Fact-Based Journalism – MGP, an influential project

/in , /by

Our Money, Government and Politics Program, supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Albania, in the framework of the MATRA for Rule of Law Program, has significantly contributed to fact-based journalism over the last two years. Upon completion of the first phase of the program, one may see dozens of topics and articles on the front pages of newspapers, and headlines of TV programs. AIS has disclosed, well-structured, and analyzed data about the budget spending, economic and social trends, as well as data about the annual declaration of the high officials and judges, taxes, and public finances. Such range of information, which is easy to understand and use, has triggered the publication of hundreds of fact-based articles on the media.

Pozicion Pune IT, Webmaster

/in , /by

Kërkohet të punësohet me kohë të plotë ora 9:00 me 17:00 çdo ditë nga e Hëna në të Premte, një person në pozicionin Webmaster. Personi duhet të ketë njohuri IT, shprehi dhe eksperienca të mira mbi algoritmet. Njohur mbi databazat. Të mos ketë punuar vetëm me WordPress dhe të ketë aftësi të mësojë duke punuar. Personi duhet të ketë Diplomë Studime Universitare në Informatikë Ekonomike ose Inxhinieri Informatike.

Vëndi i punës është në Tiranë.

Dërgoni një CV në shqip ose në anglisht në adresën [email protected] titulli i emailit CV – IT, Webmaster.

Aplikimet  janë të hapura deri në datë 20 Dhjetor.

Follow the Money – Financing of Electoral Subjects and Electoral Corruption Workshop on ScanTV

/in , /by

In order to strengthen the role of the media in issues of transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption, AIS organized Follow the Money – Financing of Electoral Subjects and Electoral Corruption  Workshop Decriminalization, standard and audit rules of electoral finance, misuse of public sector were topics addressed by expert participants in the workshop :

Mr. Afrim KRASNIQI,  Executive Director AIPS
Mrs. Eleonora OLLI, Vice-Chairman IEKA
Mrs. Manjola NAÇO, Audit Director, ALSAI

and discussed with journalists.

Mrs. Dewi van de Weerd, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands attended the event and highlighted the important role of media on  regular processes and shrinking electoral corruption cases.

Below chronicle prepared by ScanTV for this workshop.

Follow the Money – Financing of Electoral Subjects and Electoral Corruption

/in , /by

The Albanian Institute of Science (AIS), a non-Governmental organization known as a promoter of Open Data Albania, is organizing a series of Roundtables, Workshops, and Fora on “Follow the Money”. The first meeting of this cycle was held on 26 October on Public Procurement, Tenders, and Contracts in the Health Sector.

In order to strengthen the role of the media in issues of transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption, AIS invites journalists to apply for participation in the second event on “Financing of Electoral Subjects and Electoral Corruption”. The meeting will address issues related with the electoral law, practice, shortcomings, and elements of impunity regarding electoral corruption.

The second meeting on “Follow the Money” will take place on 8 December on the eve of the International Anti-Corruption Day.

Please Regsiter HERE

For any additional question or information, do not hesitate to write to [email protected] .

Monitor Municipality Clients in Public Contracts

/in , /by

Monitor private contractors in public contracts. This is the newest AIS project, which has just started. Its aim is to identify the people, being granted a public contract, names of shareholders and owners, their records of public contracts, characteristics of the relevant companies, and any potential conflicts of interest. The project is supported by LëvizAlbania Local Democracy in Action program financed by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency. Databases of private contractors for public services, works, and investments are going to be published by March 2017.

Open Local Government Procurement and Red Flag Index

/in , , /by

This project is opening data for each procedure of public procurement of the 61 municipalities for their two first years, i.e. 2015 – 2017. The OpenLGP Program created a database with data pertaining to public procurement and public contracts of the municipalities (from July 2015 onwards). The database became applicable through a web platform with an open data format and search and selection filters that enable a listing and reuse of information by municipality, date, type of procurement, value of offers, and selected contractor. This platform became accessible for the public in February 2016, and since then, it has served as a reference point for qualitative and quantitative use by citizens, journalists, stakeholders involved in transparency and engaged in evaluating the performance of the municipalities. The ongoing project will also create some options for an indexing of the municipalities based on the level of exposure of their procurement process to phenomena like abuse, lack of competitiveness, lack of competition, interventions in the competition, or indications of clientelism. The problematic tenders will be marked by a red flag [1]. The database is being updated on daily basis, giving thus opportunities for monitoring, watch dog activity, evaluation and citizens’ reaction in real time.

