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.
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
Një rishpërndarje më e mirë e Buxhetit të Shtetit, një taksim më i drejtë i taksave kombëtare e konkretisht i rentave minerare do të nxiste zhvillime pozitive në bashki të varfëra të qarkut Dibër. Ky ishte një nga diskutimet me aktivist dibranë në eventin e Organizatës AIS / Open Data Albania . Po njësoj vëmendja u fokusua tek njohuri dhe analizë e çdo të ardhure që mblidhet përmes pushtetit qendror por delegohet tek Buxhetet Bashkiake.
Organizata AIS / Open Data Albania organizoi në datën 28 Tetor në qytetin e Peshkopisë një trajnim me aktivist, gazetar dhe përfaqësues të organizatave qeveritare. Tema Aktivizmi dhe Shoqëria Civile për Hartimin, Konsultimin dhe Zbatimin e Buxhetit të Shtetit.
Ky event mbahet në kuadër të Projektit 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 AIS dhe Citizens Channel.
Objektiv i Trajnimit janë ngritja e kapaciteteve të OSHC-ve, aktivistëve dhe medias për të kontribuar në Planifikim e Buxhetit të Shtetit dhe mbi Politika të Shpërndarjes dhe Shpenzimit të Parave Publike.
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/2-11.jpg12001600adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-10-19 17:56:572024-10-26 14:23:33Diber - Aktivizmi dhe Shoqëria Civile për Hartimin, Konsultimin dhe Zbatimin e Buxhetit të Shtetit në Parlament
Organizata AIS / Open Data Albania organizoi në datën 23 Tetor në qytetin e Lezhës një trajnim me aktivist, gazetar dhe përfaqësues të organizatave qeveritare. Tema Aktivizmi dhe Shoqëria Civile për Hartimin, Konsultimin dhe Zbatimin e Buxhetit të Shtetit.
Ky event mbahet në kuadër të Projektit 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 AIS dhe Citizens Channel.
Objektiv i Trajnimit janë ngritja e kapaciteteve të OSHC-ve, aktivistëve dhe medias për të kontribuar në Planifikim e Buxhetit të Shtetit dhe mbi Politika të Shpërndarjes dhe Shpenzimit të Parave Publike.
Ky Cikël trajnimesh do të mbahet edhe në bashkitë Lezhë; Dibër; Shkodër; Kamzë; Tiranë dhe Malësi e Madhe me Target Përfaqësues të Shoqërisë Civile; Aktivist dhe Gazetar Lokal.
rajnimi 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.
Aktivist nga rajoni i Lezhës veç leksioneve mbi njohuri dhe aftësim, provuan edhe të krijojnë kazuse se si mund të reagojnë për buxhetim dhe shpërndarje më të mirë të Parave Publike. Arsimi dhe buxhetimit i këtij sektori ishte një nga momentet që ngjalli më shumë interes mes pjesëmarrësve duke theksuar se rajoni has dy lloj vështirësish. Zona urbane ka kapacitete të pakta në shkolla publike mbingarkesë në klasa, mësime në turne dhe numër të kufizuar arsimtarësh. Ndërkohë në zona rurale shkollat funksionojnë me numër shumë të kufizuar nxënësish duke rrezikuar edhe ekzistencën e klasave dhe shkollave dhe duke ndikuar për keq në edukimin dhe jetën e banorëve përkatës.
Aktivist nga rajoni i Lezhës veç leksioneve mbi njohuri dhe aftësim, provuan edhe të krijojnë kazuse se si mund të reagojnë për buxhetim dhe shpërndarje më të mirë të Parave Publike. Arsimi dhe buxhetimit i këtij sektori ishte një nga momentet që ngjalli më shumë interes mes pjesëmarrësve duke theksuar se rajoni has dy lloj vështirësish. Zona urbane ka kapacitete të pakta në shkolla publike mbingarkesë në klasa, mësime në turne dhe numër të kufizuar arsimtarësh. Ndërkohë në zona rurale shkollat funksionojnë me numër shumë të kufizuar nxënësish duke rrezikuar edhe ekzistencën e klasave dhe shkollave dhe duke ndikuar për keq në edukimin dhe jetën e banorëve përkatës.
