Open Call for Investigations on Local Government (Albania)

BIRN is offering three reporting grants for individual journalists or journalistic teams to cover stories on abuse of office and corruption at local level in Albania.

Through this competition, at least three (3) journalists or groups of investigative journalists will be selected to produce investigative articles in the field of local government, in collaboration with civil society. Winners will be selected by an independent jury in partnership with civil society experts. The selection of journalists will be carried out based on the proposed topic of the investigation, the experience of the journalist, as well as the approach to give a voice to the civil society during the research.

This call is organized by BIRN Albania with the support of the Swedish Government through the Swedish Development Agency (SIDA).

Topics

• Priority in the selection will be given to proposals that include one of the following topics, suggested as priority during a round table organized between journalists and representatives of civil society during the month of September 2024:
  • Lack of implementation of integrity and anti-corruption plans, especially in the elements of ethics and conflict of interests in municipalities and municipal councils;
  • Nepotism and clientelism in human resources of local government bodies;
  • Transparency of budgets, public procurement procedures and public contracts awarded by municipalities;
  • Appointment of persons with a criminal record in public inspectorates and their role during the elections;
  • Cases of corruption with contracts for waste management or solid waste treatment from the construction sector;
  • Lack of representation of rural areas at the level of municipal councils;
  • Lack of water supply, sewerage and waste water treatment plants in rural areas;
  • Problems of urban development, construction criteria, parking, trash cans, etc.;
  • Lack of budgets for implementing Social Plans or addressing the needs of marginalized groups.

Funding Information

• Selected applicants, who will receive a stipend of EUR 1,200 (minus personal income tax), will have a period of three months to complete their research and prepare the article for publication.
• The winning candidates are expected to engage and fulfill all obligations related to the investigation, such as: frequent meetings with the editor, publishing the text on the BIRN Albania website www.Reporter.al, as well as respecting the standards of investigative journalism and professional ethics .
• During the investigation process, the selected journalists will be mentored, supervised and trained on the use of investigative journalism and data journalism techniques, as well as encouraged to establish closer cooperation with civil society partners in the field of local government.

Eligibility Criteria

• All journalists in Albania, employed by other media or freelance, have the right to apply.
• Applicants may submit more than one application, but only one proposal per candidate will be selected.

For more information, visit Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.