How the Diia application transformed public services
Digitalization has proven to be the most effective tool in combating corruption. Over the past five years, services offered through the “Diia” application have generated more than 184 billion hryvnias in economic and anti-corruption benefits for Ukrainians and the state. This translates into less time spent in queues at government offices and more transparent services without bribes or intermediaries.
This result was made possible thanks to a unique study conducted by the Civitta Ukraine team. The project was conducted by Kyrylo Kryvolap, Dmytro Lyvch, Vadym Fedchyshyn, Yaroslav Yashchenko, Zinaida Averina, Dmytrii Pizniak, Mariia Andriukhiv, and Viktoriia Klimchuk.
Civitta experts thoroughly analyzed 87 digital services in detail: from basic services and support programs that have been online-only since launch, to services in sectors traditionally associated with the highest corruption risks.
Key findings of the study, presented jointly with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine:
- 7.4 billion hryvnias annually — savings from eliminating bribes and dismantling corruption schemes in construction, seafarer certification, and IDPs (internally displaced persons) status.
- 49 billion hryvnias annually — benefits from “basic” services (certificates, extracts, digital signatures).
- 6.5 billion hryvnias annually — benefits from support programs (eRobota, eVidnovlennia, National Cashback).
Civitta’s calculations showed that previously, a single offline service cost the state over 1,500 hryvnias, whereas the average online service now costs just 242 hryvnias which is six times less.
The presentation of the study, commissioned by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and supported by the EGAP Program implemented by the East Europe Foundation with the support of Switzerland, gathered representatives of anti-corruption organizations, government, and international partners.
“Every digital service eliminates another corruption scheme and makes the state more transparent and convenient for citizens. Digitalization is the most effective tool in fighting corruption, and we will continue scaling this effect nationwide,”
— stated Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation.
“This study is unique both for Ukraine and globally. We measured not only citizens’ time and cost savings but also the impact of catalytic programs such as “eOselya” and “eVidnovlennia”. We also assessed the anti-corruption effect: through interviews, we identified typical bribe amounts and schemes. This methodology is far from trivial, as it deals with hidden processes. The results are especially valuable because reveal the real picture and prove that digitalization dismantles corruption models,” — emphasized:
Kyrylo Kryvolap
The study was conducted by Civitta on behalf of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine with the support of the EGAP Program, implemented by the East Europe Foundation with the support of Switzerland.