The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), with its address at Rruga Ibrahim Rugova, Building 42, Entrance 7, Apartment 60, Tirana (hereinafter referred to as “AADF”, “we” or “our”), acting as the controller of personal data in connection with the LEAD Albania Program, is committed to respecting your privacy and complying with all applicable laws on personal data protection and privacy.
This Personal Data Protection Notice (the “Notice”) is intended to inform you about how we use the data you submit when you apply for the LEAD Albania Program through our website, as well as your personal data during and after the duration of the LEAD Albania Program.
In connection with the LEAD Albania Program, we collect and process the following categories of personal data:
This personal data will be processed only for the purposes specified in this Notice and always in compliance with applicable data protection laws and legal requirements.
We will process your personal data for the purposes of administering and managing the LEAD Albania Program, including:
We will not collect, retain or otherwise process personal data that is not necessary for the purposes described above. Where we intend to process your personal data for a purpose that is not compatible with the purposes described in this Notice, we will provide you with appropriate information about such further processing and, where required by applicable law, the legal basis on which the processing is based.
You are not under a legal or contractual obligation to provide personal data as part of the application process. However, if you choose not to provide all of the personal data requested in our call for applications, please note that this may limit our ability to assess your application and may affect your eligibility for, or participation in, the LEAD Albania Program.
The processing activities we carry out for the purposes specified in this Notice include the following:
We rely on the following legal bases for the processing of your personal data:
Your personal data will be stored in your application file, in our human resources management systems or other information and communication technology (ICT) systems (including email), and in physical form.
When processing your personal data, we ensure that such data:
Under applicable data protection laws, your rights in relation to your personal data include, but are not limited to, the following:
We will share your application data with the members of the committee involved in the selection process, who are required to sign a declaration of confidentiality.
If you are selected by the AADF selection committee, your personal data will be shared with the relevant host institution for the purpose of confirming your placement with that institution during the duration of the Program, in accordance with the agreement between AADF and the relevant host institutions.
The contact details of LEAD Alumni may be shared with members of the LEAD Alumni Advisory Committee, appointed by AADF, for the purpose of facilitating direct communication regarding initiatives, activities, opportunities and other matters relating to the LEAD Alumni community. Members of the Advisory Committee are required to sign a declaration of confidentiality.
AADF may engage other companies or organizations to provide certain services or organize certain elements of our activities on our behalf and for our account. Where such organizations process personal data in connection with their services to AADF, we consider them to be personal data processors. AADF enters into data processing agreements with such processors to ensure the confidentiality and appropriate handling of personal data. The provider of our LEAD Albania Program application system is an example of such a processor.
We will retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, as specified in this Notice.
If your application is unsuccessful, your application data will be retained for five (5) years from the conclusion of the selection process.
If your application is successful, your application data will be transferred to your personnel file and retained for the duration of the LEAD Albania Program (one (1) year) and five (5) years from the date you complete the Program, except for the personal data of LEAD Alumni members.
The personal data of LEAD Alumni members will be retained for as long as they remain part of the LEAD Alumni community and, in any event, no longer than until their death or one (1) year following AADF’s decision to discontinue the LEAD Albania Program, whichever occurs earlier. This retention period reflects the fact that, following completion of the LEAD Albania Program, you remain a member of the LEAD Alumni community throughout your lifetime, provided that AADF continues to implement the LEAD Albania Program, unless you request the erasure of your personal data or another legal basis exists for retaining such data.
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse or destruction.
If you have any questions or requests regarding this Privacy Notice or your personal data, please contact us at: Email: leadalbania@aadf.org or privacy@aadf.org.
By continuing with the application process at https://apliko.leadalbania.org, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with this Notice.
(This Personal Data Protection Notice was last updated on 10 September 2026 and may be updated to reflect changes in applicable legal and regulatory requirements and the activities of the LEAD Albania Program. Any updates will be made available on this page.)
Fondacioni Shqiptar-Amerikan për Zhvillim (AADF), me adresë në Tiranë, Rruga Ibrahim Rugova, Ndërtesa 42, Hyrja 7, apartamenti 60 (më tej referuar si “AADF” “ne” ose “jonë“), i cili vepron si kontrollues i të dhënave personale në kuadër të Programit LEAD Albania, është i përkushtuar të respektojë privatësinë tuaj dhe të gjitha ligjet e zbatueshme për mbrojtjen e të dhënave personale dhe privatësinë.
