Training for Journalist: The Right to Information on Electoral Financing Entities
AIS as a promoter of Open Data Albania, with the wish in enhancing civil society-media partnership, held on May 9, 2015 in Tirana the training entitled: The Right to Information on Election Financing entities. Part of the Money, Governments and Politics project. Journalists and civil activists have an important role in the process of transparency of Election Financing, a right clearly determined by Constitution. The training aimed to enable media representatives and increase legal knowledge on electoral funding. During the event discussion raised problems encountered by legal experts, analysts, political and investigative journalists, on financing of political parties and candidates, the electoral law and electoral expenditure.
Program as follows:
▪ 09:30 – 10:00 Welcome & Registration on participants: Besjana HYSA Program Coordinator and Aurora SULCE Moderator.
▪ 10:00 – 11.00 Viktor GUMI, Legal Expert. Overview of Political Parties and candidates financed
Question and Comments regarding Legal predictions and general issues of entity financing
▪ 11:00 – 11:20 Olta BEGU, Analyst for Open Data Albania. Open Data about electoral source of funds. Illustrations from Electoral Spending Albania.
▪ 11:20 – 12:00 Questions and Discussions: The right to information on electoral financing entities. Law and Practice
▪ 12:00 – 12: 20 Aranita BRAHAJ – Transparency through Data, Novelty 2015 via MG&Politics program
▪ 12:20 – 12:40 Conclusions Aurora Sulce – Journalist role in fostering transparency, Olta Begu –Institutional competence in auditing and control
Data about registered journalists
- Gender Ratio: 8 men, 22 women, 24 Media agencies represented.
- 83% of participant were journalist with more than 7 years’ experience in media
- 15 of participants works on Visual Media, 1 in Radio, 10 in newspapers, 3 on news agency and 1 in a press office.
- 5 journalist were representatives of National Television
- Registered participants representatives of Radio, TV and Public Information Agencies
- Registered participants, journalists from newspaper of the two most important political parties, Rilindja Demokratike and Zëri i Popullit.
Spokesperson of the Central Election Commission was also present at the training with journalist
Training Modules:
OPEN DATA FOR ELECTORAL FINANCING
POLITICAL PARTIES FINANCING
Participants in the Training
| NAME |
SURNAME |
MEDIA |
| Adriatik |
DOCI |
Gazeta SOT |
| Albana |
QIRJAKO |
RTV SCAN |
| Alma |
DEMIRAJ |
Top-Channel |
| Almarina |
GEGVATAJ |
ATSH |
| Anila |
HOXHAJ |
Top Channel |
| Anisa |
XHANI |
Gazeta “Tema” |
| Aristir |
LUMEZI |
Gazeta PANORAMA |
| Arlinda |
GJONAJ |
ATSH |
| Aurora |
SULCE |
Tv “Ora News” |
| Aurora |
MURA |
Zëri i Popullit |
| Bledar |
HOTI |
Gazeta SHQIP |
| Bledian |
KOKA |
News 24 |
| Brahim |
SHIMA |
News 24 |
| Darina |
TANUSHI |
Gazeta Shqiptare |
| Dashamir |
BICAKU |
A1 Report |
| Drilona |
HOXHAJ |
KQZ |
| Drita |
COKAJ |
RD |
| Elda |
PEPA |
TVSH |
| Entela |
DURAJ |
KosovaPress |
| Erald |
HOXHA |
ShqipëriaCom |
| Erion |
TODHE |
Tv Klan |
| Eriselda |
Martini |
Albanian Screen TV |
| FATION |
BINJAKU |
Gazeta Panorama |
| Fejzi |
BRAUSHI |
MAPO |
| Keti |
BANUSHI |
Vizionplus |
| Luis |
TANUSHI |
Dita |
| Luljeta |
PROGNI |
Illyria |
| Merita |
HAKLAJ |
ABC News |
| Rrapo |
MEHMETAJ |
— |
| Suela |
TOPI |
Gazeta “Shekulli” |
| Violeta |
SHQALSI |
SCAN TV |
Civil Society Monitoring the Elections in Albania – Keeping it Free and Fair
/in Events /by adminPoint Conference: 20-24 of May 2015, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Albanian Institute of Science even this year participated at POINT Conference (Political Accountability and New Technologies) a regional conference of civil society organizations from 7 countries of Southeast Europe. POINT 4.0 is being organized since 2012 for POINT by CA Why not (Zašto ne) from BiH, in cooperation with other organization from the Balkan region
An entire panel was dedicated to the Albanian Civil Society Organizations represented by Aldo Merkoci (Mjaft), Besjana Hysa Albanian Institute of Science and Erald Hoxha ZA’LART Albania.
