Open Corporations Albania, business data in the country, database audience grows

The Open Corporates Albania website, which provides information of an economic nature, in the Albanian language, reaches a record number of clicks. Over 20 thousand unique users every month, i.e. 40% more than last year, Open Corporates Albania has resulted to be a favorable website for the information it provides for business companies contracted by public institutions. In January 2020, according to Google Analytics, the website reached a total of 32899 unique users and 1 million page views. Although 90% of the information is only available in the Albanian language, the website is also clicked in other countries as well. Thus, 78.4 % of the clicks come from Albania; 4.2% from neighboring Italy, third comes USA with 3.4% of the clicks, followed by Kosovo, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, and France. Currently, the website is being maintained and updated with data by AIS team, a non-governmental organization promoting Open Data in Albania

Open Data promotes investigative journalism, facts about fraud through tenders

1 in 3 tenders without fair competition, open data encourage investigative journalism to denounce corruption with taxpayers’ money On January 7th, the TopStory investigative show on Top Channel denounced forms of fraud through public procurement tenders. Shocking facts were brought to the program for one in every three tenders without fair competition. 300 million euros of taxpayers’ money results to be lost every year, abused and misappropriated through tenders with clientelist elements. AIS, an organization promoting Open Data in Albania, contributed to this courageous TV investigation through data released: Specifically: Data about tenders and contracts with problems regarding competition published on the Open Procurement Albania portal; information about clientelist companies published in the Open Corporates Albania portal, and data on the payments from the State Budget published on Spending Data Albania . For the last four years, AIS has been publishing data and assessing the risk of irregularities in tenders, known as RedFlag procurement, identifying information and gaps for every tender held by municipalities Albanian Development Fund Albanian Road Authority Health SectorCentral Purchasing AgencyPublic-Owned Agency;

7 January 2020, Top Story Media Programme: 1 in 3 tenders with no fair competition. Open data promote investigative journalism and enable reporting of corruption over Albanian taxpayers’ money

On January 7th, Top Story, an investigative show, reported on forms of fraud with public procurement tenders in the country. Journalist Entela Barjamaj and the national Top Channel TV team introduced shocking facts on Top Story, such as one in every three tenders being conducted without fair competition.  300 million Euros of taxpayers’ money seem to be lost every year due to abuse with, and misappropriation of, clientelist tenders.

AIS, the organization promoting open data in Albania contributed to this courageous television investigation through data released from three important open data databases. Namely:

In addition to open data released from our databases, including clear and denouncing arguments, contribution to this programme was also made by Director Aranita Brahaj, who elaborated on the shortcomings of tender procedures.

Corruption is one of the most problematic issues for the country. Justice institutions or anticorruption mechanisms in the country are weak to non-existent. Nevertheless, media and watchdog organisations continue to report facts and contribute against abuse with public money. For four years, AIS has been publishing data and assessing risk of tender irregularities, known as Procurement RedFlag, providing information and identifying issues with every tender conducted by municipalities, the Albanian Development Fund, the Albanian Road Authority, the health sector, and public-owned companies.

Top Story program and Promo are available on YouTube channel

7 janar 2020, Top Story Media Program: 1 në 3 tendera pa garë të ndershme, Të dhëna të hapura nxisin gazetarinë investigative dhe denoncojnë korrupsionin me para të taksapaguesve shqiptar

Në datën7 janar emisioni investigative TopStory denoncoi forma të mashtrimit përmes tenderimeve prokurimeve publike në vend. Gazetarja Entela Barjamaj dhe ekipi i Tv Kombëtar Top Channel, sollën në Top Story fakte tronditëse si mbajtja e një në çdo tre tendera pa garë të ndershme.  300 milion euro, para të taksapaguesve rezultojnë çdo vit të humbura, abuzuara dhe vjedhura përmes tenderimeve me element klientelist.