Ky Njoftim për Mbrojtjen e të Dhënave Personale (“Njoftimi“) synon t’ju informojë se si ne i përdorim të dhënat që dorëzoni kur aplikoni për Programin LEAD Albania nëpërmjet faqes sonë të internetit, si dhe të dhënat tuaja personale gjatë dhe pas kohëzgjatjes së Programit LEAD Albania.
Në kuadër të Programit LEAD Albania, ne mbledhim dhe përpunojmë kategoritë e mëposhtme të të dhënave personale:
Këto të dhëna personale do të përpunohen vetëm për qëllimet e përmendura në këtë Njoftim dhe gjithmonë në përputhje me legjislacionin e zbatueshëm për mbrojtjen e të dhënave personale dhe kërkesat ligjore.
Të dhënat personale do të përdoren nga ne me qëllim administrimin dhe menaxhimin e Programit LEAD Albania, përfshirë:
Ne nuk do të mbledhim, ruajmë ose përpunojmë asnjë të dhënë personale që nuk është e nevojshme për të përmbushur qëllimet e mësipërme. Nëse synojmë të përpunojmë të dhënat tuaja personale për një qëllim tjetër që nuk përputhet me qëllimet e përcaktuara në këtë Njoftim, do t’ju ofrojmë informacionin e nevojshëm lidhur me këtë përpunim të mëtejshëm dhe, kur kërkohet nga legjislacioni në fuqi, do t’ju informojmë për bazën ligjore mbi të cilën mbështetet ky përpunim.
Ju nuk keni asnjë detyrim ligjor ose kontraktual për të dhënë të dhëna personale gjatë procesit të aplikimit. Megjithatë, nëse ju vendosni të mos jepni të gjitha të dhënat që kërkohen nga ne në thirrjen tonë për aplikim, ju lutem mbani në konsideratë se vlerësimi juaj si kandidat mund të jetë i kufizuar dhe mund të ndikojë në përzgjedhjen ose pjesëmarrjen tuaj në Programin LEAD Albania.
Aktivitetet e përpunimit që kryejmë për qëllimet e caktuara në këtë Njoftim përfshijnë sa vijon:
Ne mbështetemi në bazat e mëposhtme ligjore për përpunimin e të dhënave tuaja personale:
Të dhënat tuaja personale do të ruhen në dosjen tuaj të aplikimit, në sistemet e menaxhimit të burimeve njerëzore ose sisteme të tjera TIK (përfshirë emailin) dhe në kopje fizike.
Kur përpunojmë ndonjë nga të dhënat personale, ne sigurohemi që këto të dhëna:
Sipas legjislacionit të zbatueshëm, të drejtat tuaja në lidhje me të dhënat tuaja personale janë por nuk kufizohen në sa më poshtë:
Ne do të ndajmë të dhënat tuaja të aplikimit me anëtarët e komisionit të përfshirë në procesin e përzgjedhjes, të cilët nënshkruajnë një deklaratë për ruajtjen e konfidencialitetit.
Nëse përzgjidheni fitues nga komisioni i AADF, të dhënat tuaja do të ndahen me institucionin pritës përkatës për konfirmimin e vendosjes suaj në këtë institucion gjatë kohëzgjatjes së Programit, në përputhje me marrëveshjen që AADF ka lidhur me institucionet pritëse përkatëse.
Të dhënat e kontaktit të LEAD Alumni mund të ndahen me anëtarët e Bordit Këshillimor të Rrjetit LEAD Alumni, të emëruar nga AADF, me qëllim lehtësimin e komunikimit të drejtpërdrejtë lidhur me iniciativa, aktivitete, mundësi dhe çështje të tjera që lidhen me komunitetin LEAD Alumni. Anëtarët e Bordit Këshillimor nënshkruajnë një deklaratë për ruajtjen e konfidencialitetit.