The aim of the project and its activities is openness, publication, provision of access to, and friendly and analytical use of all data related with public procurement and public contracts of Local Government. Eventually, this is all about creating and applying some instruments for purposes of information, transparency, and watch dog processes.

Open Procurement contains information about the announcements for tenders, technical criteria, fund limits, deadlines for application, types of contracts, types of procedures, offers, complaints, cancellations, number of participants in a tender, and winners. Procurement is finalized when a contract is signed. This is where the structuring of the data begins, which corresponds with Open Contracting.

Open Contracting contains information about the date when contracts are signed, contracting parties, contract value, technical criteria, and object of contracts, contract terms, and payments emerging from the contract.

[1] A Red Flag is a fact, event, or set of circumstances, or other information that may indicate a potential legal compliance concern for illegal or unethical business conduct, particularly with regard to corrupt practices and non-compliance with anti-corruption laws.

Open Procurement in the Media

Public Health Sector Procurement 2016, an anticorruption and Transparency Program

/in , , /by

AIS, a promoter of Open Data Albania, presented to the media representatives today (26 October) a database containing information regarding procurement and contracts from the Public Health Sector. The data covers the period starting from 1 January 2016, and are updated on a daily basis. They are well-structured and presented in an Open Contracting Data (OCDS) format and standard. Such portal and publication format serve to provide information, ensure transparency, and enable the citizens to monitor the public contracts signed in this sector. It functions as an anti-corruption instrument, and as the basis for fact-based journalism.

The project aims to increase the quality and efficiency of the public procurement process through, amongst others, citizens’ reaction/pressure.

A passport of information is created for each tender. The database contains well-structured data not only about the state institutions responsible for providing health services, but also about public procurements of the Mandatory Health Care Insurance Fund as a mandatory public scheme.

  • The procedure and contract system shows that 4881 public procurement procedures were announced during the first nine months of the year (2016).

  • During this period, 4119 tender procedures were finalized with a winner. The rest of the procedures were either cancelled, or still ongoing. The total fund limit, i.e. the amount of money available for tender procedures, already finalized by contracts being signed was 6.72 milliard Albanian Leks or 55.1 million USD.

  • 4119 contracts of value of USD 55.1 million were achieved by 430 economic operators / contractors. The value of the winning offers, i.e. the value of signed contracts (VAT excluded) is 6.31 billion Albanian Leks or USD 51.77 million .

  • The difference between the fund limit and the winning offer is 6.1% of the planned fund. Such difference shows the quality of competition and the budget efficiency in procurement.

  • Accordingly, the difference corresponds with the money saved thanks to the competition and best economic offers.

  • In the case of procurement in the health sector, such efficiency is too low. Local government units are characterized by a much higher efficiency rate, about 10% higher than the health one. Direct Negotiation, a no-competition procedure, was used to sign contracts of a value of 1.55 milliard Albanian Leks, which is 24.5% of the total procured value (contract value).Procurement procedures with one single competitor were used in 1 260 cases, consisting of an offer value of 1.04 milliard Leks, which corresponds with 16% of the total value of offers. 4.9% of the contracted value is dedicated to Public Works (investments), 25.4% of the total value to Services, 69.6% to Public Supplies and the rest is used for Renting and Consultancy Services. The ten leading companies in terms of the contracted value represent 46.9 % of the total value of contracts.

The company, which marks the highest value contracted in the health sector for the nine first months of 2016, is Megapharma, with 352 contracts and a value of 452 million Leks. In addition, MegaPharma LLC has also signed other contracts of cooperation with other operators. This company is followed by Rejsi Farma LLC with contracts of value of 335 million Albanian Leks and Devis shpk (in third place) with contracts of value of 313 million Albanian Leks.The procuring authority with the highest procured values (2.15 billion Leks) is the University Hospital Centre “Mother Tereza”.Tenders in the public health sector have a direct impact on the quality of life of citizens and patients. About 8 up to 9 % of the state budget are allocated to this sector every year.