Organizata AIS promotore e të dhënave të hapura në Shqipëri kontribuoi në këtë investigim të guximshëm televiziv, përmes të dhënave të çliruara nga tre databaza të rëndësishme me të dhëna të hapura. Konkretisht:

Veç të dhënave të hapura të mara nga databazat tona, me argumente të qarta dhe denoncuese kontribuoi në këtë Program edhe artikulimi i drejtoreshës së AIS Aranita Brahaj mbi defekte të procedurës së tenderimeve.

Korrupsioni është një nga çështjet më problematike për vendin. Institucionet e drejtësisë apo mekanizmat antikorrupsion në vend janë të dobëta deri jo ekzistente. Kundrejt kësaj media dhe organizatat watch dog vijojnë të denoncojnë fakte dhe kontribuojnë kundër abuzimeve me para publike. Prej katër vitesh AIS zbardh të dhëna dhe vlerëson riskun për parregullsi në tenderim njohur si RedFlag Prokurime duke zbardhur informacion dhe defekte të garës për çdo tender të mbajtur nga Bashkitë, Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit, Autoriteti Shqiptar i Rrugëve, Sektori Shëndetësi, Agjencia e Blerjeve të Përqendruara, Shoqëritë me Zotërim Publik.

Programi Top Story dhe Promo janë të vendosura në kanalin You Tube

Albania 1 Euro – The Government rented eight state properties for 916 new jobs

The Albanian Government has signed eight contracts in 2019 for economic subjects that have obtained actual rights over state property against a symbolic price of 1 Euro. The Albania 1-Euro programme aims to grant potential employers (businesses) state property to use, with the purpose of increasing private investments and the number of employees. In 2019, six businesses and a non-profit organization have benefited from this programme. Only one of the contractors is a foreign investor. Properties granted for use in 2019, with a rental fee of only 1- Euro and for up to 60 years, are mainly industrial objects and military objects. In total, the Government has granted 537,503 square meters of total surface for 916 new jobs, without any contractual requirements that the employers in such contracts to be Albanian citizens. The investor, who has been granted the largest area, is the Albanian company Blu Imperial . More jobs in exchange for the Albania 1-Euro project are expected to be created by the Korean company Yura Co.Ltd, which will open a company for electric parts for cars. Its investment is estimated to be 6.5 million Euros and expected to create 516 jobs. Open Corporates Albania has prepared transparent passports for the business companies that have been granted rental contracts for only 1-Euro for state property.

Access to Information on Justice, and the integrity and promotion of individuals in the justice system

Data and documents on the justice system after the Reform. Additional access to information on the new justice institutions and individuals being promoted to the system. The new Access to Justice Info database aims at enhancing the integrity of processes and institutions through a data mine (base) and information made available to the public and journalists. All laws, decisions, legal acts, strategies, reports, and conclusions of external monitoring conclusions are published according to the institutions of aksesdrejtesi.al. Similarly, the website contains also a profile for every prosecutorjudge, or member of the new justice institutions. The profile aims to provide easy to find documents on education, professional experience, qualifications, promotion, vetting, self-declarations, and any other documents linked to new individuals in the system. This site is a data mine, which enables also a summary of media articles on the reform.

Open Contracting for Tenders by Albanian Road Authority – Transparency and Risk Assessment of Abuse

Tenders and Contracts awarded by the Albanian Road Authority are now accessible by Open Contracting standards. Following tenders for municipalities, public-owned business companies, health, the Albanian Road Fund, and Central Purchasing Agency, the non-profit organization AIS is also ensuring transparency over tender stages and contracts awarded by this key contractor authority in the country. The Albanian Road Authority is the central planning institution for national road infrastructure contracts. The database and the algorithm for corruption risk show that 40 out of 100 tenders are marked by a redflag, indicating the potential for racial inequality. Open Contracting – The Albanian Road Authority is one of the activities of the “Improvement of the Integrity of Public Contractors” Project supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Tirana, Mrs. Guusje Korthals Altes, was also present at the presentation of the database to a group of investigative journalists.

