WeLead Network of Leaders of the Future
The network includes participants and alumni of the WeLead project, which is designed for young leaders from the Western Balkans. Its goal is to build and strengthen professional ties among the next generation of policy-makers in the region’s public administrations.
Network lead
2026 Highlights
Members of the network engage in meaningful networking opportunities, with a key focus on personal and professional growth through the mentoring scheme.
This annual program allows alumni to serve as mentors, guiding participants throughout the project year and providing support for challenges related to project activities as well as the mentees' daily work.
Related news
WeLead Project Empowers the Next Generation of Public Leaders
Across the Western Balkans, young public officials are entering public service with talent, ambition, and a drive to make public institutions more effective while helping the region move closer to the European Union. This is exactly what the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead), implemented by CEF, set out to achieve. In their reflections, Stela Haxhi (Ministry of Justice, Albania), Lidija Davkova Stojanovska (Ministry of Finance/Financial Police Office, North Macedonia), Medaris Pozder (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Zarije Abazi (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, North Macedonia) highlight how WeLead project translated learning into real outcomes: sharper skills, greater confidence, meaningful career steps, and a stronger cross-border network of young professionals working toward a more cooperative, EU-oriented region.
Read moreBecoming a More Conscious Leader through WeCoach Journey
Geri Dule from the Albanian School of Public Administration (ASPA) reflects on his journey within the WeCoach component of the WeLead project, funded by the European Union. In his reflection, he shares how structured coaching supported his personal growth and helped him become a more conscious and intentional leader.
Read moreLeading with Clarity, Confidence, and Respect
As part of the WeCoach component of the WeLead project, funded by the European Union, participants engaged in a structured coaching process designed to support personal growth, leadership development, and professional impact. In the reflection below, Nina Blazic, who works at the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro, shares her personal coaching journey and the meaningful shifts it inspired, offering insight into how coaching strengthened her leadership, deepened self-awareness, and strengthened her contribution to policymaking, public administration reform, and EU integration processes.
Read moreStrengthening Reform Capacity and Regional Cooperation: Impact of the WeLead Learning Events in Belgrade
From 17–21 November 2025, young public administration professionals from across the Western Balkans met in Belgrade, Serbia, to deepen their policy knowledge, exchange experiences, and strengthen regional cooperation. Two complementary learning events - the WeLearn Workshop on Policy Cycles and Public Finance Reforms (17–19 November), and the WeExperience Study Visit (20–21 November) - were delivered under the EU-funded WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans project.
Read moreYoung Leaders Discuss Driving Change in the Western Balkans at the Bled Strategic Forum
Young professionals in the Western Balkans often face limited opportunities, high unemployment, and political systems resistant to change. Today, the Bled Strategic Forum 2025 tackled this urgent issue during the panel “No Region for Young People – Time for Change.”
Read moreGet Ready for a New Season of Learning Opportunities at the CEF
As autumn approaches, we are starting an exciting new learning season filled with opportunities to strengthen skills, share experiences, and foster regional cooperation. Our learning program this fall offers a diverse mix of webinars, workshops, and certification programs designed to address pressing challenges and build professional capacity across the public sector.
Read moreYoung Leaders from the Western Balkans Gather in Ljubljana
We were proud to host the opening event for the third generation of the “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans,” a four-year multi-beneficiary project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the CEF. Held at Hotel Union in Ljubljana, this event brought together more than 100 participants, including young public officials, institutional representatives, high-level guests, and alumni of the WeLead program.
Read moreA Learning Journey Through the WeWrite Experience
As Chief Advisor in the Sector for Negotiation and Eurointegration, within the Department for EU and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia, Maja Boshnjakovska brings over a decade of experience in public administration to her participation in the EU-funded WeLead project. Through the WeWrite component, she has developed her policy expertise, collaborated with peers across the Western Balkans, and addressed complex challenges in the area of justice and security. For Ms. Boshnjakovska, the project has served as a valuable platform for learning, self-reflection, and meaningful contribution to public policy reform. In the interview below, she shares her experiences, challenges, and key takeaways from this rewarding learning journey.
Read moreWeLead Marks a Year of Professional Growth and Welcomes New Young Leaders
As the second generation of the EU-funded »WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans« (WeLead) project approaches the end of an inspiring learning journey, participants recently gathered in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. This milestone workshop offered a closer look at the evolving digital landscape and its implications for public financial management (PFM) and public administration reform (PAR). It emphasized how digitalization can act as a catalyst for more citizen-centric and efficient governance. It also provided a comprehensive reflection on the key takeaways from the year-long learning program.
Read morePeople Behind Public Finance Reforms: A Podcast with CEF Director Jana Repanšek
CEF Director Jana Repanšek recently joined the European Quarter podcast to talk about the role of people and leadership in public finance reform, the value of regional cooperation, and how the CEF helps shape confident, forward-looking public institutions in South East and East Europe.
Read moreReconnecting with Partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
This week, we visited Bosnia and Herzegovina for a series of high-level meetings. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners, exchange insights, and reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing green transition and strengthening human capital development.
Read moreEnhancing Participative Governance: Key Takeaways from the WeLearn Workshop
The WeLearn workshop on Participative Governance and Listening at a Bigger Scale provided participants with valuable insights into the importance of public participation in governance. It emphasized how inclusive decision-making results in better policies, services, and a deeper understanding of citizens' needs, ensuring that public sectors remain responsive, resilient, and relevant. The event also offered practical tools and methods for implementing participatory governance, with a strong focus on listening skills and core principles. One participant, Hinda Fazliova, Project Monitoring Officer at the Ministry of Finance in North Macedonia, found the workshop insightful, and we are pleased to share her feedback reflecting on the experience.
Read moreBalancing Tradition and Innovation: How to Lead Change in the Public Sector
We are pleased to share reflections from Viktor Cvetikj from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of North Macedonia, on his experience attending the "Innovations and Service Delivery in the Public Sector" course. Delivered as part of the EU-funded »WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans« (WeLead) project, the course provided Mr. Cvetikj with a transformative experience that redefined his understanding of innovation in public service. The hybrid workshop—combining online sessions with future in-person components—offered invaluable insights into driving meaningful change in governance.
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