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)

Currently, Ministry of Urban Development does not have a software application to manage applications for professional licensing in the above areas, and every practice is currently being proccesed only by paper. This project will provide online applications for professional licensure through the unique interoperability government getaway and their provision at e-albania.al, being in line with the initiatives of the GoA for the delivery of digital services to citizens and businesses. The system will improve service delivery to citizens, facilitate procedures, accelerate and further increase transparency of the system within the ministry, between ministries and other public institutions and also among the public. The system will utilize the entire database of information and minimize as much as possible human intervention in the process, during performance of arithmetic and logical control. Status quo or problem Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for the design and implementation of legislation, strategies and policies (among others) in the 41 addressed by the commitment field of occupational licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of design and supervision of construction commissioning works. Currently, Ministry of Urban Development does not have a software application to manage applications for professional licensing in the above areas, and every practice is currently being proccesed only by paper. Main Objective The main objective of this commitment is to improve services provided to beneficiaries regarding professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and supervision of commissioning of construction works. In this way, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders will be able to refer to substantial information and validated in terms of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and commissioning supervision of construction works. • Online service for professional licensing applications through ealbania; • Exchange information in real time to verify the status of the application; • Improving capacity for monitoring.

17. Electronic system for professional licensing applications

Commitment Text:

Title: 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

Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for the design and implementation of legislation, strategies and policies (among others) in the field of occupational licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of design and supervision of construction commissioning works.

Currently, Ministry of Urban Development does not have a software application to manage applications for professional licensing in the above areas, and every practice is currently being processed only by paper. This project will provide online applications for professional licensure through the unique interoperability government getaway and their provision at e-albania.al, being in line with the initiatives of the GoA for the delivery of digital services to citizens and businesses.

The main objective of this commitment is to improve services provided to beneficiaries regarding professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and supervision of commissioning of construction works. In this way, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders will be able to refer to substantial information and validated in terms of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and commissioning supervision of construction works.

The system will improve service delivery to citizens, facilitate procedures, accelerate and further increase transparency of the system within the ministry, between ministries and other public institutions and also among the public. The system will utilize the entire database of information and minimize as much as possible human intervention in the process, during performance of arithmetic and logical control.

Responsible institution: Ministry of Urban Development

Supporting institution(s): Ministry of Urban Development

Start date: 2016 End date: 2017

Context and Objectives

Occupational licensing has not been a major reform issue in Albania, except sporadic public debate in relation to tax and social welfare reforms.^{[Note153: Occupational licensing, http://shqiptarja.com/m/ekonomi/profesionet-e-lira-pensionistet-do-te-paguajne-kontribute-430279.html. ]} However, over the past two years, the Government has responded to media concerns over the quality of public services and licensing of some professions, such as those in the health sector.^{[Note154: 'Licenses, exams for over 3000 doctors and nurses' (title translated), http://shqiptarja.com/home/1/licensat-rikthehet-provimi-p-r-3-mij--mjek--dhe-infermier--335723.html. ]} More recently, the media has also raised concerns over vocational training institutions issuing illegal training certificates for people intending to emigrate to various European countries.^{[Note155: Opinion, http://opinion.al/kamera-e-fshehte-320-euro-per-trajnimin-e-gati-per-tregun-gjerman-te-punes/ .]}

Professional licensing in the construction sector is an important measure to improve the quality of construction works, but, above all, it is important for improving construction safety. The Ministry of Urban Development did not have a software application to manage applications for professional licensing; the dossier of applications was processed on paper.

The main objective of this commitment is to improve services provided to beneficiaries, by providing information regarding the possible providers of services. This commitment outlines three activities: to develop an online service for professional licensing applications through e-Albania; to exchange information in real time to verify the status of the application; and to improve capacity for monitoring. While these activities are relevant to the overall objective, they are not clearly measurable.

Although this commitment significantly improves the process of applying for professional licensing, its OGP relevance remains unclear. The commitment’s description also does not specify how it will improve public access to information and public accountability, as suggested in the action plan. Although the commitment suggests that interested stakeholders will obtain the names of licensed professionals, such information is not made publicly available.

No civil society organization contacted by the IRM researcher or citizen participating in IRM researcher’s focus groups was aware of this commitment. To a certain extent, this commitment may have some impact in improving construction work safety in the medium to long term. However, because this commitment has been framed in the two-year action plan cycle, the IRM researcher considers the potential impact to be minor.

Completion

The Council of Ministers Decision no. 943 (date 28 December 2016) lays out the rules to improve services provided to beneficiaries, regarding professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the study of design and supervision of commissioning construction works.^{[Note156: CMD, http://www.qbz.gov.al/botime/fletore_zyrtare/2016/PDF-2016/262-2016.pdf. ]} Application for an individual license has been made available through the e-Albania portal.^{[Note157: E-Albania portal, https://e-albania.al/sherbimi.aspx?kodi=11138. ]} For an interim period of six months from the date of approval of CMD no 943, applications for professional licensing could be submitted either through the postal service or online. By 28 June 2017, all applications were to be submitted online at e-Albania portal.^{[Note158: Announcement of the Ministry of Urban Development, http://ns3036873.ip-149-202-208.eu/websites/ministria.turizmit/sq/licencat-profesionale-ne-fushen-e-studimit-e-projektimit-dhe-mbikqyrje-e-kolaudimit-te-punimeve-te-ndertimit/. ]} No information was provided to the IRM researcher regarding the real-time exchange of information to verify the status of the application or the improved capacity for monitoring. As such completion cannot be coded any higher than substantial.

