Open Contracting Albania Project – Impact on the Media
During the period of May to November 2023, data and products from the project titled ‘Instil a Watchdog Culture, Open Contracting Albania, and Red Flag Index Project’ have become part of the Information Sessions with Journalists and Media Representatives in the country. Using information and tender passports, journalists have prepared dozens of investigative articles shedding light on irregularities and issues within municipality tenders or Reconstruction Program contracts.
Some of them are listed as follows:
Open Procurement on the Media
May – October 2023
Title: ADF Tender raises red flags. Skan TV
Open Data Albania has raised the red flag regarding the tender that envisages the construction of the embankment of the Shkumbin River, as supportive infrastructure for the Auto-Moto Park in Elbasan. On Monday, the Albanian Development Fund announced the winning company for this procedure with a value exceeding the upper monetary limit, while the ODA system has classified the tender as at risk for corruption or non-compliance with legal procedures.
Title: Public Procurement: 50 Major Companies Receive 55% of Funds
NewsBomb published: 12 Tenders Annulled Within a Week, Full List of Annulments Published.
Title: Key Tenders of 2022 Database: Which Companies Have Won Billions
Investigative Network Albania: Invested 1.2 million Euros, Cameras Meant to Monitor Forests Sold as Scrap
Portali Bold News: Concession Policy Leads to a Huge Financial Pit.
Syri Tv, Title: Reconstruction under SPAK: 10 Major Contractors of the Program Implemented by Rama with Corrupt Law
TV MCN, Fact-Checking Program Publishes Article: 40% of Concession Contracts in Albania Linked to Offshore Companies.
Gazeta Telegraf: Reconstruction also in SPAK: Companies Established by Former Mayors Linked to MPs and Individuals Convicted for International Trafficking Benefited.
At the Ais office, weekly briefings and communications with journalists and media representatives are held. These communications allow journalists to acquire the necessary information and updates.
This is in line with journalists’ interest in information regarding contracts, tenders, risk assessment indexes in tendering, etc.