RFAs: Strengthening Open Data Publication and Personal Data Protection in Albania

Deadline: 27-Oct-26

The European Commission is inviting eligible EU public administrations and mandated bodies to support the institutional capacity of Albania’s Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data (IDPC). The initiative provides a €1 million grant for projects lasting up to 18 months, focusing on open data policies, personal data protection, digital governance, and safeguards for AI-related public-sector initiatives.

About the European Commission Call for Proposals

The European Commission Call for Proposals aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of Albania’s Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data (IDPC). The initiative focuses on improving Albania’s ability to implement and monitor: - Open data policies. - Personal data protection rules. - Publication of key public datasets. - Digital governance safeguards. - Personal data protection in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. - Alignment with the EU acquis and European Union Member State best practices. The call is intended to support stronger institutional systems that balance access to public information and open data with effective protection of personal information. What Will the Grant Support? The funded project should contribute to improving the capacity of the Albanian IDPC to effectively implement and monitor relevant policies and regulatory frameworks.

Key areas of support include:

- Strengthening institutional capacity for open data policy implementation. - Improving monitoring mechanisms for open data publication. - Supporting the appropriate publication of priority datasets. - Integrating personal data protection safeguards into digital public services. - Addressing privacy and data protection considerations in AI-related public-sector initiatives. - Supporting alignment with the EU acquis. - Promoting the adoption of good practices from EU Member States. The initiative therefore connects open government data, privacy protection, digital transformation, AI governance and EU regulatory alignment. Grant Amount and Project Duration The European Commission will provide funding of:

- Maximum grant: €1,000,000

- Maximum project duration: 18 months

Projects should be designed around clearly defined institutional capacity-building objectives and deliverables that can be achieved within the permitted implementation period. Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is restricted to specific public-sector institutions

Eligible applicants include:

- Public Administrations from European Union Member States. - Mandated bodies from EU Member States. Applicants must participate through the relevant National Contact Point (NCP) in accordance with the requirements of the Twinning Manual. Private companies, NGOs and other organizations that do not meet the specified public administration or mandated-body requirements are not eligible under this call. Key Eligibility Requirements Eligible EU institutions should ensure that their proposed project: - Supports the institutional strengthening of Albania’s IDPC. - Addresses open data and/or personal data protection priorities covered by the call. - Contributes to effective implementation and monitoring. - Supports alignment with EU standards and practices. - Can be implemented within a maximum of 18 months. - Follows the procedures established under the Twinning framework. - Is submitted through the appropriate National Contact Point. Why This Initiative Matters Effective digital government requires both access to information and protection of personal data. Open data can improve transparency, accountability, research and evidence-based policymaking. However, public authorities must ensure that information released through digital platforms does not compromise individuals’ privacy or violate data protection requirements. The initiative is particularly relevant as governments increasingly use: - Digital public services. - Open government platforms. - Large public datasets. - Artificial intelligence. - Automated decision-making systems. - Data-driven policymaking. Strengthening the IDPC’s institutional capacity can help Albania manage these developments while maintaining appropriate privacy and data protection safeguards. EU Acquis and Best Practices A central element of the initiative is closer alignment with the EU acquis. The project is expected to draw on relevant experience and best practices from EU Member States. This can help strengthen institutional procedures, regulatory implementation, monitoring approaches and technical capacity. The emphasis on EU Member State experience also creates opportunities for peer-to-peer institutional cooperation through the Twinning framework. How to Apply The application process is restricted to eligible EU public administrations and mandated bodies.

Step 1: Confirm Institutional Eligibility

The prospective applicant should first confirm that it qualifies as a public administration or mandated body from an EU Member State.

Step 2: Contact the National Contact Point

Eligible institutions must work through their relevant National Contact Point. The National Contact Point plays an important role in the Twinning application process and should be consulted before preparing the final proposal.

Step 3: Review the Twinning Requirements

Applicants should review the applicable Twinning Manual and ensure that the proposed approach complies with the required procedures.

Step 4: Develop the Project Concept

The proposal should clearly explain:

- The institutional challenges to be addressed. - The capacity-building objectives. - Planned activities. - Expected outputs and results. - Approach to open data implementation and monitoring. - Personal data protection safeguards. - Relevant EU practices to be transferred. - Implementation arrangements. - Project timeline.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

The proposal should include a budget consistent with the maximum available funding of €1 million and the project’s pr