The data can be analyzed and searched by: Procuring Authority; Economic Operators who are awarded Public Contracts; Type of Procurement Procedure; Type of Contract; Value of Contract and other data search and analysis options.

20161026_10153820161026_100727 20161026_101043 20161026_101113

20161026_102051 20161026_102103 20161026_105301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pjesmarrës
No Name Surname Institution / MEDIA
1 Adriatik Doci Gazeta shqiptarja.com
2 Almarina Gegvataj ATSH
3 Anjeza Alliu Ministria Shendetesise
4 Anxhela Ruci Gaz Investigative
5 Arlinda Gjonaj ATSH
6 Armida Shukulli Freelance
7 Artan Rama Freelance/Públicus
8 Bashkim Shala Koha Ditore
9 Bepin Kolvataj Tv1 Channel
10 Besa Ombashi OSFA
11 Bledar Hoti Gazeta Shekulli
12 Brikela Qelemeni TV “KORCA”- RTSH
13 Brunilda Bakshevani OSFA
14 Bukurije Kastrati A1 Tv
15 Denisa Canameti Shendet Plus
16 Edmond Shehu HAP Project TDH
17 Elona Tereziu Shendet plus
18 Elvis Nabolli Rozafa
19 Enfrid Islami OSBE
20 Entela Barjamaj Scan Tv
21 Erjola Azizolli Ora News
22 Fatbardha Nergjoni Report Tv
23 Fejzi Braushi Gazeta Mapo
24 Gjergj Erebara BIRN
25 Inva Hasanaliaj Gazeta Mapo
26 Juljan Shota Report Tv
27 Keti Banushi Ora News
28 Klaudja Karabolli Report Tv
29 Klevis Paloka Gazetaria Investigative
30 Manjola Malo World Bank
31 Orjada Tare Leviz Albania
32 Rezar Balla Leviz Albania
33 Rukida Veizi HAP Project TDH
34 Saimir Lleshi Ora News
35 Violeta Shqalsi Scan Tv
36 Xhenisa Skenderaj MIAP
37 Xhevahir Zhabina Tv Klan
38 Xhuliana  Jakimi NewsBomb

AIS, a promoter of Open Data Albania, presented to the media representatives today (26 October) a database containing information regarding procurement and contracts from the Public Health Sector. The data covers the period starting from 1 January 2016, and are updated on a daily basis. They are well-structured and presented in an Open Contracting Data (OCDS) format and standard. Such portal and publication format serve to provide information, ensure transparency, and enable the citizens to monitor the public contracts signed in this sector. It functions as an anti-corruption instrument, and as the basis for fact-based journalism.

The project aims to increase the quality and efficiency of the public procurement process through, amongst others, citizens’ reaction/pressure.

A passport of information is created for each tender. The database contains well-structured data not only about the state institutions responsible for providing health services, but also about public procurements of the Mandatory Health Care Insurance Fund as a mandatory public scheme.

  • The procedure and contract system shows that 4881 public procurement procedures were announced during the first nine months of the year (2016).

  • During this period, 4119 tender procedures were finalized with a winner. The rest of the procedures were either cancelled, or still ongoing. The total fund limit, i.e. the amount of money available for tender procedures, already finalized by contracts being signed was 6.72 milliard Albanian Leks or 55.1 million USD.

  • 4119 contracts of value of USD 55.1 million were achieved by 430 economic operators / contractors. The value of the winning offers, i.e. the value of signed contracts (VAT excluded) is 6.31 billion Albanian Leks or USD 51.77 million .

  • The difference between the fund limit and the winning offer is 6.1% of the planned fund. Such difference shows the quality of competition and the budget efficiency in procurement.

  • Accordingly, the difference corresponds with the money saved thanks to the competition and best economic offers.

  • In the case of procurement in the health sector, such efficiency is too low. Local government units are characterized by a much higher efficiency rate, about 10% higher than the health one. Direct Negotiation, a no-competition procedure, was used to sign contracts of a value of 1.55 milliard Albanian Leks, which is 24.5% of the total procured value (contract value).Procurement procedures with one single competitor were used in 1 260 cases, consisting of an offer value of 1.04 milliard Leks, which corresponds with 16% of the total value of offers. 4.9% of the contracted value is dedicated to Public Works (investments), 25.4% of the total value to Services, 69.6% to Public Supplies and the rest is used for Renting and Consultancy Services. The ten leading companies in terms of the contracted value represent 46.9 % of the total value of contracts.

