the first day “ASAN Service” started its operation, volunteers have become a component of this concept. The main mission of these centres was to create conditions for the development of volunteering and training of young citizens who work for the sustainable development of our country and benefit society. The organisation “ASAN Volunteers” continues to implement major projects and programmes such as “ASAN Academy”, “The Land of Volunteers – Azerbaijan”, “Culture Bulletin”, “Volunteers’ Parliament Azerbaijan – 2017”, “ASAN Letter”, “Letter to a Soldier” for comprehensive development of youth. Volunteer activity “ASAN Service” considers its priority task to form young people as responsible citizens.

Since 10 January 2017, the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service) was charged to create ASAN Viza electronic system for issuing visas to foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan. Foreigners can apply for an e-visa online through “ASAN Visa” system and obtain the visa in three simple steps. The duration for a stay in a country for a single electronic visa issued within 3 business days through “ASAN Visa” system is up to 30 days, the duration for multiple electronic visas is up to 90 days. E-visas are issued only to citizens of 94 countries, the list of which is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and stateless persons permanently residing in these countries.

ABAD (Simplified Support to Family Businesses) public legal entity run by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established following the Presidential Decree dated 23 September 2016. The main purpose on establishing the organization is to carry out socially-oriented projects aimed at ensuring the active participation of the citizens in the socio-economic life of the Republic of Azerbaijan, developing small and medium entrepreneurship, raising the employment rate of the population and supporting the formation of competitive family businesses in the country.

In accordance with the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the concept of “ASAN Train”, equipped with modern technical equipment, was provided to provide citizens with state services in the regions where “ASAN Service” centers do not function. Mobile “ASAN Trains” are intended to serve citizens in the country using a wide railway network, existing infrastructure, communication lines and most modern technologies. Thus, “ASAN Train” will move in all directions in the country and serve the population in a predetermined location.

The national brand of Azerbaijan “ASAN Service” has been honoured with numerous international awards. Today the activity of “ASAN Service” is highly appreciated in the European Union, the European Parliament, the Parliament of Great Britain, France, Germany and other countries. This model with its unique legal structure is considered admirable by many international institutions and experts. Based on the Azerbaijani model of “ASAN Service”, a structure of the same name “Asan Khedmat” has already been established in Afghanistan in the field of public services. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation has been signed with Italy, the Republic of Korea, France, Indonesia, Montenegro and the ISESCO organisation. Over the years, the Service has been awarded several international certificates and won an international competition of the UK Labour Protection Council. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that international organisations highly appreciate ASAN’s activity. The UN has noted, awarded ASAN. All this, of course, is the result of the work done.

“ASAN Service” was highly regarded by many international partners and experts and is touted as an Azerbaijani model. The introduction of “ASAN service” as a successful model is encouraged not only in Azerbaijan but also in other countries. This is one of the principal areas of collaboration with various international partners, including the European Union. As a result of the great interest, the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan was awarded with international certificate on quality management ISO: 9001:2008. “ASAN Service” was awarded with “UGUR 2013” for efficient service and its contribution to the state-citizen relations. “ASAN Service” was awarded with the United Nations Prize, on June 26, 2015. “ASAN Service” received the 1st place with the special prize in the category of “Improvement of the public service delivery” and awarded with a diploma. A joint cooperation programme was signed between the State Agency for Citizen Services and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and ISESCO. According to the cooperation programme, “ASAN ISESCO Award” on advanced management was established. All this once again confirms that there is a great interest in the world to the Azerbaijani brand “ASAN Service”.

Today “ASAN Service” has made a very serious turn in the sphere of public services, and offers our citizens the highest quality services, applying new ideas and innovations. Today “ASAN” in Azerbaijan applies and promotes new, modern, cultural values characteristic for our people. In a word, “ASAN” plays a great role in the public life of our country.

Recommended literature:

1. Adilov, Nadir. Könüllülük: uğur formulu /N. Adilov, E. Paşayev ; red.: E. Hacıyev, D. Osmanlı ; məsl.: S. Məmmədli, B. İslamov.; Azərb. Turizm və Mencment Un-ti, Asan Könüllülər. - Bakı: s. n, 2017. - 99 s.
2. Adilman, Nadir. Könüllünün öz/əl kitabı / N. Adilman ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Əqli Mülkiyyət Agentliyi. - Bakı : AzFood İnformasiya Agentliyi, 2020. - 189 s.
3. Qəmbərov, Atif. Könüllülərlə iş /A. Qəmbərov, T. Hümbətov ; [red.: R. Hacıyev, N. Pirverdiyeva ; dizayner: Ə. İsmayılzadə, T. Malikli] ; BBC Academy, Baku City Circuit, Azərb. Könüllü Təşkilatları İttifaqı. - Bakı: n. y., 2021. - 162 s.
4. Asan Service: Brand Story: [since 15 january 2013]. - Baku : w. p., 2020. - 103 p.