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/1.webp593790adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-10-19 17:52:192024-10-19 17:54:12Aktivizmi dhe Shoqëria Civile për Hartimin, Konsultimin dhe Zbatimin e Buxhetit të Shtetit në Parlament
Ftohen të aplikojnë të rinj që kanë dëshirë të jenë Qytetar Aktiv, të Informuar dhe Pjesëmarrës.
Organizata AIS promotore e Open Data Albania dëshiron të ftojë të rinj nga dy Bashki të vendit Has dhe Berat të bëhen pjesë e aktiviteteve për rritje të ndërgjegjësimit dhe kapaciteteve për advokim dhe monitorim të Shpenzimeve dhe Kontraktimeve Publike.
Individët që dëshirojnë të marrin pjesë në trajnime, infosesione dhe diskutime të hapura duhet të jenë nën 30 vjeç, banor ose rezident në këto dy bashki.
Thirrja dhe Programi me të rinj realizohet në mbështetje të Projektit Aktivizëm Rinor për Qeverisje të Mirë dhe Forcim të Kulturës së Monitorimit dhe Aktivizmit (Youth Activism for Good Governance in Berat and Has Municipalities: Instilling Watchdog and Activism Culture).
25 deri 30 të rinj do të përzgjidhen me aplikim dhe do te ftohen të marrin pjesë në trajnime dhe aktivitete ndërgjegjësuese me qëllim aftësim dhe edukim për Qeverisje Transparente.
Afati për plotësim të dokumenteve është deri më 26 Tetor.
Krijo Aftësi dhe Fuqizohu në Monitorim, Pjesëmarrje dhe Advokim për Shpërndarje të drejtë të Parave dhe Kontratave Publike
Organizata që Ju fton të merrni pjesë.
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/logo-ais-1-1.jpg531412adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-10-19 17:48:562024-10-19 17:48:56Thirrje për të rinj aktivist nga Berati dhe Hasi.
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:
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).
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
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/6-1.png776660adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-08-26 12:22:442024-10-26 13:56:32Public Consultation on the Anticorruption Draft-Strategy. AIS proposes the inclusion of State Owned Companies (SOC) in the list of high-risk sectors
Even throughout May, dozens of media reports in newspapers, television screens or web-portals were written based on evidences and information extracted from AIS / Open Data Albania databases. The organization continues to strengthen fact-based and quality journalism despite the struggle to secure the continuation its programs targeting the use of Open Data for Anti-corruption efforts. We have routinely assisted media representatives through info sessions, training or meetings held at the organization’s offices. Every week, journalists are being supplied with OpenData and well-structured LinkedData on public tenders, public expenditures and businesses that were awarded the status of public contractors.
Having access to well-structured, fast, complete and transparent information over public spending and public contracting, journalists build stories/reports based on data or are able to do fact checking. This type of quality journalism demolishes propaganda, produces indisputable investigation pieces and sheds light on cases of conflict of interest, abuse of office or irregularities.
Info-sessions with Journalists. (1-2 each month). The Albanian Institute of Science hosts journalists in its premises every other week, during which they report and use our data to conduct Investigative Articles. Most journalists use information related to Tenders and Red Flag Assessment in tenders. These Info sessions are preceded by announcements on social network and a WhatsApp communication group. Their result is related to the distribution of the information contained in the Databases [Open Contracting Albania Project – Impact on the Media – Albanian Institute of Science (ais.al) https://ais.al/new/en/open-contracting-albania project-impact-on-the-media/ ], preparation of media articles and television stories. Almost every media outlet in the country has at least once made a media report based on the information present in our Public Procurement Database. (see List of Media Titles, Articles quoted in the Media).
Among the Media Reports for the month of May, we list:
The Voice of America, the Albanian-language reporting broadcaster, published on May 9th a News Chronicle titled: OpenDataAlbania (AIS’s main project) finds Prime Minister Rama’s figures on public procurement inaccurate
The news is built as a Fact Checking report. The Prime Minister’s statement on the wide distribution of public contracts in a large number of business entities is confronted with statistical data of a ten-year period monitored by the team that works for AIS’s Transparent Databases in the Public Procurement sector, shortly referred as Open Procurement Albania.
Contrary to the Prime Minister’s propaganda about 25,000 businesses that have been awarded public tenders, the organization can confirm that the number of Businesses that benefit from public money through public contracting, all in all does not exceed 4,000.