The panel of the third day: Civil Society Monitoring the Elections in Albania – Keeping it Free and Fair, was opened by the moderator Ivana Cvetković Bajrović (NED), who briefly introduced the participants to the hardships of election processes this country undergoes for the past 20 years.
Furthermore the attendees continued the discussion by questioning the presenters about various aspects of elections and monitoring process in Albania.
The presentation as follows:
Civil Society Monitoring the Elections in Albania, Keeping it Free and Fair
Money Government and Politics
Photos from the conference:
Make Elections Count
/in Homeposts, Press Releases /by adminThe ZA’LART 2015 project will enable the civil monitoring of, and reporting on, the electoral process of 21st of June. The program slogan is Make Elections Count and it aims at encouraging citizens to be critical and denounce problems that damage the elections! ZA’LART works as a web and app mobile, inviting citizens to monitor and report any problems and abuse they see in relation with the electoral process in real time. Reporting is easily applied within a few seconds, preserving the citizens’ anonymity. Every report or denouncement shall be crosschecked by the Ad-Hoc Editorial Team composed of local journalists and volunteers trained for fair elections and democratic culture.
We invite you to follow us and join reporting on ZA’LART 2015 platform through Web, App Mobile, FB: ZA’LART – Raised Voices Albania (community), Twitter ZA’LART@ZaLartAlbania; and You Tube.
The ZA’LART Team is open to cooperate with the institutions, civil organizations and networks operating on monitoring and electoral culture. Anyone interested in being updated about citizens’ reports made on this platform, may register on the Merr Sinjal (Receive Notification) section, selecting the area or the category of violations, in which he or she is interested. All citizens’ reports shall be published and available on the map of ZA’LART platform (70 reports made one week ahead of the campaign).
ZA’LART is also being conducted in the framework of the civil society initiative to coordinate fair elections 2015 – Election Situation Room. Everything is being done with the contribution of the citizens, moderated by the Albanian Institute of Science (AIS), with the financial support of the Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA) and the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Tirana. Its opinions, findings, and recommendations are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of its Financial Supporters.
You may contact us at any time, and are welcome to actively join ZA’LART !
Thank you!
ZA’LART 2015 Team
The Right to Information on Electoral Financing and Media
/in Events, Homeposts /by adminTraining for Journalist: The Right to Information on Electoral Financing Entities
AIS as a promoter of Open Data Albania, with the wish in enhancing civil society-media partnership, held on May 9, 2015 in Tirana the training entitled: The Right to Information on Election Financing entities. Part of the Money, Governments and Politics project. Journalists and civil activists have an important role in the process of transparency of Election Financing, a right clearly determined by Constitution. The training aimed to enable media representatives and increase legal knowledge on electoral funding. During the event discussion raised problems encountered by legal experts, analysts, political and investigative journalists, on financing of political parties and candidates, the electoral law and electoral expenditure.
Program as follows:
▪ 09:30 – 10:00 Welcome & Registration on participants: Besjana HYSA Program Coordinator and Aurora SULCE Moderator.
▪ 10:00 – 11.00 Viktor GUMI, Legal Expert. Overview of Political Parties and candidates financed
Question and Comments regarding Legal predictions and general issues of entity financing
▪ 11:00 – 11:20 Olta BEGU, Analyst for Open Data Albania. Open Data about electoral source of funds. Illustrations from Electoral Spending Albania.
▪ 11:20 – 12:00 Questions and Discussions: The right to information on electoral financing entities. Law and Practice
▪ 12:00 – 12: 20 Aranita BRAHAJ – Transparency through Data, Novelty 2015 via MG&Politics program
▪ 12:20 – 12:40 Conclusions Aurora Sulce – Journalist role in fostering transparency, Olta Begu –Institutional competence in auditing and control
Data about registered journalists
Spokesperson of the Central Election Commission was also present at the training with journalist
Training Modules:
OPEN DATA FOR ELECTORAL FINANCING
POLITICAL PARTIES FINANCING
Participants in the Training
Konkursi “Historia Ime e Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike”
/in Events, Homeposts, Press Releases /by Besi Hysa“Kërkohen e-Qytetarë Aktiv!”
