Our Staff and Board
Our Staff
Visar Ymeri
Executive Director
Visar Ymeri
Visar Ymeri, the Executive Director of the Institute for Social Policy Musine Kokalari, brings decades of leadership in politics, governance, and media. A seasoned policymaker, he previously served as Vice President of the Social Democratic Party and as President of Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE!, where he played a crucial role in shaping Kosovo’s political landscape since 2005. With three terms as a Member of Parliament, he contributed to critical legislative efforts, particularly in European integration and economic development. Beyond politics, Ymeri’s expertise spans public relations and journalism, having served as a Public Relations Officer at the Kosovo Pension Savings Trust and Deputy Editor at Kohavision. He studied Sociology at the University of Prishtina and further pursued Media Studies, Politics, Literature, and Philosophy in London. His career reflects a deep commitment to democratic governance, social justice, and informed public discourse.
Drenusha Canolli
Program Director
Drenusha Canolli
Drenusha Canolli is the Program Director of the Institute for Social Policy Musine Kokalari, with extensive experience in investigative journalism, project management, and policy research. She previously worked as an investigative journalist at Insajderi (2016-2020), earning recognition for her reporting on political and social issues, including an award-winning environmental investigation. From 2020 to 2023, she managed projects on disinformation, youth advocacy, and women’s empowerment at the Democracy for Development Institute (D4D), followed by a role at The Balkan Forum (2023-2024), where she led initiatives on the circular economy, green agenda, and environmental policies. Holding a Master’s degree in Sociology, she is also a participant in the Political School by PIPS and a recipient of the Çohu/Preporter Investigative Journalism Scholarship. Her research and writing cover environmental justice, cultural heritage, disinformation, and labor rights.
Besëarta Spanca
Finance Director
Besëarta Spanca
Besëarta Spanca is a dedicated finance and risk management professional with a strong academic and practical background. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Staffordshire University before receiving a prestigious scholarship to pursue a Master’s in Finance and Risk Management at Sheffield University. Since July 2021, she has served as the Finance Director of the Musine Kokalari Institute, demonstrating exceptional expertise, strategic leadership, and a steadfast commitment to financial integrity and organizational growth.
Belgzim Kamberi
Senior Project Manager
Belgzim Kamberi
Belgzim Kamberi ka përvojë pune në fushat e shkencave politike, gazetarisë, përkthimit dhe avokimit për të drejtat e njeriut. Gjatë viteve, ai ka kontribuar në media të ndryshme të huaja dhe rajonale, duke përfshirë Agence France Presse (AFP), Radio France Internationale, Le Monde, El Mundo, The Guardian, New York Times, etj. Kamberi ka punuar edhe si konsulent dhe pedagog, duke u dhënë njohuritë dhe përvojën e tij gazetarëve dhe studiuesve. Aktualisht është edhe redaktor i portalit frankofon, ‘Courriers des Balkans’ dhe drejtor i ‘Le Monde diplomatique – shqip’. Kryen detyrën e kryesuesit të Bordit të Institutit “Musine Kokalari”. Belgzim Kamberi është koordinator i Akademisë vjetore për Politika Publike dhe Sociale të IPS Musine Kokalari, një nismë që ofron një platformë për të rinjtë në Kosovë që të bashkohen dhe të diskutojnë çështje të rëndësishme që kanë të bëjnë me politikat publike dhe drejtësinë sociale. Përmes kësaj akademie, Kamberi shpreson të krijojnë një hapësirë dialogu dhe bashkëpunimi, ku idetë dhe perspektivat mund të shkëmbehen lirisht dhe në mënyrë konstruktive. Belgzim Kamberi ka diplomuar në Gjuhë & Letërsi Frënge në Universitetin e Prishtinës dhe ka magjistruar në Sociologji Politike në Universitetin Paris VIII (Francë).
+38344995210
Manushaqe Latifi
Finance and Administration Officer
Manushaqe Latifi
Manushaqe Latifi is a dedicated finance professional with a strong background in accounting and finance management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Public University of Gjilan “Kadri Zeka” and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the University of Prishtina. Recently certified in QuickBooks, Manushaqe effectively combines academic knowledge with practical experience in accounting, showcasing her ability to contribute to financial operations and administration. As of April 2024, she serves as the Finance and Administration Officer at the Institute for Social Policy “Musine Kokalari,” building on her previous experience as a project assistant and local consultant in finance and administration at GIZ Kosovo.