2. CNA media investigates senior public officials in potential Conflict of Interest, connected to family business success
Under Investigation by SPAK/ tens of millions of euros turnover and profit from Veliaj’s brother’s company
The news investigates the growing economic performance of a business, which follows the rotation in the Municipality of Tirana administration after the 2015 Elections
Media reporting uses as evidence the Gogel Business Passport crated in our Open Corporates Albania database.
Open Corporates (ownership) database Albania is a database created to enable data tracking, as well as improve and disclose (disclose) data on Ownership and Conflict of Interest for Businesses that have been awarded public contracts or have connections with important sectors and incumbents.
3. The Telegraf Newspaper published on its front page an Article on Budgetary Payments for PPP programs or Inefficient Concessions under investigation by SPAK
In its reporting, Telegraf uses data from an Analysis produced by Open Data Albania on payments from the State Treasury for these programs. More specifically: Albanian citizens’ taxes in the Budget will pay for Concessionary PPP contracts .
4.The Balkanweb News Portal and News 24 TV published an Investigation entitled “Doubts about fictitious competition/ OSHEE tenders in the Energy (sector) are won by the same company, the other company only in the race to favor the winner
This investigation is triggered by the list of procedures with a risk of competition abuse, produced by our Open Procurement Albania Platform, in which tendering procedures are scanned every day and those that present a risk for inequality and competitiveness are marked with RedFlag.
AIS Promoter of Open Data for Albania thanks fellow journalists and media editors who conveyed to their audience concerns or struggles AIS/OpenDataAlbania is encountering in securing funds to implement Watchdog and Anti-corruption projects.
BalkanWeb: Anti-corruption projects in the absence of funds and donors. The AIS organization asks for help, OpenSpendingAlbania is in danger of being closed due to lack of funds
Faktor.al: Anti-corruption projects in the absence of funds and Donator! AIS organization asks for help, OpenSpendingAlbania is in danger of being closed
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-06-09-160227.png9381116adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-06-09 15:59:212024-10-08 13:48:04Empowering fact-based journalism through Open and Linked Data - Media Impact, May 2024
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.
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/Image_Editor.png746746adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-06-07 15:18:122024-06-07 15:35:25Call for Applications to Participate in DataThon 2024
The organization and the team working at AIS are pleased to note that journalists from pluralist medias in the country have disclosed dozens of corruption stories in the last week, using open #OpenData and linked data #LinkDATA from the databases owned by AIS, otherwise known as OpenDataAlbania.
The data used was extracted from:
1. Public Tenders Marked with Red Flag (OpenProcurement.al), 2. Data over Treasury Transactions Payments (spending.data.al), 3. Data present in the Asset Declarations of Senior Officials and 4. Open data concerning Businesses awarded Public Contracts and Projects (OpenCorporates.Al)
Journalists have built stories raising allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest at the high levels of the Central and Local Government
Evidence Base Approach and Factchecking Data are two important tools for Qualitative and Investigative Journalism. A free and pluralist media, as well as a journalists’ prerogative to tell the truth cannot work without the information, access and the databases that guarantee transparency and accountability.
We have listed below some of the Media Reports from this week, which involve corruption stories uncovered thanks to our open databases #OpenDataAlbania
The Albanian Gazette publishes: The State Supreme Audit (SSA) reveals that Deputy Prime Minister Balluku added 50 million Euros to her portfolio, questions over the legality of a Normative Act. Media Report Link
The online media BoldNews writes: Veliaj (the Mayor) awarded 130 thousand Euros in tendering to one of his director’s sister. Investigation Link
BalkanWeb published the following article: Suspicion of Corruption: how the Turkish company was favored for the Llogara Tunnel, the winner made the most expensive offer, the diversion with the Subcontractors’ papers. Read Original Media Link
Panorama Web writes: The Shell Business Scheme (shell scheme in the Netherlands) that is “biting the head” off Ilir Beqaj. Vetting reveals PPP threads. Who are the owners and how they maneuvered with shareholders in offshore and shell companies News Link
NewsBamob reports: Actuality. 175 suspicious municipal tenders. They don’t fear SPAK. Link to the online article
Gazeta Panorama published the article: Vetting reveals what has been going on behind-the-scenes. Balluku (Deputy Prime Minister) the bandmaster of the Llogara tunnel’s tendering – the project’s supervision awarded to Berberi’s partner (former Albanian Road Authority director in the prison on charges of corruption) News Link
