Around 70 localities involved in voluntary amalgamation will receive support from the Moldovan-Swedish PACE Local project to establish and equip Unified Public Service Centres (CUPS), improving access to public services for approximately 100,000 residents of the communities concerned.
The establishment of CUPS is an important component of Moldova’s local public administration reform. The centres are designed to bring public services closer to citizens while reducing bureaucracy, travel time and the costs incurred by rural residents when accessing these services.
The CUPS established with support from PACE Local, a project implemented by SALAR International, will provide residents with easier access to a range of central and local public services close to where they live. Citizens will also receive guidance and assistance in accessing public services and using government digital platforms. This support will be particularly important for people who do not have the necessary equipment, digital skills or access to the internet.
PACE Local will provide comprehensive, step-by-step assistance to ensure that the new centres are functional, accessible and tailored to the needs of each community. During the first stage, local public authorities will participate in information sessions on the role, organisation and operation of CUPS. Each municipality will subsequently receive individual consultancy and mentoring to identify the staff responsible for the centre, define their responsibilities and integrate the centre’s activities into the municipality’s organisational structure.
The project will also support the furnishing of the centres and provide the IT equipment required for service delivery. CUPS staff will receive dedicated training to ensure they are able to guide citizens in identifying the services they need, determining the responsible public institutions and using government digital platforms.
To build on the experience of centres that are already operational, mayors from the approximately 70 localities will take part in study visits to communities where CUPS are already functioning. These visits will allow them to observe first-hand how services are organised, how staff interact with residents and what solutions have been developed to address challenges encountered during the establishment and operation of the centres.
The final stage of the support will focus on informing local residents about the services available through CUPS and how they can access them, helping ensure that the new centres are used effectively by their communities.
The activity is carried out under the PACE Local project, implemented by SALAR International and funded by the Government of Sweden through Sida.
Unified Public Service Centres (CUPS) are local service offices operating within municipal administrations. They enable rural residents, entrepreneurs and civil society organisations to access public services available through the Government’s EVO portal more easily, while also providing support for developing digital skills. Currently, more than 114 public services can be accessed through these centres, with the range of services expected to expand to up to 600.
