ProcuRe-ACT Competence Centre Initiates the First Municipal Pilot: Re-ACT Lab Signs an Innovative MoU with Municipality of Kamenica and GIZ
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The Regional Action Lab (Re-ACT Lab), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and the Municipality of Kamenica formally announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Signed today by the Deputy Mayor of Kamenica, Arta Bajralija, alongside representatives from GIZ and Re-ACT Lab, this trilateral MoU establishes the institutional framework for an innovative pilot project in strategic public procurement (SPP) under the auspices of the ProcuRe-ACT Competence Centre.
This strategic initiative, as part of the ProcuRe-ACT Competence Centre, is supported by the project "Support to EU-Integration Reform Processes in Kosovo," implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Government and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This partnership signifies a critical shift in public administration. Historically viewed as a strict administrative compliance exercise, public procurement is a powerful, yet underutilised, economic engine.
Through this pilot project, the cooperation aims to operationalise the three Imperatives of the ProcuRE-ACT Centre:
Green Transition: Utilising public spending to promote environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
Social Responsibility: Ensuring public contracts foster inclusivity, fair labour practices, and social equity.
Innovation and Economic Competitiveness: Stimulating the local market and empowering SMEs by adopting quality-based criteria rather than relying solely on the lowest price.
By embedding these imperatives into procurement procedures, the project will tangibly demonstrate how strategic procurement can be deployed to achieve broader societal, environmental, and economic goals without compromising market competition.
The Municipality of Kamenica distinguishes itself as a visionary leader and a pioneering institution in Kosovo by embracing this transformative pilot project.
"This cooperation aims to demonstrate how public procurement and Kosovo's regulatory framework can be utilised to integrate quality-based criteria, including environmental standards, social clauses, and elements of innovation", stated Arta Bajralija, Deputy Mayor of Kamenica. "At the same time, the process will guarantee fair competition and suitability for the local market. It is a significant milestone for the Municipality of Kamenica to be part of this process and to lead this pioneering initiative for the benefit of our citizens."
For GIZ, this initiative is a cornerstone in building institutional capacity and aligning local practices with broader European frameworks.
"With this partnership, we are moving beyond compliance and unlocking the full potential of public procurement as a strategic tool for sustainable development," stated Vanessa Sabelski, Project Manager at GIZ Kosovo. "By integrating environmental, social, and innovation criteria into procurement practices, this initiative demonstrates how public spending can drive tangible change—supporting green transition, strengthening local markets, and delivering better services for citizens."
Implemented through the ProcuRe-ACT Competence Centre, Re-ACT Lab focuses on providing the Direct Support necessary to make this pilot a success.
"The establishment of the ProcuRe-ACT Competence Centre represents a turning point in how we approach public spending in Kosovo," emphasised Sokol Zeneli, Director of Research and Programmes at Re-ACT Lab. "We are actively promoting a move away from procurement as a mere administrative compliance exercise, and embracing Strategic Public Procurement as a powerful catalyst for the Green Transition, Social Responsibility, and Innovation. Through our direct support to the Municipality of Kamenica, we are translating ambitious policies into concrete, everyday practice. This pilot is exactly what the Centre was designed to do: provide the practical guidance necessary to prove that strategic, value-driven purchasing is not only legally viable but essential for sustainable local development."
The impact of this collaboration is designed to extend far beyond a single public authority. Aligned with the ProcuRE-ACT Centre’s pillars of Direct Support/Piloting and building a Collaborative Ecosystem, this initiative serves as a foundational learning process. The practical insights and procedural methodologies developed throughout this collaboration will be monitored and documented for replicable models to be pursued in the future.
Through this agreement, all parties reaffirm their shared commitment to enhancing institutional transparency, building systemic capacity, and ensuring the strategic, value-driven allocation of public funds for the ultimate benefit of the citizens of Kosovo.
Re-ACT Lab promotes research and innovation as a means to advance governmental and policy-making reforms in Kosovo and regionally.
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