Shqipe Neziri Vela – Bio

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Shqipe Neziri Vela graduated from the American University in Kosovo (RIT Kosovo) in 2007 with a BA in Management and Entrepreneurship. She pursued her MA studies at the University of York (United Kingdom), Department of Political Sciences, whereby her research focused on the impact of Europeanization in the public administration in Kosovo. In addition, she completed her second MA degree at the Central European University (Hungary), School of Public Policy, exploring the path to reform energy policies in the Western Balkans. Furthermore, Ms. Vela was granted a scholarship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) to conduct research on environmental policy.

In 2012, the Washington Leadership Program through the U.S. House of Representatives, appointed Ms. Vela to initiate the application of the Republic of Kosovo for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) support, a bilateral U.S. foreign aid agency established by the U.S. Congress.

Since 2012, Ms. Vela has served as a mentor to international students who benefit from the Erasmus Mundus Program, a program that aims to enhance the quality of higher education and promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through mobility and academic cooperation.

Ms. Vela is also a published author. Her book entitled, “Energy Policy in Western Balkans: Path to Reform and Reconstruction,” focuses on Energy Policy in the Western Balkans and is listed on Amazon in a paperback edition. Moreover, she is a columnist for the FLATRA magazine and Kosovo 2.0 on social issues.

Mr. Vela has over 17 years of professional experience in democratization, rule of law, anti-corruption, energy and environment policies at central and municipal level. Her prior work experience includes various positions with development agencies in Kosovo, Hungary, and the United States, including UNDP, the World Bank, UNICEF, and USAID.

Ms. Vela is a cofounder of the Kosovo-Hungarian Friendship Association and serves at the Board of the Association of Women in Energy Sector (AWESK).

Since 2018, Ms. Vela is engaged with the U.S. Department of State, Mission to Prishtina & MCC Resident Country Mission on energy sector and rule of law.