Safe Communities (AL0064)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Albania Action Plan 2018-2020
Action Plan Cycle: 2018
Status: Active
Institutions
Lead Institution: Ministry of Justice
Support Institution(s): CAC /MJ ADB DPPSH ILDKPKI, CAC /MJ ADB DPPSH ILDKPKI
Policy Areas
Anti-Corruption, Anti-Corruption Institutions, Audits, Capacity Building, E-Government, Public Participation, Science & TechnologyIRM Review
IRM Report: Albania Design Report 2018-2020
Starred: Pending IRM Review
Early Results: Pending IRM Review
Design i
Verifiable: Yes
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information , Public Accountability , Technology
Implementation i
Completion: Pending IRM Review
Description
COMPONENT IV: Open governance for creating safe communities
The policy goal of this activity is:
• Control and denunciation of corrupt practices in public institutions by the AntiCorruption Task Force
• Increasing the transparency of the National Coordinator against Corruption in
monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectorial Anti-Corruption Strategy.
• Encourage citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption
• Improving the handling of counter-corruption denunciations
• The strengthening of anti-corruption prevention mechanisms
COMPONENT IV: OPEN GOVERNANCE FOR CREATING SAFE COMMUNITIES
Leading institution Ministry of Justice
Other participants Government CAC /MJ
ADB
DPPSH
ILDKPKI
Civil society
Private Sector
“Open Society for Albania” SOROS
INFOCIP
Status quo or problem / issue being
addressed
Corruption is the main obstacle to the path of sustainable political,
economic and social development of states. In 2013, Albania marked
again for the third year last country side from the countries of the region
in the ranking of the global corruption perception index, thus taking the
mark as the most corrupt country in Europe. Decline - the rise of public
perception over the last 10 years, objectively, coincides with
committed or lacking governance reforms. For this reason, the
government considers public perception of corruption not only as an
indicator of its (corruption) state of affairs but also as a measure of the
success or failure of government policies and programs in the fight
against corruption.
Against this background of facts and this political and social
awareness, with the ultimate goal of modernizing governance in the
country, the government is committed to uncompromising and zero
tolerance against corruption by giving this public policy the priority it
deserves.
The priority of the government in this area is best suited to the
conditionality set by the European Union to open negotiations for EU
membership. The fight against corruption is one of the five policies that
our country is advised to follow with priority in the country's European
integration process. Likewise, prevention and punishment of
corruption is an obligation deriving from Albania's adherence to
29
international instruments for the fight against corruption such as the
United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Council of Europe
Criminal Convention against Corruption, the Council of Europe's Civil
Conven- tion against Corruption etc.
In response to the country's development needs and legitimate
expectations of our public and our international partners, the
government aims to undertake an anti-corruption effort that includes a
threefold preventive, punitive and aesthetic approach. Commitments
undertaken and set objectives are in line with the obligations stemming
from the Stabilization and Association Agreement and EC
recommendations for Albania to join the European Union.
Corruption and its fight continue to be one of the major challenges and
one of the major crosscutting priorities for Albania. During 2007-2010,
governmental reforms have aimed at modernizing state administration
and its work processes, thus contributing to preventing corruption in
areas where corruption was at very high levels and where the impact
on the country's economy was significant.
Thus, through regulatory reforms in the field of auditing, the creation
of an electronic procurement system in order to increase transparency
in the field of public procurement, increased the performance of the
government in these areas, as evidenced by the composite indicators of
various international institutions. Likewise, the establishment of the
National Business Registration Center, the National Business
Licensing Center, and the establishment of E-Tax and E-Customs
systems, has considerably alleviated the relevant administrative
procedures and reduced the personal contacts of service users / seekers
with the administration, and has contributed to reducing the level of
corruption in these sectors.
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to control and denunciation the
corrupt practices in public institutions by the Anti-Corruption
Task Force
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improvin
g public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountabil
ity
Creating a
safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transpar
ency
Responsibil
ity
Citizen Participation Technology
and
Innovation
X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicator
s
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
engagement
from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
30
4.1.1 Establish
control groups
No. of control
groups of
control reports;
No. of the
measures taken
at the end of
the controls;
No. of the
cases referred
to the
prosecutor
Improve
the
corruptio
n
perceptio
n index
CAC MJ New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.2 Draft a
calendar / control
plan
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.3 Conduct audits
in public institutions
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.4 Finding /
compiling the audit
report
New
engagement
April
2018
Continues
4.1.5 Proposed
measures
2
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to increase the transparency of
the National Coordinator against Corruption in monitoring the
implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anti-Corruption
Strategy.