Konkursi Online “ Historia ime e e-Pjesëmarrjes” kërkon të mbledhi sa më shumë histori personale të qytetarëve të cilët kanë përdorur instrumentat e pjesëmarrjes elektronike të BE ose kombëtare për të influencuar politikë bërjen dhe për të bërë ndryshim në jetën e tyre dhe të të tjerëve. Ne duam të dëgjojmë nga ju ! Na tregoni rreth eksperiencës tuaj ( pozitive ose negative ) të përdorimit të instrumentave të e-Pjesëmarrjes dhe fitoni mundësinë për t’i ndarë personalisht me politikan të BE në Bruksel. Nuk ka rëndësi nëse jeni një aktivisti i shoqërisë civile që i përdorni instrumentat dixhital çdo ditë apo sapo jeni njohur me e-Pjesëmarrjen dhe me të ashtuquajturën “politikë-bërje” nga kudo.
Na tregoni historinë tuaj në një ese të shkurtër ose video. Historia juaj do të shfaqet në një përmbledhje të historive dhe mund të fitojë një ftesë në konferencën “e-Pjesëmarrjen nga perspektiva e të qytetarëve” në Bruksel në dhjetor 2015.
Ky Aplikim është i hapur nga 7 May deri në 31 Gusht . Fituesit dp të informohen për rezultatin në mes të Shtatorit.
Rregullat e Konkurimit :
Çdo qytetar i BE dhe çdo qytetar nga e gjithë Europa në moshën nga 16-116 vjeç mund të konkurroj. Ju mund t’a paraqisni historinë tuaj ose në format të shkruar (një ese e shkurtër me 500 fjalë) ose një video 3 minutëshe (mund të jetë e ndërtuar në formën e një interviste duke ju regjistruar ju duke treguar eksperiencen ose dhe duke e inskenuar ngjarjen ). Historia juaj duhet të jetë e lidhur qartësisht me Pjesëmarrjen elektronike dhe duhet të keni përdorur instrumenta të Pjesëmarrjes elektronike për ta zgjidhur problemin ose arritur rezultatin e dëshiruar. Duhet të tregohet në një formë interesante dhe përfshirëse. Pikë shtesë do të jepen historive që kanë përdoruar instrumentet e pjesëmarrjes elektronike në nivelin e BE.
Ju duhet ta dorëzoni historinë përpara 31 Korrikut duke përdoruar formen e aplikimit (https://tceurope.wufoo.com/forms/konkurs-historia-ime-e-epjesamarrjes/) në shqip. Të gjitha esetë do të vlerësohen sipas kritereve të vlerësimit dhe fituesi nga Shqipëria do të zgjidhet dhe ftohet sëbashku me 11 qytetarë nga vendet e tjera të përfshira në program për të ndarë eksperincat e tyre në politikë-bërje në Bruksel.
Historia duhet të shkruhet dhe dërgohet në stil të lirë në formatin word ose pdf dhe duhet të mbuloj pikat e mëposhtme :
Apliko këtu : https://tceurope.wufoo.com/forms/konkurs-historia-ime-e-epjesamarrjes/
Dita Europiane e Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike / e-Participation Day Broshura
/in Events, Homeposts /by Besi HysaOpening Up Concessionary Agreements, Vlora Prefecture and Municipality subject to accountability
/in Media Coverage @en /by adminOpen data and articles published in Open Data Albania and Spending Data Albania portals have been (re)used by the media and public at circa 90% of information disclosed by AIS. Concessionary Contracts publication has encouraged the media to better dive into data of calls for tenders related to concessionary projects.
A typical case is the parking concessionary contract in the municipality of Vlora. This tendered contract made in November 2014 and signed on February 2, had passed without the public and media attention. The contract has a timeframe of fifteen years and has its effects on the citizens and tourists of the municipality of Vlora. After contract was disclosed in our Concessionary Register, citizens of Vlora expressed their discontent about the concession. The same discontent for the Municipality decision, was articulated in media even by the representatives of central government through the Head of Prefecture in Vlora, Mrs. Etjona HOXHA. The Prefecture claimed that was not notified on this contract, although according to the municipality declaration this contract was signed by its secretary. Thereby, the General Secretary of Prefecture Mr. Dritan HALILI was forced to resign from his duty. Currently, supreme State audit and public procurement agency are verifying if there is any abuse and violations of the law in granting the concession.
Media Impact-Concessionary Register
/in Media Coverage @en /by adminDuring March-April 2015,
The Concessionary Register introduced 8 more concessionary agreements or extracts of such agreements (amounting to a total of 48 agreements since January). The information published on the Concessionary Register has encouraged the media to better investigate into calls for tenders for concessionary projects. This applies particularly to the local media, which covers closely issues of public services and activities of the local government.
