Albania 2021

Albanian Center for Quality Journalism

Promoting Anticorruption Mechanisms

$99,000

To expand the outreach of the media organization and the impact of its investigative reporting on accountability and transparency issues. The media organization will produce in-depth investigative articles based on whistleblower disclosures as well as provide mentorship for journalists in investigative reporting, whistleblower legal rights, and advanced IT techniques. An open-source submission system for media organizations will allow secure information sharing between whistleblowers and journalists on the misuse of power, corruption claims, and retaliation cases.

 

Faktoje Center Albania

Promoting the Accountability of Public Officials

$50,000

To promote government accountability through monitoring and analyzing the implementation of elected officials’ statements and promises. The organization will monitor local government performance in 15 municipalities and promote its findings by publishing reports and multimedia content on its website and other partner platforms. In addition, it will train local journalists, political analysts, legal experts, and civic activists to apply its methodology to monitor and analyze officials’ performance.

 

Gender Alliance Development Center

Fostering Political Accountability in the Local Government

$72,000

To foster political accountability and civic oversight of local government institutions. The group will cooperate with a network of partners to hold elected local officials accountable for their campaign promises. The nonpartisan network will monitor the work of municipal councils daily, publish a report analyzing the performance of selected municipalities, and hold public forums to strengthen communication between elected officials and constituents. The network will also implement a broad outreach campaign to support local accountability efforts.

 

Institute for Political Studies

Promoting the Accountability of Public Officials

$100,000

To promote the transparency and accountability of elected officials. The organization will maintain a nonpartisan database of elected officials that have failed to pass the required vetting processes. Using this information, the think tank will produce monitoring reports and advocate for thorough investigations and the proper implementation of vetting procedures. The watchdog will also assist political parties from across the political spectrum to understand better party integrity and principles of good governance.

 

Institute of Romani Culture in Albania

Promoting Political Inclusion of Marginalized Youth in Albania

$45,000

To promote the active citizenship and political inclusion of the marginalized Roma community in Albania. The organization will expand its flagship mentorship program to include advocacy trainings and opportunities for local action projects aimed at increasing capacities and strengthen the advocacy skills of Roma youth. The activities will include a public outreach campaign and a unique fellowship program which places skilled Roma young students in the offices of the local and national governments. Through its ongoing mentorship, the organization will strive to inspire Roma communities to participate in the country’s 2022 local elections.

 

International Republican Institute (IRI)

Enhancing Party Member Skills to Improve Voter Choice

$330,000

To strengthen Albanian political party members’ ability to develop and communicate policy solutions and enhance their political profiles within their parties and communities, the Institute will develop and implement policy and communications ‘bootcamps’ and practicums. In the 2021 parliamentary elections, Albania’s political parties competed by attacking opposing party leaders and issuing generic promises on issues disconnected from their problems instead of debating substantive policies. This deprived Albanians of a real debate on potential solutions to the problems they face, contributing to the country’s paltry 46 percent voter participation rate. If the ruling Socialist Party (PS), and opposition Democratic Party (PD) and the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) are to become more competitive in the 2023 local elections, then all three parties need to identify and connect with their voters by developing policy solutions that address their everyday problems.

 

PVN Albania

Fostering Political Accountability in the Local Government

$52,000

To foster political accountability and civic oversight of local government institutions. The group will cooperate with a non-partisan network of local youth organizations to promote accountability and transparency through daily monitoring of the work of 14 municipalities. This will result in a report analyzing the performance of selected municipalities, and public forums to strengthen communications between elected officials and constituents. The network will also implement a broad outreach campaign to support the local anticorruption efforts.

 

Qendresa Qytetare

Fostering the Accountability of Public Officials

$40,000

To foster government transparency and accountability. The organization will train young policy analysts and engage them in monitoring government ministries involved in drafting and implementing youth-related policies. The group will produce monitoring reports and engage in advocacy efforts with state officials, legislators, experts, and civil society to promote recommendations that would enhance the transparency and accountability of the monitored institutions.

 

Together for Life

Promoting Accountability and Transparency in the Health Sector in Albania

$63,000

To promote accountability and transparency in the health sector in Albania. The organization will maintain a nonpartisan online platform dedicated to improving transparency and accountability in the health sector. Using findings from its monitoring reports, the organization will advocate for thorough investigations on public spending. The organization will also cooperate with investigative journalists and likeminded organizations to understand better the shortcomings and issues of corruption in the health care sector.