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improvin
g public
services
More
efficient
management
of public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X
It is important to improve: Transpar
ency
Responsibili
ty
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicator
s
Responsible
Institution
New or
continued
engagemen
t from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.2.1 Online CAC
communications on
TF CA control cases
CAC
Reporting
Publication of
dhënave të
kontrollit
Informin
g the
public
about
rastet e
korrupsi
onit me
mjete
audiovizuale,
etj
CAC/MJ New
engagemen
t
April
2018
Continuing
4.2.2 Publication and
Accessibility of
publikut dhe grupeve
të interesuara për
gjetjet e kontrolleve
të kryera
New
engagemen
t
April
2018
Continuing
31
3
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The purpose of the policy of this activity is to encourage citizens
to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption
OGP challenge affected by engagement Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
accomplish
engagement
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
engagemen
t from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start Date End date
4.3.1 Periodic
reporting of ADB on
platform
denunciations
Peridic ratio
produced and
made public
Public
informatio
n on
corruption
cases with
audiovisual
means,
etc.
ADB New
engagemen
t
October
2018
Continuing
4
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to improve the treatment of
denunciations against corruption
OGP challenge affected by the
commitment
Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increasing
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
32
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
fulfill the
commitment
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
committme
nt from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.4.1 Improved
handling of
denunciations against
corruption
Tracking,
investigating
and
prioritizing
treatment by
specialized
structures
against
corruption of
citizens'
denunciations
Keeping
comparable
data on highlevel
corruption
offenses
Interinstitutional
reconciliation
for the
criminal
offenses of
high-level
corruption
investigation
Increasing
the
number of
complaint
s against
corruption
in the
administra
tion;
Increase
of interinstitution
al
cooperatio
n in
investigati
ng highlevel
corruption
cases
DPPSH New
engagemen
t
Trimester
4, 2018
2020
5
Main objective / Purpose of the policy The policy goal of this activity is to strengthen anti-corruption
prevention mechanisms
OGP challenge affected by
committment
Improving
public
services
More
efficient
manageme
nt of
public
resources
Increase
public
integrity
Increasing
corporate
accountab
ility
Creating a safer
community
X X X X
It is important to improve: Transparen
cy
Responsib
ility
Citizen Participation Technology and
Innovation
33
X X X X
Measurable and
verifiable
achievements to
fulfill the
commitment
Result
Indicators
Output
Indicators
Responsib
le
Institution
New or
continued
committme
nt from the
2016-2018
action plan
Start date End date
4.5.1 Completion of
the procurement
procedure and
signature of the
software
development contract
The
declaration of
assets online
by declaring
subjects
The
declaratio
n of assets
online by
declaring
subjects
ILDKPK
I
New
committme
nt
Tremeste
rI, 2018
Tremester I,
2018
4.5.2 Completion of
procurement
procedure and
signing contract for
hardware
infrastructure
Tremeste
r 3, 2018
Tremester 3,
2018
4.5.3 Software design Tremeste
r 4, 2018
Tremester 4,
2018
4.5.4 System
development and
infrastructure
building
Tremeste
r4, 2018
Tremester 4,
2018
4.5.5 Implementation,
virtualization /
termination of the
operating system,
installing
IRM Midterm Status Summary
4. Open governance for creating safe communities
Milestones: [28]
The policy goal of this activity is to control and denunciation the corrupt practices in public institutions by the Anti-Corruption Task Force.
4.1.1 Establish control groups
4.1.2 Draft a calendar / control plan
4.1.3 Conduct audits in public institutions
4.1.4 Finding / compiling the audit report
4.1.5 Proposed measures
The policy goal of this activity is to increase the transparency of the National Coordinator against Corruption in monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Strategy.
4.2.1 Online CAC communications on TF CA control cases
4.2.2 Publication and Accessibility of publikut dhe grupeve të interesuara për
gjetjet e kontrolleve të kryera
The purpose of the policy of this activity is to encourage citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing and preventing corruption
4.3.1 Periodic reporting of ADB [29] on platform denunciations
The policy goal of this activity is to improve the treatment of denunciations against corruption.
4.4.1 Improved handling of denunciations against corruption
The policy goal of this activity is to strengthen anti-corruption prevention mechanisms.
