Kontakt: dren.puka@kcsfoundation.org

Dren Puka is the Executive Director of KCSF with nearly 20 years of experience in research, advocacy, and the development of participatory public policies. He has been part of KCSF for over a decade, serving in key leadership roles, most recently as Director for Research, Advocacy, and Capacity Building.

His expertise lies in the design of empirical and theoretical models of analysis and research, developing and conducting research projects that aim to produce evidence to shape public policies through greater civic participation. In addition, Dren has a proven track record in leadership and management, having led teams and complex processes in contexts of organizational change and development. By working with numerous organizations and participating in key policy initiatives related to civil society development, Dren’s work has focused especially on creating an environment that seeks to accentuate diverse and marginal voices to shape a reflexive and inclusive public sphere.

He completed his graduate studies in Educational Policy and Leadership, with a specialization in Research Methods from the University of Rochester, in USA.

Kontakt: edona.krasniqi@kcsfoundation.org

Edona Krasniqi has been with KCSF for 7 years and currently serves as the Director of the Re-Granting Department. She has more than 15 years of combined working experience in the non-governmental, academic, and private institutions. She has worked as a researcher and evaluator with local and international organizations and authored papers on education and civil society. She holds an MSc in Economics, specializing in Economics and Politics from the University of Freiburg. She also holds a degree in Management and Public Policy from the American University in Kosovo and a graduate certificate in Education Policy from Georgetown University. Her interests are in political economy, and revolve around exploring the intersection between economic systems, socio-economic inequality, civic participation, and the pressing ecological crisis of our time.

Contact: rron.zajmi@kcsfoundation.org

Kontakt: yllka.hoxha@kcsfoundation.org

Yllka Hoxha serves as the Finance Manager at KCSF, where she oversees financial operations for the Citizen Engagement Activity. With over 11 years of experience in civil society, she has held roles in finance, human resources, and administration. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Prishtina. Yllka is a member of The Society of Certified Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo (SCAAK), holding the title of Certified Accountant, and she is currently progressing towards obtaining certification as an Auditor.

Kontakt: ahmet.rushiti@kcsfoundation.org

Ahmet Rushiti has more than 16 years of experience working in international and local organizations that promote inclusiveness and civic participation. Project management, involvement in community mobilization, advocacy, capacity building for CSOs, and policy-making are some of his key expertise areas. Ahmet has also gained great experience and knowledge of the local context by working with political parties, youth, local and national authorities. He has been involved in monitoring and observing elections, monitoring the work of the Kosovo Assembly, and working with communities and constituencies in local and rural areas. In addition, he has co-authored studies on voter behavior, municipal transparency, and community inclusion.

Contact: nita.bicurri@kcsfoundation.org

Nita Bicurri serves as the Chief of Party for the Citizen Engagement Activity, bringing over 10 years of extensive experience in international development and democratization processes. Her primary focus is on fostering inclusive decision-making processes and creating meaningful opportunities for diverse voices to contribute to the advancement of democracy in Kosovo. Throughout her tenure, Nita has collaborated with civil society organizations, political parties, government entities, media, and the business community to ensure an inclusive and democratic policy making processes, efforts aim to provide active involvement opportunities for women and youth in political and public life. Nita’s expertise lies in project design, management, and evaluation. She holds a graduate degree in International Development Administration and a Certificate of Advancement Studies in Civil Society Organizations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, New York. Additionally, she earned a degree in Political Science from Cornell College in Iowa.

Kontakt: blerta.aliu@kcsfoundation.org

Blerta Aliu has over 12 years of professional experience in the field of communication, Public Relations and media. She started her career at the daily newspaper Koha Ditore, where she worked as a journalist in the security and political sector for almost five years. She has continued her engagement in the field of public relations in the public sector, private and civil society organizations. She was engaged as a media and PR advisor at the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Kosovo for nearly two years, then she worked as a PR and communication officer at the Kosova Democratic Institute /Transparency International Kosovo for over three years and then as a media advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. Simultaneously, since 2017, Blerta is an teaching assistant in the Journalism  Department at the University of Pristina. From February 2022, she joined the KCSF team, initially as a project officer to continue her contribution as a public relations and communication coordinator.

Blerta is a PhD candidate in Media and Communication at the South East European University. She completed Bachelor and Master studies in the field of Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Pristina. She is the winner of several local and international awards for journalism in the field of human rights, children and education. She is also the author and co-author of many analytical reports as well as academic papers which she has published and presented at International Scientific Conferences in the field of Media and Communication.

Contact: vjollca.sllamniku@kcsfoundation.org

Vjollca Sllamniku is a senior finance officer at KCSF. Since November 2006 when she started working at KCSF, Vjollca has been responsible for the organization’s financial management and accounting, while until 2015 she also led the administration team.

Previously, she worked as a Finance Officer at the NGO ODA (Organization for Development Activities) during the years 2003-2006, as well as at Oxfam GB – Office in Kosovo during the years 1999-2003.

Kontakt: rudina.hasimja@kcsfoundation.org

Rudina Hasimja is a civil society activist, with professional experience in local and international organizations and public institutions. Before joining KCSF, she worked in Lumbardhi Foundation from 2020 – 2022. She also served as Technical Trainer at the Peace Corps Community Organizational Development program from 2020-2021. She was a coordinator of EU program at the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society from 2015-2018. Prior to that, she served as a Program Coordinator at Centre for Research, Documentation and Publication, a local Kosovo organization dealing with transitional justice, and advocating for Dealing with the Past in armed conflict. Previously, Rudina worked as a national project officer at OSCE’s Higher Education unit in the Democratization Department in 2011. Between 2010 and 2011, she worked at the Ministers’ Cabinet at Ministry of European Integration in Kosovo. Rudina attended the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Media and Graphic Communication with a minor in Economics from the American University in Kosovo/RIT Kosovo.

Contact: arber.fetahu@kcsfoundation.org

Arbër Fetahu is the Grants Coordinator at KCSF. He has over 8 years of professional experience in civil society organizations and a brief period in the media. Arbër has worked as a Researcher and Project Manager at the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS). His work has primarily focused on foreign policy, democratization, European integration, and governance. He has also managed the institute’s largest projects. Among other roles, he has worked as a researcher at the Research Institute for Development and European Affairs, and at the University of Prishtina’s VentureUP Entrepreneurship Incubator as the Director of Communication, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

Arbër is the author of dozens of analyses and reports with local and international think tanks in the field of European integration, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, and Kosovo’s integration into international organizations. He has participated in numerous international meetings where he has presented his work and that of his organization, including at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, Netherlands, and the Aspen Institute in Germany. He completed his master’s studies in Global/International Studies at Missouri State University as part of USAID’s Transformational Leadership Program.