Public service delivery for the private sector in rural areas

The study was commissioned by the EU and UNDP within the framework of the European Union Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).

Key findings include:

• Substantial investments in business-oriented public service delivery led to notable improvements at both national and local levels. Nevertheless, challenges and gaps remain, especially in rural areas.
• Public services for the private sector are available in many rural areas, but their quality is lower than at the national level.
• Digital technology and user-centric approaches to public service delivery are relatively common at the national level but still rare in municipalities. 
• A shortage of digital skills is still notable among rural residents despite the growing demand for electronic services.
• Municipal services are not adapted to the needs of vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.