Our Board
Belzgim Kamberi
Board Member
Belgzim Kamberi
Belgzim Kamberi ka përvojë pune në fushat e shkencave politike, gazetarisë, përkthimit dhe avokimit për të drejtat e njeriut. Gjatë viteve, ai ka kontribuar në media të ndryshme të huaja dhe rajonale, duke përfshirë Agence France Presse (AFP), Radio France Internationale, Le Monde, El Mundo, The Guardian, New York Times, etj. Kamberi ka punuar edhe si konsulent dhe pedagog, duke u dhënë njohuritë dhe përvojën e tij gazetarëve dhe studiuesve. Aktualisht është edhe redaktor i portalit frankofon, ‘Courriers des Balkans’ dhe drejtor i ‘Le Monde diplomatique – shqip’. Kryen detyrën e kryesuesit të Bordit të Institutit “Musine Kokalari”. Belgzim Kamberi është koordinator i Akademisë vjetore për Politika Publike dhe Sociale të IPS Musine Kokalari, një nismë që ofron një platformë për të rinjtë në Kosovë që të bashkohen dhe të diskutojnë çështje të rëndësishme që kanë të bëjnë me politikat publike dhe drejtësinë sociale. Përmes kësaj akademie, Kamberi shpreson të krijojnë një hapësirë dialogu dhe bashkëpunimi, ku idetë dhe perspektivat mund të shkëmbehen lirisht dhe në mënyrë konstruktive. Belgzim Kamberi ka diplomuar në Gjuhë & Letërsi Frënge në Universitetin e Prishtinës dhe ka magjistruar në Sociologji Politike në Universitetin Paris VIII (Francë).
+38344995210
Adelina Hasani
Board Member
Adelia Hasani
Adelina Hasani is a distinguished researcher and publicist, having earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Ankara, following the completion of her undergraduate degree at the Faculty of Political Sciences, Ankara University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democracy in South East Europe, which she received from the University of Sarajevo and the University of Bologna (ERMA). Her academic pursuits have focused on various areas, including gender studies, political economy, and security issues. She has contributed to the scholarly community by publishing several research papers, covering topics such as gender equality, nationalism, and Russian foreign policy. In addition to her academic endeavors, Hasani has played an active role in organizing numerous training programs centered on gender issues, community organizing, and development. She has also been associated with various local organizations dedicated to promoting social-economic development and women’s empowerment, ensuring their active participation in all political and social processes. Notably, she is a co-founder of the initiative Femaktiv in Prizren and the editor-in-chief of Prizma Medium. Currently, Hasani serves as a researcher at KCSS.
Artan Mustafa
Board Member
Artan Mustafa
Artan Mustafa, PhD, is a Kosovar researcher whose research focuses on welfare state politics, political sociology, and social sustainability. He currently (2024/5) is a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute (EUI). His work has been published in Contemporary Southeastern Europe, Global Social Policy, International Journal of Social Welfare, Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy, Party Politics, Revija za Socijalnu Politiku, Social Policy and Administration, and in several edited book volumes. Mustafa has taught at the University of Vienna, and the University for Business and Technology – UBT in Kosovo, and has worked on social protection assignments for the European Commission, the International Labour Organization, and the United Nations Development Programme. He is a regular contributor of book reviews, peer reviews, academic conferences, popular media and broader civil society activities. Mustafa studied at the University of Prishtina (BA), Uppsala University (MSc) and the University of Vienna (PhD); he also had an exchange stay at the University of Tokyo and attended a graduate summer school course on quality of government at the University of Oslo.
Jelena Savić
Board Member
Jelena Savić
Jelena Savić, who is of Serbian Roma origin, currently holds the position of Inclusive Education consultant for UNICEF in Belgrade. She has worked with the Open Society Foundation and Roma Education Fund on their Scholarship Programs, and has collaborated with various Roma and feminist organizations in Serbia for the past twenty years. Savić holds an MA degree in Philosophy from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where her thesis focused on dehumanization studies at the intersection of racism, sexism, and speciesism. She also holds a BA and MA degree in Andragogy from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, Serbia. Her recent research has focused on the theory of whiteness and its application in the European context to Roma issues. Her work on “Gadjo Privileges” will be published in 2023 in Critical Romany Studies, Central European University Journal. Her chapter, “The Darker side of Eastern European (post) coloniality: The case of Roma,” analyzing the decoloniality of Eastern Europe from a critical Romany perspective, will also be published in 2023 by Routledge in the book Decolonial Politics in European Peripheries: Redefining Progressiveness, Coloniality, and Transition Efforts. Jelena is a blogger and posts her poetry on usernamekaspoetry.wordpress.com and her visual materials and comic books on her page https://thejelenasavic.wordpress.com/material/. Her poetry has also been published in various magazines and anthologies, including Cat Painters: An Anthology of Contemporary Serbian Poetry, edited by Biljana D. Obradović and Dubravka Djurić, and published in 2016.
Agon Maliqi
Board Member
Agon Maliqi
Agon Maliqi is a renowned political analyst and accomplished media writer from Kosovo. Currently based in Tirana, Albania, he is highly regarded for his insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on the political and security issues facing the Western Balkans. Maliqi is a co-founder and former Chairman of the Board of Sbunker, a highly respected think tank that focuses on democracy and security issues in the region. Apart from his work at Sbunker, Maliqi is also an independent analyst and consultant who specializes in conflict, security, and democratization issues in the Balkans and South Caucasus. His expertise has earned him various prestigious fellowships, including the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Draper Hills Fellowship at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University. Maliqi completed his undergraduate studies in Political Science and European Studies at the American University in Bulgaria in 2006. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in International Development Policy from Duke University in the United States in 2012. His broad range of experiences and educational background have contributed to his extensive knowledge and expertise in political and security issues in the Western Balkans and South Caucasus.
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