Azerbaijan’s ınnovative management model showcased at UN

Ulvi Mehdiyev, Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (ASAN Service) under the President of Azerbaijan, addressed the 24th session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Report informs.

The session focused on governance and institutional approaches to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mehdiyev highlighted that Azerbaijan has established exemplary international practices in public service development and digital transformation in recent years.

He added that ASAN Service, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev in 2012, is an innovative management model recognized both regionally and globally in a short period.

"ASAN Service is based on citizen-centered management principles, and this model embodies the philosophy of Leaving No One Behind," the chairman emphasized.

He reminded attendees that ASAN Service won the UN Public Service Award in 2015 and received a special UN prize in 2019 for advancing public services through digital governance.

He highlighted that today, the ASAN model is exported to more than 30 countries and is being studied by other states:

"Azerbaijan's achievements in the field of public services generate wide interest not only within the country but also on the international level. In this regard, the Trust Fund (UN Trust Fund) created jointly with the UN during COP29 is one of the important initiatives. Through this fund, Azerbaijan is ready to provide technical support, training, and resources to least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked countries, and other developing countries. This fund will serve to promote innovation and capacity building in public administration and will become an important tool in strengthening institutional sustainability and implementing the SDGs."

Mehdiyev informed the representatives of member countries about the "Contribution Agreement" signed between the UN and Azerbaijan. He invited session participants to regional forums to be held on four different continents over the next two years, which aim to ensure the global outreach of Azerbaijan's intellectual brand, the "ASAN service" model, through the UN. He stated that these initiatives will serve as an important platform for joint experience and knowledge exchange and will stimulate the formation of global standards in public services: "Innovation must respond to people's changing needs. Access to public services is not a privilege but a fundamental right of every person."