Reverse Linkage

118 REVERSE LINKAGE The establishment, in 2012, of the Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network (ASAN) – the word ‘asan’ means ‘easy’ in Azerbaijani – is the success story of ongoing modernisa- tion. With this milestone resolution, Azerbaijan entered into a new phase of public governance development. ASAN service centres employ a one-stop-shop principle by providing more than 250 services from 10 state entities and around 30 private companies. The model, branded ASAN xidm t, thus embod- ies a successful example of a public-private partnership. ASAN Service is a government organization subordi- nated to the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations, established by a Presidential decree in July 2012 with the aim of ensuring advanced public services and offering citizens fast access to public services, while increas- ing the efficiency and transparency of those services. The most important goal of the ASAN initiative is to enhance public amenity by streamlining access to public services and providing high customer service standards. There is also a strong desire to develop the professional skills of civil servants and to bring innovation to public administra- tive tasks in order to strengthen confidence in state structures. Behind these objectives there is a strong commitment to transparency, demonstrated by reliable ethical behaviour in dealing with all cases and clients. ASAN Service has therefore established a corruption-free environment and a high-level of confidence towards state structures. The 12 ASAN service centres operating so far in Azerbaijan (five in Baku and six in outer regions) offer more than 250 services. The centres are open ten hours per day during the week and seven hours per day at weekends. Citizens’ applica- tions are dealt with by representatives of relevant state entities. The innovative and unique aspect of ASAN Service is that citizens have everything at their disposal, with various public services gathered together in a single place, managed by the State Agency, and where various state entities are directly responsible for providing their own services. Ten state entities are responsible for delivering the services including The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Taxes, State Committee of Property Issues, and the State Customs Committee. Throughout this mandated and innovative approach to delivering services to all residents around the country ASAN Service establishing high quality public service ethics Image: ASAN