Digital Identity Verification in Moldova Hits Ground Running with Over 24,000 Downloads
Moldovan citizens have enthusiastically adopted their country’s new digital identity wallet, EVO, which has been downloaded over 24,000 times within its first five days of launch. The high demand has caused temporary technical issues due to the app being overwhelmed by users.
High Demand and Technical Issues
Launched last week, EVO allows Moldovans to access their digital ID cards, driving licenses, and vehicle registration certificates, among other services. According to Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Development and Digitalization Dumitru Alaiba, over 4,000 stable digital wallets are currently in use, with work underway to resolve any remaining issues.
Overview of EVO Features
The EVO application contains not only digital documents but also a government electronic payment module, MPay, and a document verification module. Moldavian nationals can access services such as:
- Citizen’s portal MCabinet
- Legal public services
- Health services
Users can authenticate themselves with an electronic signature and the MPass portal.
Development and Partnerships
EVO was developed under the Ministry’s e-Governance Agency, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners. The app was designed as a collaborative effort, with Deputy Prime Minister Alaiba stating, “EVO is everyone’s product, and this is only the first version. There will be dozens more micro and macro improvements.”
Partners Contributing to EVO
Strategic partners contributing to the app include:
- USAID
- Governments of Sweden and the UK
- Ukraine Moldova American Enterprise Fund
- World Bank
Evaluating Conformity with EU Digital Standards
Moldova continues its bid to join the European Union, enlisting the help of Estonian software company Cybernetica to evaluate its digital ID ecosystem’s conformity to EU standards, including the eIDAS 2.0 regulation.
Benefits of Compliance
Compliance with European Union standards will enable Moldova to upgrade its technology stack and expand use cases for the digital wallet, playing a crucial role in its bid to join the European digital space.