Albanian Institute of Science | Regjistri Koncensionar
Training with Media Representatives
/in Press Releases /by adminAnnouncement: Training with Media Representatives
The Right of Information on Election Financing Entities
Distinguished Journalist,
Our organization AIS, promoter of Open Data Albania, with the wish on civil society – media partnership, will conduct the training on the topic: The Right of Information on Electoral Financing Entities. This activity will be organized in the framework of Money, Governments and Politics, a project of information, transparency and citizens’ participation.
The Right of Information on Electoral Financing is provided by the Constitution. Fulfillment of this right is closely connected with its quest. Journalist and civil activist have an important role in the transparency process of Electoral Financing. The training aim to enable media representatives, increase the legal culture and knowledge on the topic. Therefore we invite prominent journalists in reporting during the electoral process, and investigative journalist, to register by expressing their interest to be trained. Registration deadline: until 4 of May. Selected candidates will be notified about the participation:
Trainers will be experts of Information and Electoral Financing Rights. The training is one day, and it will be held in Tirana, on May 9, 2015. Activity is supported by USAID / Albania through ASSIST Impact.
Please make your registration according to this Form:
For any detail contact Blerta Tuci, project coordinator at AIS.
Thank you in advance,
Aranita BRAHAJ
Executive Director
Dita Europiane e Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike / e-Participation Day, 7 Maj 2015
/in Events, Homeposts, Press Releases /by Besi HysaInstituti Shqiptar i Shkencave (AIS) , më datën 7 maj 2015 , ora 10,në ambjentet e Librarisë Tirana Times (pranë shkollës 11 Janari) , organizon një forum të hapur me të rinj, për Ditën Europiane të Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike /e-Participation Day. Ky event realizohet në kuadër të Programit eUROPA for Citizens në njëmbëdhjetë vende të Europës. AIS bëhet pjesë e këtij programi si partner i rrjetit Telecentre Europe, një rrjet organizatash me qendër në Bruksel, e fokusuar në çështje të edukimit dhe përfshirjes dixhitale të qytetarëve.
Programi i e-Participation Day:
Broshura është një publikim i përkthyer në dymbëdhjetë gjuhë evropiane, si dhe në gjuhën shqipe. Ajo përcjell informacion mbi instrumente që mundësojnë pjesëmarrjen qytetare për informim dhe reagim. Instrumenta të ndërtuara për të ndihmuar qytetarët të komunikojnë dhe të dëgjohen nga përfaqësuesit zgjedhur prej tyre
Instrumentat
Një prezantim i instrumenteve elektronik funksional në Bashkimin Europian si:
Konkursi.
Titulli i Konkursit është My e-Participation Story. Pjesëmarrësit duhet që brenda datës 31 korrik 2015, të shkruajnë dhe postojnë në formë elektronike një histori personale të ndodhur gjatë udhëtimit apo qëndrimit në një nga vendet e BE. Historia nuk duhet të përmbajë më shumë se 500 fjalë dhe duhet të rrëfejë një problematikë të hasur, nëpërmjet përdorimit të teknologjisë së informacionit. Pjesëmarrës mund të jetë çdo qytetar. Fituesi merr titullin “e-Participation Ambassador” për Shqipërinë , si dhe fiton të drejtën e një udhëtimi me qëllim prezantimin e ese-së së tij/saj në një event i cili do të mbahet në Bruksel në muajin Dhjetor.
USAID/Albania through Assist Impact supports AIS project: Money, Government & Politics
/in Events, Homeposts, Press Releases /by adminUSAID / Albania and Assist Impact are supporting eight civil society projects to empower democracy. In a special ceremony held on 16 of April, was the signing of grant support agreements. One of the wining projects was that of our organization, called: Money, Government and Politics. The Executive Director Ms, Aranita BRAHAJ signed the agreement on behalf of AIS. Through this project is aimed the promotion of transparency and civic reaction, release of data on the assets declared by senior officials and judges, as well data on assets and public expenditure.
The Ambassador of United States of America in Tirana Mr, Donald LU present at the ceremony emphasized the value of civil society groups in Democracy. In his welcoming speech Ambassador Lu stated that: “The Albanian Government, local governments and private businesses should understand the value of civil society groups and take responsibility to financially support and encourage them. Without a strong civil society, no democracy can be really successful”
Assist Impact is implementing a three-year project for USAID / Albania, entitled “Human and Institutional Capacity Building”. The project aims to support non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies and business associations, in improving their skills and work.
As part of this project, Assist Impact, through a competitive process, has selected eight organizations from all over Albania. The goal of the grant is to increase the participation in decision-making, the role of the community and the accountability of public officials.