40 fellows from this year’s cohort, hailing from Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania, gathered in Tirana to conclude their Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Program.  

Over two intensive weeks, fellows from the three Western Balkan (WB) countries (Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania) engaged in dynamic discussions, insightful visits, and productive meetings with local and regional stakeholders during May 1-15, 2024, in Tirana. The activities aimed at fostering regional cooperation, evidence-based advocacy, civic education, and cultural exchange. 

The Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Program (RYLMP) is a regional youth mobility initiative supported by the Open Society Foundations-Western Balkans (OSF-WB), which enables around 40 young researchers from Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia to develop data-driven advocacy plans in fields related to regional cooperation and European integration, education and employability, migration and brain drain, youth participation and youth actions in the dual transition: digital and green. 

The fellows visited the OSF-WB office in Tirana, where Program Manager Klodjan Seferaj discussed regional cooperation, European integration, migration, and education. The discussions deepened their understanding of the OSF-WB’ work locally and regionally. 

A highlight of their stay in Tirana was visiting the Parliament of Albania. They were welcomed by Jorida Tabaku, Chairwoman of the National Council for European Integration (NCEI), Elvin Gjevori, Director of the Parliamentary Institute, and Elda Zenelaj, Director of the Technical Secretariat of NCEI. Discussions focused on Albania’s European integration, youth engagement, and brain drain, providing valuable insights into the Institute’s support for MPs through research and data collection. 

Another key part of the visit was the meeting at the Western Balkan Fund (WBF) Secretariat in Tirana. This meeting emphasized regional cooperation and reconciliation and provided insights into the Secretariat’s operations and regional impact. The fellows discussed programs like grants for civil society organizations and mobility initiatives, shared their research topics, and received valuable feedback from the WBF team. 

The fellows had the privilege of visiting the Albanian Prime Minister’s Office, where they were welcomed by Odeta Barbullushi, Advisor and National Coordinator for Regional Cooperation. Discussions centered on regional cooperation’s role in promoting stability and economic growth in the three countries. This visit was crucial for gathering data from key stakeholders and institutions. All aimed at fostering regional cooperation, evidence-based advocacy, civic education, and cultural exchange. 

The tour of visits could not exclude the RYCO Secretariat, where the feels felt at home as they discussed regional cooperation and reconciliation actions with Ensara Reci, Local Program Officer and RYLMP alumna. The meeting provided an opportunity to share past fellows’ experiences and discuss how their research could benefit regional stakeholders.  

Fellows visited twice the Tirana Branch of the College of Europe, initially joining a panel discussion on “Empowering Women in the Western Balkans: Path to Equality and Progress,” organized by the College of Europe, Tirana Campus, and the European Union Delegation in Albania. During the second visit they were welcomed by mentor Gentian Elezi. They learned about the College’s history, programs, scholarships, and student life. Discussions with Professor Elezi provided valuable recommendations for their research proposals. 

In addition, the team of young researchers met with Bora Muzhaqi, Minister of State for Youth and Children, for discussions on youth policies, regional cooperation, education, employability, and the dual transition of digital and green initiatives. Other visits included meetings with local CSOs such as PPNEA, a local environmental organization, with Qendresa Qytetare, a local organization with a large network of young activists, and Faktoje, the first fact-checking media organization in Albania, to discuss issues of their operations in the context of EU and region affairs. 

At the end of the two weeks, the RYLMP mobility event in Tirana successfully fostered a collaborative environment for young leaders to engage with key stakeholders, gain valuable insights, and provide recommendations for policymakers. Additionally, it offered a great opportunity for cultural exchange, allowing fellows to explore Tirana and Albania, appreciating both similarities and differences. 

The Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Program is a collaborative effort between the Center for Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV), Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YHIR) in Serbia, and the Youth Educational Forum (YEF) in North Macedonia. This project is supported by the Open Society Foundations-Western Balkans.