4.5.1 Completion of the procurement procedure and signature of the software
development contract
4.5.2 Completion of procurement procedure and signing contract for
hardware infrastructure
4.5.3 Software design
4.5.4 System development and infrastructure building
4.5.5 Implementation, virtualization / termination of the operating system,
installing
Start Date: 2018
End Date: 2020
Context and Objectives
This commitment aims to strengthen Albania’s anticorruption institutions and mechanisms by:
- increasing the effectiveness of Albania’s two main anticorruption bodies, the Anticorruption Task Force and the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflicts of Interests (HDAACI),
- increasing the transparency of the National Coordinator on Anticorruption (NCA),
- monitoring the implementation of the Cross-Sectoral Anticorruption Strategy, [30]
- encouraging citizens to use mechanisms for denouncing corruption, such as the shqiperiaqeduam.al platform and improve the handling of these denunciations.
The HIDAACI is the main body responsible for collecting asset declarations and identifying conflicts of interest, whereas the Anticorruption Task Force is an administrative body that handles and investigates denunciations of corruption. The Task Force, as part of its inspections, provides the NCA with proposals for improving legislation or addressing corrupt practices.
The role of the HIDAACI in detecting conflicts of interest and checking asset declarations was strengthened with the adoption of the Law on Whistleblowing and whistleblower protection in 2016. In addition, HIDAACI plays an important role in the implementation of the Law on the transitional reevaluation process. However, according to European Commission’s 2018 Report on Albania, HIDAACI’s administrative, technical, and financial capacity needs to be further strengthened to cope with asset declaration checks. [31] Furthermore, at the time this action plan was submitted, Albania had not yet launched an online asset declaration system.
This commitment proposes a variety of activities that make it relevant to the OGP value of public accountability, because the activities aim to improve the handling of citizen denunciations of corruption. It is also relevant to access to information due to the proposed publishing of information on corruption cases with audio-visual tools, and creating an online asset declaration system, among others. The commitment’s milestones are verifiable.
Establishing the control groups, producing inspection reports, and making the reports public could improve the anticorruption framework in Albania, though these activities are not by themselves enough to punish reported corruption cases. The control groups could help NCA to collect, analyze, monitor, and track records of corruption cases. At the time of drafting the action plan, public officials submitted asset declarations manually to HIDAACI. By establishing an online asset declaration system, Albania is taking an important step towards strengthening the auditing and verification mechanism of private interests of officials. Asset declarations can be verified faster, more efficiently and more transparently. Therefore, the commitment could have a moderate potential impact overall.
Next steps
For effective implementation of the commitment, the IRM suggests the following:
- Ensure that the corruptive case tracking system data in public institutions to be public (taking into account necessary data protection and confidentiality).
- Reactivate the preexisting web-based system of harmonized statistics and track records of corruption cases named act-albania.al. The use of this system could help the NCA collect corruption data through the standard application forms, analysis, monitoring, and tracking records of corruption cases in public institutions, in order to improve the quality of NCA office’s reporting.
- The government could carry out a public awareness campaign regarding the functioning of the online asset declaration system.
- Publish information with reports’ content, generated from the online asset declaration system, by publishing them on the new open data portal (under Commitment 2).
[28] For the complete text of this commitment, see: “The Open Government Partnership Fourth Open Government National Action Plan for Albania 2018–2020”, Open Government Partnership, 10 January 2019, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Albania_Action-Plan_2018-2020_EN.pdf.
[29] Agency for Dialogue and Co-Government (Agjensia per Dialog dhe Bashkeqeverisje)
[30] “Passport of Indicators: Inter-sectoral strategy against corruption (Albania)”, ARS, http://www.drejtesia.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/passport_indicators.pdf.
[31] “Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2018 Report”, European Commission, 17 April 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/20180417-albania-report.pdf.
