Chisinau, Moldova/ 24th December 2024:– The EVO App, Moldova’s flagship digital government platform, has won the “Public Sector Digital Transformation” award at the prestigious Emerging Europe Awards 2024. With 60% of jury votes and 51% of public votes, EVO triumphed over regional competitors such as Ukraine’s Diia.Education and Estonia’s online voting system. This marks a historic moment for Moldova, underscoring the nation’s progress as a regional leader in digital innovation.

EVO: Transforming Government Services in Moldova

Launched in June 2024, the EVO App is Moldova’s one stop shop app for all public services and direct access to the digital IDs. It was developed by Moldova’s E-Government Agency (EGA) over 18 months, capitalizing on assets, knowledge and experience in digitalization of state registers and governmental services of Moldova for the past 10+ years. EVO enhances accessibility to G2C and G2B services, reduces bureaucracy, and promotes transparency while maintaining high security and privacy standards.

The app aligns with Moldova’s Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization’s vision of a fully digital state, simplifying interactions for citizens and entrepreneurs alike. EVO’s Version 1.0 primarily serves citizens (G2C) with modules for documents, payments, health, personal data management, direct access to over 300 digital services and with over 100 of G2B services set to be released in nearest months. Within six months of its launch, EVO has achieved remarkable adoption rates:

Over 70,000 downloads
90,000+ digital identity documents issued
MDL 1.3 million processed in 2,000+ payments

Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba commented on EVO’s success: “Winning this award is a testament to the transformative journey Moldova has undertaken towards a digital future. EVO not only simplifies the lives of our citizens but also signals our potential to become a regional hub for digital innovation. This is a proud moment for Moldova, and we are committed to further advancing digital transformation.”

Nicoleta Colomeet, Director of Moldova’s E-Government Agency, added: “This recognition reflects the hard work of our team and partners over the years. EVO’s impact goes beyond improving government services; it exemplifies how technology can foster trust, efficiency, and transparency. We are excited to expand its capabilities in 2025 with Version 2.0, which will focus on business services and user-centric improvements.”

A Double Win for Moldova

Moldova’s achievements at the Emerging Europe Awards extended beyond EVO. The “Tekwill in Every School” program, an initiative revolutionizing education by embedding STEM and technology subjects into the national curriculum, won the “Future-Proof Education” category. Together, these accolades highlight Moldova’s commitment to driving innovation in governance and education.

Looking Ahead

Building on its success, EGA is already working on EVO Version 2.0, incorporating over 4,000 user feedback reports to redesign the app and expand its services to businesses (G2B). Upcoming features include streamlined processes for obtaining permits and licenses and enabling remote business registration, further solidifying EVO’s role as a cornerstone of Moldova’s digital transformation.

This all plays in Moldova’s steady progress toward European Union, with digitalization playing a crucial role in this endeavor. The country has taken significant strides in implementing the 2023–2030 Digital Transformation Strategy, demonstrating the government’s commitment to modernizing public administration through technology and innovation.

According to the European Commission’s assessment, reflected in the Enlargement Package of October 30, 2024, Moldova is increasingly aligning itself with EU standards, and scores high on the digitalization of public services, a critical milestone in the European integration process.