Directors in years

Ms. Lejdi Dervishi was reappointed on February 1, 2024, as the Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, concurrently serving as the National Coordinator against Violent Extremism (ref. Prime Minister’s Order No.185, 31.10.2023). Prior to assuming this role, she held a series of important positions as Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Government of Albania. In her last governmental duty, she has held the position of Head of Cabinet of the State Minister and Chief-Negotiator for the integration of Albania to the European Union close to the Prime Minister’s Office in Albania (2023). In her previous capacities, she has contributed as advisor to the Minister of Interior (2022).

In June 2022, she ended up her mission as National P-CVERLT Coordinator /Executive Director of the National Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (The CVE Center – Albania, 2018-2022) close to Prime Minister’s Office. She has also worked as liaison adviser for IOM Tirana at the State Minister for Diaspora Office close to Prime Minister’s Office (GoA, 2018).

Mrs. Dervishi has a vast professional knowledge of international and security affairs and speaks fluently four languages. She has attained three second-level Master’s degrees in the field of international and diplomatic relations, security and intelligence studies and European studies.

Furthermore, her expertise is focused on issues related to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that leads to Terrorism (P/CVERLT) as well as the effect of geopolitical changes that violent extremism phenomenon may have, in particular with focus in the Western Balkans, NATO and MENA region (as well the rehabilitation of Former Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and returnees from the conflict areas of Syria and Iraq.

Since 2019 she has been a distinguished lecturer at the – NATO TRADOC Course for senior officials at the Albanian Defense College close to Ministry of Defense as well as at the course of NATO’s Advanced Science Program for Peace and Security on issues such as “transnational organized crime and international terrorism”, “immigration”, “disinformation”, “gender involvement in counterterrorism efforts”, “hybrid warfare” etc.

Additional information: 2023-Roster of national consultants with expertise on child friendly justice and child human rights for UNICEF Albania office 2023-Certified trainer on the 1st Edition of the Behavioural Insights Academy to P/CVE at International Hub on Behavioural Insights, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). 2023-Roster of Experts and member of OSCE Regional Network for Women Professionals (WIN) on P/CVERLT, OSCE Transnational Threat Department’s Action against Terrorism Unit & the OSCE Gender Issues Programme 2020- 2022: National Government Board Member at GCERF 2020- Selected by the EU Commission in the expert pool of the Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN).” 2015- Observer member at NATO PA sessions and at the NATO Defense College HLC on the “New Ways of Warfare: Defeating Hybrid Threats”.

Academic publication: Her book entitled “NATO’s Evolution: From Conventional to Hybrid Warfare” was published firstly on line (2016) from NATO Multimedia Library (Brussels) on the following link

Mr. Denion Meidani served as the Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism at the Ministry of Interior, Tirana, during the period 22.06.2022 – 31.01.2024.

Denion Meidani finished his higher education at Clark University in two majors subjects: Computer Science and Governance and International Relations. He holds a Master’s degree in Diplomacy with a focus on International Economics from the University of Malta, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University in Italy.

Since 2002, after various international experiences, Mr. Meidani has returned to Albania and held significant positions in the Albanian administration, including at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Prosecutor’s Office, Director General at the Ministry of Economy, Deputy Director General of the Albanian Power Corporation, Director of Internal Control at the Ministry of Justice, Director of Monitoring, Control, and Inspection at the Electronic and Postal Control Authority, Deputy Director General of Customs, and Director of the Excise Department, and most recently, Director of the Center for Countering Violent Extremism.

Denion Meidani has also performed with distinction in the private sector for various international corporations such as Vodafone, SIGMA Vienna Insurance Group, KFC, PuntoPay Italia, as well as Antenna Media Group, Ok! Magazine, Renault, etc.

As the author of numerous publications in the fields of politics, economics, technology, and security, Mr. Meidani, above all, aims to contribute and work as part of a team to address and find solutions to the issues of terrorism and counter-terrorism at both national and international levels, including the prevention and combatting of violent extremism.