15 ORGANIZATA KUNDER PROPOZIMEVE LIGJORE TE QEVERISE PER MEDIAT data 10 dhjetor 2019

Ne, një grupim prej 15 organizatash të gazetarëve dhe shoqërisë civile, në mënyrë të përsëritur, duke filluar nga Dhjetori i vitit 2018, përmes deklaratave tona publike i kemi kërkuar qeverisë të tërheqë dy projektligjet e prezantuara publikisht si Paketa Antishpifje, duke renditur të gjitha kundërtitë tona.

Gjithashtu, pas dorëzimit të këtyre dy projektligjeve në Kuvendin e Shqipërisë, i bëjmë thirrje Kuvendit që, në rast se qeveria nuk i tërheq këto projektligje, t’i rrëzojë ato menjëherë. Këto dy projektligje cënojnë lirinë e shprehjes dhe të medias në vend, si dhe bien ndesh me parimet ndërkombëtare të parashikuara në nenin 19 të Deklaratës Universale të të Drejtave të Njeriut, nenin 19 të Paktit Ndërkombëtar për të Drejtat Civile dhe Politike, nenin 19 të Konvetës Amerikane për të Drejtat e Njeriut, nenin 10 të Konventës Evropiane të të Drejtave të Njeriut, etj.

Organizatat vërejnë se dy projektligjet pjesë e paketës antishpifje i akordojnë AMAs dhe AKEP-it, kompetenca gati gjyqësore, me natyrë sanksionuese ndaj operatorëve mediatikë, ndërkohë që këto organe, edhe pse të pavarura sipas ligjit nuk ofrojnë garanci funksionale për të qenë efektivisht të pavarura, sikurse janë organet e pushtetit gjyqësor.

Shqipëria ka mjaftueshëm ligje që rregullojnë çështjet kur media shkel të drejtat e të tjerëve dhe çdo ndërhyrje tjetër, si dhe në këtë drejtim ka patur disa precedentë të gjykuar në sistemin tonë gjyqësor.

Nevoja për të patur vetërregullim të medias dhe JO rregullim ligjor të saj, merr rëndësi të veçantë në ato shtete me demokraci në tranzicion, sikurse është vendi ynë, ku shpesh mediat janë të lidhura me interesat e njohura të biznesit, të partive politike. Vetërregullimi është kombinim i standarteve që përcakton kodet e duhura të sjelljes për median, të cilat janë të nevojshme për të mbështetur lirinë e shprehjes dhe për të mundësuar që kjo sjellje të monitorohet dhe të mbahet e përgjegjshme. Vetërregullimi ruan pavarësinë e mediave dhe e mbron atë nga ndërhyrjet partizane të qeverisë.

Organizatat i bëjnë thirrje Qeverisë Shqiptare dhe Kuvendit të Shqipërisë të marrin parasysh të gjitha kundërshtitë e përsëritura nga ana e institucioneve ndërkombëtare (të tilla si OSBE, BE, Këshilli i Europës dhe Kombet e Bashkuara), prezenca e të cilave kontribuon në vendin tonë për sundimin e shtetit të së drejtës dhe të drejtave të njeriut, të shprehen qartë dhe publikisht mbi projektligjet në fjalë, si masa në dhunim të lirisë së shprehjes.

Gjithashtu, kjo thirrje e organizatave lokale është mbështetur gjatë dy ditëve të fundit dhe nga tetë organizatat ndërkombëtare më të rëndësishme në adresimin e çështjeve që lidhen me lirinë e medias dhe të shprehjes, si dhe nga Federata Ndërkombëtare e Gazetarëve IFJ (me 600 mijë anëtarë nga 140 vende të botës) dhe Federata Europiane e Gazetarëve EFJ ( me 320 mijë anëtarë nga 45 vende)

deklaratën e përbashkët të së cilëve e gjeni bashkëlidhur.