The company, which marks the highest value contracted in the health sector for the nine first months of 2016, is Megapharma, with 352 contracts and a value of 452 million Leks. In addition, MegaPharma LLC has also signed other contracts of cooperation with other operators. This company is followed by Rejsi Farma LLC with contracts of value of 335 million Albanian Leks and Devis shpk (in third place) with contracts of value of 313 million Albanian Leks.The procuring authority with the highest procured values (2.15 billion Leks) is the University Hospital Centre “Mother Tereza”.Tenders in the public health sector have a direct impact on the quality of life of citizens and patients. About 8 up to 9 % of the state budget are allocated to this sector every year.

The data can be analyzed and searched by: Procuring Authority; Economic Operators who are awarded Public Contracts; Type of Procurement Procedure; Type of Contract; Value of Contract and other data search and analysis options.

20161026_10153820161026_100727 20161026_101043 20161026_101113

20161026_102051 20161026_102103 20161026_105301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pjesmarrës
No Name Surname Institution / MEDIA
1 Adriatik Doci Gazeta shqiptarja.com
2 Almarina Gegvataj ATSH
3 Anjeza Alliu Ministria Shendetesise
4 Anxhela Ruci Gaz Investigative
5 Arlinda Gjonaj ATSH
6 Armida Shukulli Freelance
7 Artan Rama Freelance/Públicus
8 Bashkim Shala Koha Ditore
9 Bepin Kolvataj Tv1 Channel
10 Besa Ombashi OSFA
11 Bledar Hoti Gazeta Shekulli
12 Brikela Qelemeni TV “KORCA”- RTSH
13 Brunilda Bakshevani OSFA
14 Bukurije Kastrati A1 Tv
15 Denisa Canameti Shendet Plus
16 Edmond Shehu HAP Project TDH
17 Elona Tereziu Shendet plus
18 Elvis Nabolli Rozafa
19 Enfrid Islami OSBE
20 Entela Barjamaj Scan Tv
21 Erjola Azizolli Ora News
22 Fatbardha Nergjoni Report Tv
23 Fejzi Braushi Gazeta Mapo
24 Gjergj Erebara BIRN
25 Inva Hasanaliaj Gazeta Mapo
26 Juljan Shota Report Tv
27 Keti Banushi Ora News
28 Klaudja Karabolli Report Tv
29 Klevis Paloka Gazetaria Investigative
30 Manjola Malo World Bank
31 Orjada Tare Leviz Albania
32 Rezar Balla Leviz Albania
33 Rukida Veizi HAP Project TDH
34 Saimir Lleshi Ora News
35 Violeta Shqalsi Scan Tv
36 Xhenisa Skenderaj MIAP
37 Xhevahir Zhabina Tv Klan
38 Xhuliana  Jakimi NewsBomb

Follow the Money – Series of Workshops

/in , , /by

The Albanian Institute of Science (AIS), a non-governmental organization known as a promoter of Open Data in Albania, is planning to hold a series of Round Tables, Workshops, and Forums on the topic ‘Follow the Money’. The events intend to present instruments and databases that ensure data and facts about public expenditures, procurement, contracts, contractors, and other processes related with money and governance. The purpose is to encourage discussion on the use of facts in journalistic investigations or citizens’ advocacy, and to make the fact-finding process more concrete and qualitative. The participants will include journalists and activists from Tirana and other municipalities in the country. The three first round tables will take place during October 2016 – January 2017 on the following topics:

  1. Public Procurement, Tenders, and Contracts in the Health Sector, Date 26 October, Donor: U.S Embassy in Tirana- Democracy Commission Small Grants Program Project Public Health Sector Procurements
  2. Auditing of Political Parties and Electoral Subjects. Donor: Netherlands Embassy in Tirana.
  3. Monitoring of Municipality Clients in Public Contracts, with the support of Lëviz Albania.

Those interested in participating in these events are invited to fill in a registration form, upon the receipt of which we will let you know whether you are selected to participate. AIS is going to reimburse the justified participation costs. The events will take place in the course of one day. The two first ones will take place in Tirana.

Please Regsiter HERE

For any additional question or information, do not hesitate to write to [email protected] .