{"id":24724,"date":"2025-10-27T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24724"},"modified":"2026-05-25T22:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T22:02:09","slug":"datathon-albania-2025-public-procurement-and-politically-exposed-persons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24724&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"DataThon Albania 2025: Public Procurement and Politically Exposed Persons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Tirana, Albania \u2013 October 27, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On October 25\u201326, 2025, AIS \u2013 promoter of Open Data Albania \u2013 successfully organized the annual Open Data Marathon, <strong>DataThon Albania 2025<\/strong>, bringing together journalists, activists, students, and civil society representatives to work collaboratively with open public data. This year\u2019s theme focused on one of the most sensitive areas of public governance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Public Procurement and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DataThon Albania is an annual event designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, and data-driven oversight of public institutions. Participants engage in hands-on research, data collection, verification, and analysis using AIS\u2019s open databases, such as <strong>Open Procurement Albania<\/strong> and <strong>Spending Data Albania<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Participants and Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 edition gathered <strong>28 participants<\/strong>, mainly investigative journalists, alongside:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Fellows of the <em>Open Data Fellowship \u2013 Youth Empowerment Against Corruption<\/em> program<\/li><li>Representatives from civil society organizations<\/li><li>Long-time collaborators and supporters of AIS\/Open Data Albania<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of the DataThon was to <strong>facilitate access to open data<\/strong>, support the <strong>analysis of public procurement practices<\/strong>, and assess cases that may present integrity risks among high-level public officials. Participants tracked companies owned by Members of Parliament elected after the Spring 2025 general elections, as well as businesses linked to them through family relations, to identify eventual public tenders or contracts awarded to these entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Outputs and Findings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the two-day marathon, participants developed a new dataset related to <strong>Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)<\/strong> and entities covered by the Law on the Declaration and Audit of Assets of High-Level Officials.<br>Supporting documentation produced during the event includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The official <strong>DataThon 2025 <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Agjenda_Datathon-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Agenda<\/span><\/strong> <\/a>(25\u201326 October)<\/li><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dataset.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Working Excel<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\"> <\/span>dataset titled <em>Analysis and Tracking of Public Procurement Data and Businesses Owned by Politically Exposed Persons<\/em><\/li><li><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/List-of-Participants-dt.25.10.2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">List of Participants<\/span><\/a><\/strong> &#8211; 25\/10\/2025.<\/li><li><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/List-of-Participants-dt.26.10.2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">List of Participants<\/span><\/a><\/strong> &#8211; 26\/10\/2025.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24756\" data-id=\"24756\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.36.57-3.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24748\" data-id=\"24748\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.47.11-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24750\" data-id=\"24750\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.47.31-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24757\" data-id=\"24757\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.36.56-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"1053\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24749\" data-id=\"24749\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.47.12-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C1053&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24752\" data-id=\"24752\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.41.26-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24753\" data-id=\"24753\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.36.58-1-2.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-24754\" data-id=\"24754\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.36.58-3.jpeg?resize=790%2C593&#038;ssl=1\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About DataThon Albania<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DataThons are open, creative, and collaborative marathons that empower participants through the use of open data and accountability tools. The term <em>DataThon<\/em> comes from <em>Data + Marathon<\/em>, reflecting the format of intensive teamwork and analytical focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first DataThon in Albania was held in December 2011, organized by AIS. Since then, AIS has continued to promote open data through annual marathons such as <strong>DiploHack<\/strong>, <strong>DataThon<\/strong>, and <strong>Hackathon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Call and Participation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 participants were selected through an open call:<br><strong>\u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24503\" target=\"_blank\">Call for Participation in DataThon Albania 2025 \u2013 Politically Exposed Persons and Public Procurement in the Pre-Election Year 2025<\/a>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<b>For further information, please contact:<\/b> <a href=\"info@ais.al\">info@ais.al<\/a><br><br>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event is organized by AIS as part of the project \u201cPromoting Transparency in Public Spending,\u201d financially supported by the National Endowment for Democracy NED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"321\" height=\"97\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-1.png?resize=321%2C97&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24747\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/center>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>#DataThonAlbania2025<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>#OpenProcurementAlbania<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>#YouthEmpowermentAgainstCorruption2025\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>#OpenDataAlbania<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>#Election2025<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>#OpenDataFellowship2025<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tirana, Albania \u2013 October 27, 2025 On October 25\u201326, 2025, AIS \u2013 promoter of Open Data Albania \u2013 successfully organized the annual Open Data Marathon, DataThon Albania 2025, bringing together journalists, activists, students, and civil society representatives to work collaboratively with open public data. This year\u2019s theme focused on one of the most sensitive areas of public governance: Public Procurement and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24757,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-29-at-16.36.56-2.jpeg?fit=1600%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25214,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=25214&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24724,"position":0},"title":"Closing Session of the Open Data Fellowship Program - Youth Empowerment Against Corruption and DataThon Albania 2025","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The closing session of the Open Data Fellowship - Youth Empowerment Against Corruption program was held as the final activity of the program cycle, bringing together fellowship participants, journalists, and activists. During this meeting, the results of the work carried out throughout the program were presented, as well as civil\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ODA in Press Releases&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MixCollage-30-Apr-2026-03-09-PM-3641.jpg-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23872,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=23872&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24724,"position":1},"title":"Applications Open for Internship and Training through Open Data, 4th Edition (April \u2013 October 2025)","date":"March 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"OpenDataFellowship \u2013 Youth Empowerment Against Corruption 2025 AIS, the organization promoting Open Data Albania, invites students and activists who wish to participate in an Internship and Training Program on Open Data usage to apply for the OpenDataFellowship \u2013 Youth Empowerment Against Corruption 2025. The internship is open to university students\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ODA in Press Releases&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Photo-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23150,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=23150&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24724,"position":2},"title":"Empowering Fact-Based Journalism - A DataThon with Investigative Journalists. 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Over the past 14 years, our organization has developed a strong collaboration with the Faculty, engaging both students and academic staff. During the event, two\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ODA in Press Releases&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-05-19-at-13.17.25-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24103,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24103&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24724,"position":4},"title":"TENDERS AWARDED TO BISINESSES OWNED BY POLTICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS (PES)","date":"May 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the past three years, a consistent pattern of flagged tenders has emerged, with businesses associated with or owned by politically exposed persons (PEPs) or individuals with conflicts of interest securing awarding contracts \ud83d\udea9 These arguments have been officially documented in the 2023 Annual Report of the Special Anti-Corruption and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ODA in Press Releases&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/opa.jpg?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25196,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=25196&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24724,"position":5},"title":"Observations on Issues and Concerns Impacting the Integrity and Security of the Elections. Parliamentary Elections \u2013 May 11, 2025.","date":"May 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Prepared by AIS \u2013 Promoter of Open Data Albania This document presents a series of concerns related to the integrity of the electoral process and the right to vote in the context of May 11th, 2025, Parliamentary Elections, as identified by AIS. 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