A number of 107 representatives of Civil Society and local media in different parts of the North of the country, demand that the Parliament be more attentive to the need for budget support in small and suburban municipalities.

List of Participants HERE

The organization AIS, as part of the consortium that implements the program Increasing Parliament’s Responsiveness to Citizens’ Concerns, a project supported by the British Embassy in Tirana, has completed a training cycle with activists in Lezhë, Malësi e Madhe (Great Highlands), Kamëz, Kukës, Shkodër and Peshkopi.  The challenges of emigration, population decline, educational infrastructure and social protection were the aspects that the citizens asked for more dialogue with the Parliament and Members of Parliament. Likewise, after the publication of the 2023 Census results, many citizens from municipalities with shrinking populations have requested a review of the Formula that allocates Unconditional Transfers from the State Budget. Civil activists were trained for capacity building and knowledge on instruments of citizens’ participation in Parliament and dialogue for Fair Planning of the State Budget.

On July 16th, the training on Civil Society and the Parliament in the Process of Drafting, Consultation and Approval of the State Budget was held in Kukës

• A total of 19 participants took part in the event, out of which 9 representatives of NGOs, 5 local journalists and 5 activists from informal communities and grassroots movements.
• Gender-wise, 10 (53%) participants were male and 9 are female (47%).
• 2 of the participants were from the municipality bordering Kukës, the municipality of Has.

On July 15, another training  on the subject of Civil Society and the Parliament in the Drafting, Consultation and Approval Process of the State Budget was held in Shkodër.

• A total of 18 participants took part in the event, out of which 12 representatives of NGOs, 6 local journalists.
• Gender-wise, 5 (28%) of the beneficiaries were male and 13 are female (72%).

On July 26^th, the Training on Civil Society and the Parliament in the Drafting, Consultation and Approval Process of the State Budget was held in the Municipality of Kamzë.

• A total of 13 beneficiary participants took part in the event.
• Gender-wise, 2 (15%) participants were male and 11 were female (85%).

1 tailor Made Training. AIS organized, on March 8^th, a Tailor Made training for representatives from civil society, local journalists, representatives of interest groups and activists in the Municipality of Malësi e Madhe. (during the first year a total of project 3 Tailor Made Trainings took place in Lezha; Dibra and Malësia e Madhe).

This project aims to strengthen the Parliament’s efforts to foster an enabling environment for inherent engagement of citizens in the policy and legislative processes in the country, as a means of promoting public interest and building trust in the institution.

The Training, aims to increase the capacities of civil society, allowing them to improve their understanding of the Budgeting process and enable their participation in the Budgeting cycle in the Parliament.

The training aims to strengthen comprehension and monitoring skills in regards to the Drafting, Approval and Reporting Process of the State Budget in the Parliament, as well as raise responsiveness and participation capabilities during the phases of Planning and Approval of the State Budget and policies concerning Public Finances.

Target group: Representatives of Civil Society; Activists and Local Journalists.

Project supported by the British Embassy in Tirana and implemented by a consortium led by IDM, in partnership with Citizens Channel and AIS.

Objective: Building the capacities of CSOs, activists and local media to contribute in the planning of the state budget and public spending policies Area: Districts of Lezhë; Dibër; Shkodër; Kamzë; Kukës; Tiranë; Malësi e Madhe.

Target group: Representatives of Civil Society; Activists and Local Journalists

Organizator: AIS promotor i Open Data Albania.

Projekti dhe Partneriteti: Rritja e Përgjegjshmërisë së Parlamentit ndaj shqetësimeve të Qytetarëve, Projekt i mbështetur nga Ambasada Britanike në Tiranë dhe zbatuar nga një konsorcium drejtuar nga IDM në partneritet me Citizens Channel dhe AIS.