Lista e organizatave firmëtare:

  • BIRN Albania
  • Civil Rights Defenders
  • Citizens Channel
  • Faktoje
  • Instituti Shqiptar i Medias
  • Instituti Shqiptar i Shkencave promotor i Open Data Albania
  • Këshilli Shqiptar i Medias
  • Komiteti Shqiptar i Helsinkit
  • Lidhja e Gazetarëve të Shqipërisë
  • New Media Network
  • Qendra Res Publica
  • Qendra Shqiptare MediaLook
  • Qendra Shqiptare për Gazetari Cilësore
  • Shoqata e Gazetarëve Profesionistë të Shqipërisë
  • Unioni i Gazetarëve Shqiptarë

Information Memo on the State of Schools, where the project is being implemented, in Kurbin and Lezha Municipalities, following the earthquake of 26 November 2019

The “Open ICT Education for Youth Employability” Project, Grant Contract no. 2017/394-533 , implemented by ODK and AIS, scheduled to last from 15 January 2018 until 15 February 2020, targets beneficiaries/educational institutions from Kosovo and Albania. More specifically, high schools from Kurbin and Lezha Municipalities are among the targeted beneficiaries.
Following, you may find some information about the damages caused to the project beneficiary schools by the natural disaster, namely the earthquake of 26 November 2019 in this Memo HERE.

Request for information and access to Evaluation and Actin Plan after the September 21st 2019 Earthquake

Our organisation has submitted today two requests for information and access to documents addressed to the Ministry of Defence, National Civil Defence Agency and the Ministry of Interior.

These requests for information are aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability about measures taken for security and care in cases of natural disasters, in this case following the earthquake of September 21st 2019. The requests were submitted both by email and officially in hard copy through the postal service.

Both requests below for your information:

 

To:         Ministry of Interior,

Subject: Request for information and access to Evaluation and Action Plan after the September 21st 2019 Earthquake for Durres Ministry’s Resort House

From:    AIS / Open Data Albania

Date:     December 4th, 2019

 

Dear Mr. Ms. ,

AIS is a nonprofit organization known as promoter of transparent information through Open Data Albania. Expressing our considerations for the work of your institution, we would like to submit this request for information and access to the following documents:

  1. Copies of any type of documents, memos, reports, minutes, instructions, letters, or notices kept by your institution on the Identification, Assessment, and Action Plan related to the situation created at Durres Resort House of the Ministry of Interior after the 21 September 2019 earthquake.
  2. The documents reflecting the evacuation measures taken after this earthquake by the State Police staff and the civilian residents after the event (September 21st) or the buildings identified as non-habitable.
  3. Information on whether you have already initiated any administrative or criminal investigation into the circumstances, missing measures, or the consequences of the November 26th 2019 earthquake.

This request is based on our legislation on the right to Information and on principles of transparency for good-governance.

Looking forward to your response and copies of the requested documents.

To see the original click HERE

To:         Mrs. Olta Xhaçka, Minister of Defence

Mr. Haki Cako, Director of the National Civil Protection Agency (former Civil Emergency Directorate General).

Subject: Request for information and access to Evaluation and Actin Plan after the September 21st 2019 Earthquake

From:    AIS / Open Data Albania

 

Dear Mr./Ms.

AIS is a nonprofit organization known as promoter of transparent information through Open Data Albania. Expressing our considerations for the work of your institution, we would like to submit this request for information and access to the following documents:

  1. Copies of any type of documents, memos, reports, minutes, instructions, letters, or notices kept by your institution, or drafted by the local authorities (prefecture, region, municipality), and filed with the Civil Emergency Agency on Identification, Evaluation, Reporting, and Action Plan in relation to the situation created with the civilian houses, business facilities, and state-owned buildings following the Earthquake of 21st September, 2019.
  2. The documents reflecting the evacuation measures taken after this earthquake by the State Police staff and the civilian residents after the event (September 21st) or the buildings identified as non-habitable.

 

This request is based on our legislation on the right to Information and on principles of transparency for good-governance.

Looking forward to your response and copies of the requested documents.

To see the original click HERE