Next Steps

The IRM researcher recommends that this commitment not be taken forward into the next action plan, as it relates to the digitalization of the application process and not to any relevant OGP values.

17. Electronic system for professional licensing applications

Commitment Text:

Title: 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

Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for the design and implementation of legislation, strategies and policies (among others) in the field of occupational licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of design and supervision of construction commissioning works.

Currently, Ministry of Urban Development does not have a software application to manage applications for professional licensing in the above areas, and every practice is currently being processed only by paper. This project will provide online applications for professional licensure through the unique interoperability government getaway and their provision at e-albania.al, being in line with the initiatives of the GoA for the delivery of digital services to citizens and businesses.

The main objective of this commitment is to improve services provided to beneficiaries regarding professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and supervision of commissioning of construction works. In this way, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders will be able to refer to substantial information and validated in terms of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study of the design and commissioning supervision of construction works.

The system will improve service delivery to citizens, facilitate procedures, accelerate and further increase transparency of the system within the ministry, between ministries and other public institutions and also among the public. The system will utilize the entire database of information and minimize as much as possible human intervention in the process, during performance of arithmetic and logical control.

Responsible institution: Ministry of Urban Development

Supporting institution(s): Ministry of Urban Development

Start date: 2016.................... End date: 2017

Commitment Aim:

Prior to adopting this commitment, the Ministry of Urban Development did not have software to manage applications for professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the field of study design and supervision of commissioning of construction works; the dossiers of applications were processed on paper. The main objective of this commitment was to improve transparency regarding the possible providers of such construction-related services, an important measure to improve the quality of construction works and for improving construction safety. This commitment outlined three activities: to develop an online service for professional licensing applications through e-Albania, to provide real time information on the status of applications for professional licensing, and to improve the Ministry’s capacity for monitoring.

Status

Midterm: Substantial

The Council of Ministers Decision No. 943 (dated 28 December 2016) laid out the rules to improve services provided to beneficiaries regarding professional licensing of individuals and legal entities that operate in the study of design and supervision of commissioning construction works. [97] It became possible to submit applications for an individual license through the e-Albania portal [98] and by June 2017, all applications could be submitted online. [99] However, no information was provided to the IRM researcher regarding real-time information to verify the status of submitted applications or regarding the improved capacity for monitoring. Therefore, completion was coded as substantial. [100]

End of term: Substantial

The IRM researcher monitored various state institutions over the course of 2018 [101] in relation to the implementation of the last actions under this commitment - real time information provided on submitted applications, and improved capacity for monitoring. As a result, it was noted that the Public Procurement Commissioner carried out controls based on the Council of Ministers Decision on professional licensing, upon request and/or following complaints of different parties involved in construction public works and tendering procedures. In at least two cases the Commissioner adopted a decision. [102] However, there is no publicly available information about what was done to ensure exchange of information in real time, and to improve monitoring capacity. Therefore, the implementation cannot be considered complete.

Did It Open Government?

Access to Information: Did Not Change

Civic Participation: Did Not Change

Public Accountability: Did Not Change

This commitment had no OGP relevance and as implemented did not lead to changing government practice in relation to OGP values.

Carried Forward?

At the time of writing this report, Albania’s fourth OGP action plan was not available and thus it was not clear if this commitment was carried forward. Any commitment regarding oversight of construction-related service providers should seek to enhance transparency and create the conditions for increased public accountability.

[97] Council of Ministers Decision No. 943, http://www.qbz.gov.al/botime/fletore_zyrtare/2016/PDF-2016/262-2016.pdf

[98] The E-Albania portal, https://e-albania.al/sherbimi.aspx?kodi=11138

[99] Announcement of the Ministry of Urban Development, http://ns3036873.ip-149-202-208.eu/websites/ministria.turizmit/sq/licencat-profesionale-ne-fushen-e-studimit-e-projektimit-dhe-mbikqyrje-e-kolaudimit-te-punimeve-te-ndertimit/

[100] IRM Albania Progress Report 2016/2017, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/members/any/commitments/al0060

[101] The institutions monitored include the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy.

[102] Public Procurement Commissioner, Decision 131/2018 of 13 March 2018, http://www.kpp.gov.al/ppadv/DF_DocumentViewer.aspx?id=f1f9ec3f-33ff-449b-9717-595dbefed3e3; and Decision 658/2018 of 4 October 2018, http://www.kpp.gov.al/ppadv/DF_DocumentViewer.aspx?id=46881f3f-23a1-4d8a-9081-8b3e735cfb07