Mirela Arqimandriti - Executive Director

Mirela Arqimandriti is a passionate activist and human rights defender who has been involved in the Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) since 1999. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Sheffield University in the UK and a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Tirana.

She has served as a board member for several civil society organizations and is actively engaged in various fields in Albanian society. As a researcher and an expert in citizen involvement in decision-making, she has a keen interest in empowering girls and women and advancing gender equality in Albanian society.

Mirela is the Executive Director of GADC and represents a solution-oriented executive with a successful track record in the development and implementation of numerous projects and activities. She is a candidate for a PhD with Clemson University in the USA and has been twice awarded internationally for her achievements.

In 2016, Mirela received the Award of Excellence as a Graduate Student from Clemson University North Carolina, USA, and in 2015, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Sheffield International Faculty, City College Thessaloniki, Greece, in recognition of her exceptional professional achievement, leadership, and commitment to improving society. Additionally, she received the Alumni Volunteer Awards from the University of Sheffield in the UK in 2017.

In her current position as Executive Director of GADC, Mirela is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the organization, which was established to ensure gender-positive and transformative outcomes and impacts on Albanian society. She provides technical input and guidance on gender issues for the planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of GADC projects, programs, and initiatives to ensure expected results.

Mirela promotes and scales out relevant gender concepts, approaches, and analytical frameworks among diverse target groups, including members of parliament, central and local officials, women, men, youth, and businesses, to apply in the Albanian context. She strengthens the capacity of Albanian institutions to integrate gender dimensions in their work and builds and maintains a network of gender experts and women professionals within Albania, the region, and beyond. Mirela also acts as an expert and spokesperson on gender-related issues.

She provides input in every project and program development, monitoring, and evaluation to integrate gender analysis and outcomes into the public and private institutions programs and initiatives. She produces and provides high-quality research and knowledge on emerging gender-related issues and publications and shares knowledge within networks. Mirela also organizes, conducts, and contributes to internal and external training events, workshops, and seminars on gender issues to strengthen the capacity of partners and to share knowledge.

Mirela has acted as a team leader or key consultant in a number of gender analysis, policy papers, and reports. She has provided technical input and guidance on gender issues for the planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of GADC projects, programs, and initiatives. She has managed various national and international projects for GADC, including mapping and monitoring municipal gender action plans, mapping women's economic empowerment at the local level, training of city councillors, and training and activities with gender focal points, police officers, and other professionals, with a view to mainstreaming gender analysis and outcomes into public and private institutions programs and initiatives.

Mirela's dedication to gender equality and empowerment has led to significant contributions to Albanian society and beyond. Her expertise, leadership, and commitment to improving society make her an invaluable asset to our organization and Albanian society.