Objektiv: Ngritja e kapaciteteve të OSHC-ve, aktivistëve dhe mediave lokale për të kontribuar në planifikimin e buxhetit të shtetit dhe për politikat e shpenzimeve publike

Zona: Rajonet: Lezhë; Dibër; Shkodër; Kamzë; Kukës; Tiranë; Malësi e Madhe

Target: Përfaqësues të Shoqërisë Civile; Aktivist dhe Gazetar Lokal

Parashtrim Projekti: Me mbështetjen e Ambasadës Britanike në Tiranë, Instituti për Demokraci dhe Ndërmjetësim (IDM) në partneritet me Citizens Channel dhe me Institutin Shqiptar të Shkencave (AIS), do të zbatojnë projektin “Rritja e përgjegjshmërisë së parlamentit ndaj shqetësimeve të qytetarëve”. Ky projekt ka për qëllim të forcojë përpjekjet e parlamentit për të nxitur një mjedis mundësues për angazhim të qenësishëm të qytetarëve në proceset e politikave dhe legjislative në vend, si një mjet për të nxitur interesin publik dhe ndërtimin e besimit ndaj institucionit.

Parashtrim Aktiviteti: Ky Trajnim që do të mbahet në dy nga Rajonet e targetuara, ka si synim rritje të kapaciteteve të shoqërisë civile dhe përmirësim të tyre në njohjen dhe pjesëmarrje gjatë ciklit të Buxhetimit në Parlament. Trajnimi synon aftësim për të kuptuar dhe monitoruar Procesin e Hartimit, Miratimit dhe Raportimit të Buxhetit të Shtetit në Parlament. Ngritje e kapaciteteve të tyre për të reaguar dhe marrë pjesë gjatë procesit të Planifikimit dhe Miratimit të Buxhetit të Shtetit dhe Politikave që lidhen me Financat Publike. Trajnimi synon edhe prezantimin e Instrumenteve të Mundshëm Ligjor për pjesëmarrjen, propozime apo seanca dëgjimore në Komisione Kuvendore.

Vendi: Qendra Rinore ARKA, Rruga Palok Kurti Nr.1, Shkodër, Albania

Data: Korrik 15, 2024

Agjenda: Kliko Këtu

Më poshtë mund të gjeni foto nga trajnimi:

In response to the Invitation of the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption, for participation in the Public Consultation of the Draft – National Anticorruption Strategy, launched in July 2024, the AIS organization participated in the Meeting with Civil Society and also addressed written suggestions and opinions. Evaluating the completed document and the opportunity to participate in public consultation, AIS suggests an Additional Objective for the Strategy.

Below is the letter addressed to the Institution.

Recommendations provided for Public Consultation

Addressed to:     Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption

Subject:         Providing recommendations in the frame of the Sectoral Strategy Against Corruption 2024-2023

From:                  Organization Albanian Institute of Sciences (AIS, promoter of Open Data Albania

Date:                    August 30, 2024

Honorable Madam Minister,

Honorable officials of the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption,

Through this letter, allow us to convey our consideration for the work carried out by your Institution in drafting the Intersectoral Strategy against Corruption. We would also like to thank you for administering the consultation and opinion gathering process, carried out in collaboration with civil society and business actors. Holding the document, the goals, objectives and priority measures foreseen in great esteem, the organization Albanian Institute of Sciences (acronym AIS), known as Open Data Promoter for Albania, would like to submit two additional recommendations, which we deem should be included in the Strategy, as detailed below:

1. To add to Specific Objective 1.3 the Prevention of Corruption, Depoliticization and Improvement of the Integrity of Publicly Owned Enterprises

We recommend that, in addition to the Sectors cited in the draft, the Sector of Publicly Owned Companies and Enterprises (SOC – state owned enterprise/corporates) should also be considered as part of the Strategy. This sector is of particular importance, as it manages public assets and public human resources. Likewise, some of the companies in this sector offer exclusive services to citizens (water, energy) or operate in sectors of paramount importance for national security (water supply, ports, etc.). Our organization, like other actors, for years has considered this sector risky in terms of management, financial control and the use of public assets and public resources. Likewise, the latter’s misuse in Election campaigns has been systematically highlighted in relation to the SOC sector.

