Identifying and reporting corruption is very often perceived as difficult and sometimes impossible. A recent partnership between USAID’s Kosovo Municipal Integrity activity and the Balkan Investigative Regional Network (BIRN) aims to empower young investigative journalists by teaching them how to uncover and expose corruption in public finance and procurement processes.
Over four intensive days, 20 talented journalists, representing 13 Kosovo media outlets, were given the opportunity to engage in activities designed to enhance their investigative skills. The program included discussions with national procurement oversight institutions such as the Public Procurement Regulatory Commission (PPRC), the Procurement Review Body (PRB), the National Audit Office (NAO), and State Prosecutor's Office. During these discussions, the journalists learned about procurement processes, giving them a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
The program was a resounding success, with the journalists now better equipped to conduct more in-depth investigations. Liridion Llozani, a journalist at RTV Dukagjini, was pleasantly surprised by the program and said, "With the knowledge gained, I hope to have an advantage over the journalists in the newsroom where I work, as well as with journalists from other media." Rinesa Qorri, a journalist at Koha Group, was also grateful for the program, stating that she will use the knowledge gained to be a more sophisticated journalist and identify mismanagement in municipalities or at the central level.
As part of the program, the journalists visited the procurement office in Gjilan municipality and made two site visits to various projects to learn more about contract management. This hands-on experience was a unique opportunity for them to learn how procurement processes work in practice and to identify potential areas of corruption. The program’s impact will undoubtedly be felt in Kosovo's media landscape, with a new generation of journalists now better equipped to expose corruption and promote transparency.
As the fight against corruption in Kosovo is gaining momentum, USAID’s support to empower young journalists to contribute to a better and more just society by taking an active role in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public procurement brings hope for a brighter future for the country's citizens.
DAI for USAIDKosovo