The Romanian agency utilizes AI to assist farmers in obtaining European Union funding

Summary:

The Romanian agency has streamlined the process of acquiring the required documents and authorizations for farmers’ funding applications through automation. An AI platform significantly shortens the processing time for funding applications, reducing costs for obtaining and submitting the necessary permits and authorizations.

Client: 

The Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) of Romania. It provides funding for activities related to economic diversification, agritourism, the preservation of natural, cultural, and architectural heritage, and the renovation of villages.

Problem Statement: 

AFIR has been managing European funds and incorporating software robots into its procedural workflows to depoliticize and digitize administrative processes. Developing new solutions aims to boost the Agency’s performance by enhancing administrative efficiency, eliminating repetitive tasks, and increasing transparency and objectivity in the utilization of European funds.

Results: 

• AFIR has effectively handled financing requests totaling an impressive 5.32 billion euros ($5.75 billion) from over 50,000 stakeholders, including farmers, companies, and local institutions. 
• The use of the AI platform has significantly saved time, equivalent to around 784 days of document searches for AFIR staff.

AI Solution Overview:  

AFIR leverages software solutions from UiPath to automate bureaucratic and time-intensive processes. Automation facilitates direct document requests from public institutions and helps extract information from applicants and beneficiaries of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (FEADR) from institutions with which AFIR has collaboration agreements.

Using the Unique Identification Code (CUI) and/or Personal Numeric Code (CNP), AFIR has imported approximately 10,000 certificates from the National Trade Registry Office (ONRC) into its information system. These certificates are stored in the Document Management System, built with Microsoft SharePoint, within folders corresponding to each investment project. Additionally, AFIR retrieves various documents related to beneficiaries from the Fiscal Administration Agency (ANAF) system PATRIMVEN, including fiscal certification certificates, fiscal records, annual and semi-annual balance sheets, and historical balance sheets.

At the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development level, UiPath’s software solutions automate repetitive procedures, such as obtaining data from the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI). AFIR also employs a robot to download invoices for services purchased by AFIR from E-invoice or the Ministry of Finance’s website. These invoices are then converted into PDF format, verified, and entered into the accounting system by the relevant department.

Moreover, AFIR uses a robot to download criminal record extracts for individuals and legal entities from ROCRIS, based on CNP/CUI, and uploads them into SharePoint in the appropriate project files.

References: 

1. AFIR uses UiPath solutions for Romanian farmers to access EU funds faster and at lower costs. https://infoferma.ro/en/article/afir-foloseste-solutii-uipath-pentru-ca-fermierii-romani-sa-acceseze-fondurile-ue-mai-rapid-si-cu-costuri-mai-mici-X7qaXsd9 
2. Romanian Agency Embraces AI for EU Farm Funds. https://www.pymnts.com/cpi-posts/romanian-agency-embraces-ai-for-eu-farm-funds/
3.  Romanian state agency turns to AI to help farmers tap EU funds. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/romanian-state-agency-turns-ai-help-farmers-tap-eu-funds-2024-03-25/

Industry: Public Services

Vendor: UiPath

Client: The Agency for Rural Investment Financing (AFIR)

Publication Date: 2020