Syri TV investigation: The Plug Show – The companies of Kujtim Qefaliaj’s (MP) son-in-law awarded 76 tenders by Erion Veliaj (the Mayor) Investigation Link
Ora News Evening Interview. Brahaj reveals that we don’t have Foreign Strategic Investors, they are the same ones that receive concessions and public tenders. Interview Link
The online media Fjala published the article: The names of the ten companies that benefited 6 billion Euros from the State Treasury. News Link
The Reporter platform published the following analysis: The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Tendering can turn into an alibi for corruption. Article Link
The online media Gogo: Here’s the companies that bought land all over the country for 1 Euro. Online Article Link
Despite the positive results in strengthening and promoting quality journalism, investigative journalism, evidence-based reporting and fact-checking, the organization AIS, promoter of Open Data Albania, is encountering numerous difficulties in its line work, one of the most significant being faced with Lack of Funding Opportunities to guarantee the continuity of its operations, which has compelled the organization to ask for help, in the last few weeks, for financing and donor support. Read More
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/Bashkite-175-tendera-me-rrisk.jpeg11111722adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-05-04 13:41:462024-05-04 13:44:09The Media Impact for “Open Data, Access and Transparency over sectors exposed to Risk of Corruption” Project. This Week in the Media - corruption in tenders, conflicts of interest and nepotism uncovered. Factual, Evidence and Open Data based Journalism
The AIS organization, known as OpenDataAlbania, is reaching out to you with a pressing concern. We are facing the imminent closure of OpenSpendingAlbania due to lack of funds and donor support. Our database is vital for transparency, accountability, activism, and anti-corruption efforts.
Currently, tracking data through our databases shed light and denounce corruption, clientelism, and cases of conflict of interest every day among high officials in the local and central governments.
Our Databases provide evidence for (i) every treasury transaction, (ii) public tender passports (iii) public tender awards along with redflagged ones, and (iv) asset declarations of politicians and officials. This comprehensive database supports investigative cases and stories, utilized not only by journalists, activists, and political parties but also by anti-corruption institutions.
Exactly at this critical moment in the fight against corruption and abuses of public authority and assets, our databases, which play a crucial role in evidence-based fact-checking and monitoring the misuse of funds and assets, have been deprived of funding and support from donors. Hence, AIS appeals to potential donors for financial assistance
From 2016 to 2018, the Embassy of the Netherlands supported the instrument as part of the Money, Government, and Politics project, followed by support from the Swedish Embassy from 2021 to 2023. Despite AIS Organization’s efforts to secure refinancing, it has been unable to obtain the necessary funds to continue operating as a watchdog NGO and support activists and journalists.
The Treasury Transactions Database stands as an important instrument for Transparency, Good Governance and Anti-corruption. OpenSpendingAlbania enables citizens to understand how taxpayers’ money are spent. Since 2012, it has disclosed and made transparent every transaction from Budget Institutions to beneficiaries. The nation’s boldest journalists and activists rely on Treasury data to uncover instances of misuse, corruption, nepotism, and conflicts of interest.
The transparent nature of this well-structured database has revealed widespread public abuse, particularly during election periods. Notably, transparency in treasury transactions led the initiation of procedures to revoke a Member of Parliament’s mandate in the Constitutional Court due to conflicts of interest.
AIS/OpenDataAlbania’s efforts to empower the public, activists, and anti-corruption agencies with transparent data on abusive cases have faced resistance from individuals in power and their affiliated businesses. Additionally, there have been unsuccessful attempts at cyber-attacks.
The fight against corruption, activism, and the empowerment of watchdog actors continues to be crucial aspects for countries like Albania. The Justice Reform and the establishment of new institutions still require efforts to consolidate results in the fight against Autocracy and Impunity.
We request your support through open call notices or by exploring grant funding opportunities. This is essential to prevent the closure of one of the most significant instruments for enhancing transparency, accountability, and the watchdog culture in Albania.
We are open to your support and collaboration, with the sincere intention of securing a new grant to sustain and prevent the closure of the OpenSpendingAlbania database.
Thank you in advance.
https://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-04-20-100923.png300563adminhttp://ais.al/new/wp-content/uploads/aislogo1.pngadmin2024-04-20 09:49:222024-04-20 09:49:22Anti-corruption projects face challenges; in risk of closure due to absence of funds and donors. Help us to work as a Watchdog NGO. Support Open Spending Albania database, disclosing Treasury Transactions