On 30 September–1 October, the ALSAI’s representatives participated in the National Conference entitled “Budgeting with Integrity in Albania,” organized by the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Albania, within the framework of the project “BAT-Civil Society – Civil Society Capacities for Oversight of Budget Accountability and Transparency.” The conference brought together representatives of public institutions, civil society, the media and academia.

The conference featured several panel discussions focusing on the role of independent institutions and civil society actors in overseeing local public finances, as well as on progress in gender-responsive budgeting.

Discussions over the two days highlighted the need for greater openness of budgetary processes to civil society and the wider public, ensuring that budgets genuinely reflect citizens’ needs and priorities.

Independent oversight institutions play a key role in holding governments accountable, particularly at the local level, where public resources are more closely linked to citizens’ everyday needs.

The discussions also addressed current practices, challenges in implementing effective oversight, and ways to build stronger, citizen-centered accountability systems at the local level.

During the second day of the conference, discussions focused on how institutions such as the Albanian Supreme Audit Institution (ALSAI), municipalities, civil society, and the public interact to strengthen financial integrity.

ALSAI was represented at the conference by auditors Fatmir Iliazi and Arminda Bushi, who highlighted in their remarks, ALSAI’s role as the supreme constitutional institution of public audit. Through its expertise and high-quality audits, ALSAI supports the Parliament of Albania and continuously provides the public and stakeholders with impartial and comprehensive information on the accountability demonstrated by the Government and public entities in the management of taxpayers’ money, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of public services.

Drawing also on ALSAI’s audit work, IDM will publish a set of policy documents addressing the role of oversight bodies, including the role of ALSAI, and civil society actors in budgetary processes, the integration of environmental commitments into local budgets and gender-responsive budgeting.