On 27 May, the team of the e-Governance Agency (EGA) visited the villages Mereni, Anenii Noi rayon and Holercani, Dubasari rayon, in order to evaluate the activity of the Unified Centres for Public Service Provision (CUPS), which were established in early 2022 and to find out the opinion of the local public authorities and the public service beneficiaries about this pilot project.

The CUPS are points of joint access to a wide range of public services available in electronic format, provided with modern equipment and Internet connection within the rural mayor's offices. In about four months of activity, Mereni CUPS served about 250 citizens, and Holercani CUPS – over 120 citizens, who benefited from fast, quality and free electronic public services. The experience gained during this period reveals the usefulness and convenience of this model of service provision for rural residents.

At this stage, CUPS ensures the citizens' access to a series of public services provided by the Public Institution "Public Services Agency" (ASP) and the National Social Insurance Agency (CNAS) and the National Employment Agency (ANOFM). Subsequently, the list of services and institutions providing public services will be extended.

The meetings with representatives of the Mereni and Holercani mayor's offices, also addressed the new initiative of EGA, e-LPA Concept, aimed at creating a performing information system for the digitalisation of public services at local level.

"These projects are aimed to create convenient and accessible electronic public services for citizens, as well as to provide local public authorities with modern tools that will substantially streamline their activity," said Olga Tumuruc, EGA Director.

The CUPS piloting in rural areas is carried out under the Modernization of Government Services Project, implemented by the e-Governance Agency, with the financial support of the World Bank Group and the contribution of the Government of the Republic of Moldova and is part of the commitments undertaken by the Government to implement the digitalisation agenda and the strategic priorities in this area.