Dr. Barbara Balaj is an international policy and development expert with significant experience in engaging in complex governance, political economy and reconstruction challenges in transition, fragile, conflict and violence-affected (FCV) areas. She has broad experience in the Middle East and North Africa, the Balkans, and Cyprus covering a wide range of issues, including governance; political-economy analysis; post-conflict reconstruction; donor partnerships and aid coordination; private sector development; refugees, migration issues and Diaspora communities; NGOs; and institution building. Ms. Balaj has worked as a Consultant for the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as a Guest Lecturer for the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Training Institute where she lectured on the economies of the Balkans and the Middle East and North Africa. Ms. Balaj holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the George Washington University, a Certificate in French Studies from the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in France, a Certificate in German Studies from the German Federal Academy for Public Administration, a Masters in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a B.A., in Political Science and Germany from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).