Commitments
-
Create and implement integrity plans across all ministeries
AL0065, 2020, Anti-Corruption
-
Creation of online beneficial ownership register
AL0066, 2020, Anti-Corruption
-
Establish online portal for feedback on public service delivery
AL0067, 2020, E-Government
-
Expand open data portal and promote access
AL0068, 2020, Access to Information
-
Implement citizen assessment process to improve public service delivery
AL0069, 2020, E-Government
-
Establish directorate to improve citizens' access to legal aid
AL0070, 2020, Access to Justice
-
Publish more accessible and transparent information on Ministry of Justice website
AL0071, 2020, E-Government
-
Publish accessible budget information online for citizen engagement
AL0072, 2020, E-Government
-
Improve reporting on public finance information
AL0073, 2020, E-Government
-
Transparency of Government Reporting
AL0061, 2018, E-Government
-
e-Government
AL0062, 2018, Access to Information
-
Improved Business Regulation
AL0063, 2018, Capacity Building
-
Safe Communities
AL0064, 2018, Anti-Corruption
-
Improvement of Database/Portal with Coordinators’ Data of the Right to Information and Transparency Programs
AL0044, 2016, Access to Information
-
Budget Transparency
AL0045, 2016, E-Government
-
Integrated Registry of Citizens’ Housing
AL0046, 2016, Citizenship & Immigration
-
Establishment of Electronic Registry for Public Notification and Consultation
AL0047, 2016, E-Government
-
Digital Archive
AL0048, 2016, E-Government
-
Creating a Database for Archiving and Publication of Research Funds and Programs in Albania
AL0049, 2016, E-Government
-
Commitment to Publish Online Central and Local Government Legislation in Open Systems and for Free
AL0050, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Commitment to Open Standards for Contracting
AL0051, 2016, Access to Information
-
Implementation of the Law "On Protection of Whistleblowers", Capacity Building, Amendments and Its Bylaws
AL0052, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Provision of Electronic Services
AL0053, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Establishment of Multifunctional Centralized System for Building Permits
AL0054, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Establishment and Distribution of Digital Counters
AL0055, 2016, E-Government
-
Service Passport Standardization
AL0056, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Citizen Card
AL0057, 2016, Capacity Building
-
Electronic System of Registration of e-Prescription in the Republic of Albania
AL0058, 2016, E-Government
-
Electronic Monitoring System of Forests
AL0059, 2016, Anti-Corruption
-
Integrated Electronic System for Professional Licensing of Individuals and Legal Entities That Will Operate in the Field of Study Design and Supervision of Commissioning of Construction Works
AL0060, 2016, E-Government
-
Standardization of Corruption Complaints
AL0031, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Electronic Registry of Energy and Industry Permits
AL0032, 2014, E-Government
-
Implementation of Public Expenses Module in "Open Data" Format
AL0033, 2014, Access to Information
-
Promoting OGP Values Among Local Authorities
AL0034, 2014, Public Participation
-
Database on Economic Assitance Beneficiaries
AL0035, 2014, E-Government
-
Electronic Portal on Water Resources Administration and Management
AL0036, 2014, E-Government
-
Single Window
AL0037, 2014, E-Government
-
Electronic Access to Protected Areas
AL0038, 2014, E-Government
-
National Geoportal
AL0039, 2014, E-Government
-
e-Albania
AL0040, 2014, E-Government
-
e-Document
AL0041, 2014, E-Government
-
Law on Whistleblowers Protection
AL0042, 2014, Anti-Corruption
-
Police Service Offices
AL0043, 2014, E-Government
-
Open Data Portal
AL0001, 2012, Access to Information
-
e-Acts
AL0002, 2012, E-Government
-
e-Parliament
AL0003, 2012, E-Government
-
Extension of the Governmental Network, GOVNET
AL0004, 2012, E-Government
-
e-Government Interoperability Framework, e-GIF
AL0005, 2012, E-Government
-
Government Datacenter
AL0006, 2012, E-Government
-
Excise System
AL0007, 2012, E-Government
-
Starting of the e-Tax System
AL0008, 2012, E-Government
-
Online State Matura
AL0009, 2012, E-Government
-
The Regulation on Ethics in Research and Publishing
AL0010, 2012, Education
-
Digitalization of Higher Education Accreditation Process
AL0011, 2012, E-Government
-
U-Gov System
AL0012, 2012, E-Government
-
Online Inspections of Courts and Judicial Hearings
AL0013, 2012, E-Government
-
Digitalization of the File Transfer Process
AL0014, 2012, Judiciary
-
e-Employment Project
AL0015, 2012, E-Government
-
e-Concessions Procedures
AL0016, 2012, Anti-Corruption
-
Amendment of the Law “On the Right to Information for Official Documents”
AL0017, 2012, Access to Justice
-
Drafting a New Law on "Notice and Consultation"
AL0018, 2012, Legislation & Regulation
-
Tracking Project
AL0019, 2012, E-Government
-
Digitalization of the Notary Register
AL0020, 2012, Access to Justice
-
Online Citizens’ Claims in the Judiciary System
AL0021, 2012, Access to Justice
-
Work Inspection, Online Complaint
AL0022, 2012, E-Government
-
Financial Module of All Educational Institutions
AL0023, 2012, Education
-
Audio and Video Recording of Judicial Hearings
AL0024, 2012, E-Government
-
e-Albania Portal
AL0025, 2012, E-Government
-
e-Inspection Portal
AL0026, 2012, E-Government
-
Portal Www.Gjykata.Gov.Al
AL0027, 2012, E-Government
-
Disclosure of the List of Payments Made Daily by the Government Units
AL0028, 2012, Access to Information
-
e-Procurement System for All Small Purchases of Public Procurement
AL0029, 2012, Anti-Corruption
-
Implementation of the EITI Recommendations
AL0030, 2012, Anti-Corruption