More importantly, we would like one of the Specific Objectives of the Strategy to be dedicated to the revision of the Legislation and Statutes (through the MP’s or Local Government Units), guaranteeing legal, sub-legal and statutory regulation of the SOC Companies. The regulation, in the legal and sub-legal framework, should be such as to guarantee meritocracy based management (criteria and competition), clear rules for depoliticization of the director and senior managers, clear statutory provisions for internal and external audits, as well as financial control.

The SOC sector is important in terms of meeting the criteria and conditions of the country as a candidate for EU membership, specifically the criteria for Financial Control (chapter 32).

2. Involvement of Civil Society, Organizations. Objective 3.3.2

Considering this aspect as quite important in terms of Anti-corruption Policies, we suggest that more outputs be targeted and not to be limited to awareness campaigns alone. In principle, we would recommend a cooperation agreement between the Ministry and Civil Society Organizations that work in oversight, litigation and strengthening in the efficiency of the legal provisions in the sectors deemed as risky. These agreements would also guarantee the exchange of evidence, reports, products of these civil actors (non-governmental associations, business associations or interest groups). Likewise, we propose holding joint events to raise awareness, educate and build capacity for good governance. Agreements between institutions and NGOs or Integrity Pacts (mainly the public procurement sector) are mechanisms that have been successfully applied to improve anti-corruption circumstances in some EU or even candidate countries. These types of agreements would facilitate the work of watchdog actors and would guarantee more accurate addressing of the findings on the risk assessments, carried out by civil society organizations.

In the same way, we would suggest that this Objective, in addition to the Awareness Campaigns, also consider as a potential output the cooperation of institutions with civil actors in the detection and prevention of corruption cases.

Congratulating you once again on the Draft Strategy document, we hope that the above stated recommendations will be given due consideration and we wish you success in the finalization and implementation of this Strategy.

With the highest regard,

Aranita BRAHAJ – AIS Executive Director

The AIS organization, a promoter of Open Data for Albania, in collaboration with the OSCE Presence in Albania, invites you to apply to be part of the Marathon for Open and Transparent Data, DataThon 2024.

This year’s Open Data Marathon is dedicated to young people and will focus on state budget data and public finances.

The event will be held in Tirana in the early days of July.

We invite and welcome applications from young people who wish to empower themselves in financial education with principles and models of open budget and participatory budgeting.

Who can apply:

• Young people aged 20 to 30 years old
• Students, professionals, economists, lawyers, activists, researchers, or data enthusiasts
• Young people who wish to participate and contribute to awareness and civic activism

How to apply: Fill out the Application Form with information related to your identity, education, profession, and engagement. Don’t forget to provide your contact details and a reason why you wish to be part of DataThon Albania 2024.

How much time do I need to commit? In the upcoming weeks, successful candidates will be invited to a kick-off event, and two workshops or info sessions. During these Startup-style events, the topic selection, group division, monitoring, database presentation, data collection, and analysis will take place.

In a final DataThon event, each participant will present graphs, visualizations, analyses, and civic viewpoints on a topic related to Transparent and Participatory Budgeting.

What happens after the Marathon?

• The best works will be published on the AIS project page ‘FollowtheMoney.al’
• The most outstanding participant will be engaged at AIS/OpenDataAlbania as an analyst staff with a 3 to 6-month contract
• Promotion and Creativity for participants
• Networking with young data enthusiasts

Background:

DataThons are open, creative, motivating, useful, and awareness-raising events. The word DataThon comes from Data+Marathon. DataThons can be organized anytime by groups with a desire and passion for data and interest in a topic or sector. In Albania, the first DataThon was held in December 2011 by the AIS, promoter of OpenDataAlbania. Since then, AIS has organized open marathons every year, such as DiploHack, DataThon, and Hackathon with the most recent one was in April 2023.

For questions, email [email protected]

Join the most Creative and Intelligent Marathon!!

#DataThonAlbania2024

#OpenBudget

#YouthFinancialEducation

#ParticipatoryBudgeting

#OpenDataAlbania