The strengthening of procurement processes and controls at the municipal level helps local governments safeguard public funds and deliver higher-quality public services to citizens, thereby building public trust.  USAID partners with municipalities, central government institutions, independent agencies, and civil society to empower local champions to achieve breakthrough change in procurement transparency and accountability, contributing to Kosovo’s economic resilience and self-reliance. 

Administrator Mark Green (AID/A) visited the Municipality of Pristina, and its Procurement Office, to discuss developments in public procurement reform and transparency.  AID/A learned about recent reforms in local governance and improvements made to the procurement system, which contributed to increased transparency and accountability.  Among the reforms presented to AID/A was the process for the opening of public contracts, the full adoption of an electronic procurement system, and better cooperation with civil society.

As part of the visit, the Administrator met with Mayor Shpend Ahmeti and Valmir Ismaili, Director of Democracy Plus (D+), a USAID grantee monitoring and exposing corruption in public procurement.  D+ has monitored procurement in five focus municipalities (including Pristina municipality), developed digital solutions for integrity in public procurement, and monitored the Procurement Review Body, which is an independent quasi-judicial body responsible for adjudicating on public procurement-related complaints or appeals. In 2019, Transparency International ranked Pristina as one of the five most transparent capital cities in Europe