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.
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Building Confidence for Public Sector Leadership
Boris Košpić reflects on his experience within the WeCoach component of the EU-funded WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans project. In his reflection, he shares how the coaching process provided a dedicated space for reflection and personal growth, helping him better understand his leadership style, strengthen his strategic thinking, and navigate complex professional challenges with greater confidence. He also highlights how coaching enhanced his ability to contribute to public administration reform and the EU accession process through more intentional, collaborative, and resilient leadership.
Read moreBeyond Innovation: What a Week in Paris Taught Me About Public Administration
Innovation in public administration is not only about new technologies or creative solutions. It is also about building institutions that can learn, adapt, and respond to a rapidly changing world. Through international exchange and peer learning, public officials gain new perspectives on how to strengthen governance, build trust, and design services around people’s needs. As part of the EU-funded WeLead project, a study visit to Paris brought together young public officials from the Western Balkans to explore European institutions, exchange experiences, and learn from public sector innovators. Dr. Staša Mesec from the Ministry of the Interior and Public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia reflects on the key lessons gained from conversations with European institutions, fellow participants, and public sector innovators.
Read moreHow Two Certification Programs Support Stronger and More Resilient Public Institutions
CEF and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia through Slovenia Aid & Partnerships, continue to support public sector professionals through transformative learning experiences that combine international good practices, regional perspectives, and peer exchange to address key public governance challenges in asset management and forensic assignments.
Read moreMinistry of Public Administration Team Supported by CEF Receives Montenegro Public Administration Award for EU Accession Contribution
We extend our congratulations to the team of Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration - Zorica Zeković, Nevena Zindović Rabrenović, Ljubica Radaković, Stela Bobot and Milena Popović Glavatović - on receiving the 2026 Public Administration Award in Category III: Contribution to the EU Accession Process.
Read moreThe Impact of Coaching on My Professional Journey
Shanoela Berisha reflects on her experience within the WeCoach component of the EU-funded “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” project. In her reflection, she shares how the coaching process supported her during an important period of professional transition, helping her gain greater clarity about her goals, priorities, and future direction. Through reflective conversations and practical guidance, the experience strengthened her self-awareness, decision-making, and confidence in taking meaningful steps forward in her professional journey.
Read moreFuture Public Leaders Gather for Closing Event of the WeLead Third Generation
This week, we were pleased to welcome the third generation of the EU-funded “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) project for the closing event of the program. The gathering brought together young public sector professionals from different institutions and countries to reflect on their experiences, exchange knowledge, and further strengthen their leadership and organizational learning capacities.
Read moreKosovo’s Road to the EU: CEF Director on Turning Reforms into Results
In an interview with Kosova Press, CEF Director Jana Repanšek reflects on Kosovo’s reform trajectory and what it will take to meet EU-related ambitions in practice, not just on paper.
Read moreA Coaching Experience that Shaped My Leadership Approach
As part of the EU-funded “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) project, Enea Caushaj from the Albanian Seized and Confiscated Asset Administration Agency participated in the WeCoach component, engaging in a structured coaching process that provided space for reflection, growth, and professional development. His experience highlights how coaching helped him gain new perspectives on leadership while strengthening his approach to communication and decision-making. It also underscores the value of structured guidance and self-reflection in navigating professional challenges and contributing more effectively to public administration and institutional development.
Read moreA Journey of Self-Discovery, Confidence, and Professional Growth
As part of the EU-funded “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) project, Aleksandra Baklaja from the Serbian Ministry of European Integration took part in a transformative coaching journey that provided a meaningful space for reflection, growth, and self-discovery. Her reflection highlights how the experience exceeded her initial expectations, supporting both her personal and professional development. It captures the depth of learning she underwent, the strong coaching relationship she built, and the confidence and self-belief she developed throughout the process.
Read moreStrengthening Leadership and Self-Awareness Through Coaching
As part of the EU-funded “WeLead: EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) project, Stefan Dimanovski from the Financial Police Office in North Macedonia engaged in a coaching journey that provided valuable space for reflection, growth, and self-discovery. This reflection captures how coaching supported his personal and professional development, the process of learning and self-discovery he underwent, and the key insights and capabilities he gained. It highlights how this experience has strengthened his leadership approach and enhanced his ability to contribute effectively to complex environments such as policymaking and public administration reform.
Read moreCEF Associate Fellow Merdža Plahonjić Handalić on the CEF’s Role as a Trusted Regional Knowledge Hub
Merdža Plahonjić Handalić, Associate Professor at the University of Sarajevo, shares her reflections on the CEF’s role in strengthening public sector reforms and regional cooperation. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in EU integration, fiscal policy, and public internal financial control systems, she offers a thoughtful perspective on the value of partnerships, knowledge sharing, and leadership development across the Western Balkans. Her insights highlight how capacity building, evidence-based policymaking, and collaboration can translate reform ideas into lasting impact for institutions and future public leaders.
Read moreBuilding Innovative Governments: Insights from OECD’s OPSI
As governments increasingly explore new technologies, digital tools, and collaborative approaches to improve governance, the OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) helps identify emerging trends and strengthen the capacity of public institutions to innovate. In this interview, Angela Hanson from OECD OPSI shares insights on current innovation trends in the public sector, the conditions that enable innovation to succeed in government, and how public administrations can learn from one another to deliver better outcomes for citizens. Within the EU-funded WeLead project, we are pleased that young leaders from the Western Balkans had the opportunity to learn directly from OPSI, whose work focuses on promoting systemic innovation and behavioral science in government.
Read moreWeLead Reflections: Irini Zoica on Policy Making and Value of Regional Exchange
Irini Zoica from the Municipality of Tirana, Albania, reflects on her experience as a participant in the We Experience and WeLearn components of the WeLead project, funded by the European Union. She explains how the workshop deepened her understanding of the full policy-making cycle, from the principles of good governance to implementation, evaluation, and tools such as Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). She also reflects on how the study visit provided valuable, firsthand insight into EU integration efforts and strengthened regional cooperation and peer exchange.
Read moreWeLead 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.
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