AADF mund të angazhojë shoqëri ose organizata të tjera për kryerjen e disa shërbimeve ose organizimin e disa elementeve të aktiviteteve tona në emër e për llogarinë tonë. Nëse këto organizata përpunojnë të dhëna personale në kuadër të punës së tyre për AADF, ne i konsiderojmë përpunues të dhënash personale. AADF lidh marrëveshje për përpunimin e të dhënave me këta përpunues për të siguruar konfidencialitetin dhe trajtimin e kujdesshëm të të dhënave personale. Furnitori i sistemit tonë të aplikimit për Programin LEAD Albania është një shembull i këtyre përpunuesve.
Ne do t’i ruajmë të dhënat tuaja personale vetëm për aq kohë sa është e nevojshme për përmbushjen e qëllimeve për të cilat janë mbledhur, siç përcaktohen në këtë Njoftim.
Nëse aplikimi juaj është i pasuksesshëm, të dhënat e aplikimit do të ruhen për 5 (pesë) vite nga përfundimi i procesit të përzgjedhjes.
Nëse aplikimi juaj është i suksesshëm, të dhënat e aplikimit do të transferohen në dosjen tuaj personale dhe do të ruhen gjatë kohëzgjatjes së Programit LEAD Albania (1 (një) vit) dhe për 5 (pesë) vite nga përfundimi i Programit nga ana juaj, me përjashtim të të dhënave personale të anëtarëve të LEAD Alumni.
Të dhënat personale të anëtarëve të LEAD Alumni do të ruhen për aq kohë sa ata mbeten pjesë e komunitetit LEAD Alumni dhe, në çdo rast, jo më gjatë se deri në vdekjen e tyre ose një (1) vit pas vendimit të AADF për përfundimin e Programit LEAD Albania, cilado të ndodhë më herët. Kjo periudhë ruajtjeje lidhet me faktin se, pas përfundimit të Programit LEAD Albania, ju mbeteni pjesë e komunitetit LEAD Alumni gjatë gjithë jetës suaj, për sa kohë që AADF vazhdon implementimin e Programin LEAD Albania, përveç kur kërkoni fshirjen e të dhënave tuaja personale ose kur ekziston një bazë tjetër ligjore për ruajtjen e tyre.
Ne zbatojmë masa teknike dhe organizative të përshtatshme për të mbrojtur të dhënat tuaja personale nga aksesi i paautorizuara, humbja, keqpërdorimi ose shkatërrimi.
Nëse keni pyetje ose kërkesa në lidhje me këtë politikë privatësie ose me të dhënat tuaja personale, ju lutemi na kontaktoni në:
E-mail: leadalbania@aadf.org ose privacy@aadf.org
Duke vazhduar procesin e aplikimit në https://apliko.leadalbania.org, ju pranoni se të dhënat tuaja personale do të përpunohen në përputhje me këtë Njoftim.
(Ky Njoftim për mbrojtjen e të dhënave personale është përditësuar më datë 10.09.2026 dhe mund të përditësohet në përputhje me ndryshimet ligjore dhe rregullatore dhe aktivitetet e Programit LEAD Albania. Çdo përditësim do të bëhet i disponueshëm në këtë faqe.)
Arnold Kapinova is an archaeologist and cultural heritage professional with nearly a decade of experience in heritage education, community engagement, digital innovation, and cultural tourism. His work spans Albania and the Western Balkans, including cross-border and educational initiatives with Cultural Heritage without Borders Albania. Through European mobility and entrepreneurship programmes in Spain, he explored how digital tools can improve public access to cultural heritage. His work focuses on making heritage more accessible, participatory, and meaningful while strengthening connections between communities, culture, and the public.
Juxhina Gjoni is an Albanian security and defence consultant, expert specializing in civil–military cooperation, operational environment analysis, and transatlantic security affairs. She is the founder of Women in International Security Albania and has lectured on NATO Civil–Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Doctrine and the PMESII–ASCOPE framework. Internationally, she led the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA), representing networks across 32 NATO states, and completed training at NATO Centres of Excellence. In Albania, she is a recognized security analyst, frequently appearing on national television.
Sara Caushi is a physics engineer with over seven years of experience in public administration and the private sector, specializing in EU funds management, institutional reporting, and risk management. Since 2021 she has served at the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (ARDA), where she has been responsible for IPARD II payment authorization, risk coordination, and currently leads the Reporting Sector, delivering technical and financial reporting on national and EU-funded agricultural schemes to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Prime Minister’s Office. Holding a Master of Science from the Polytechnic University of Tirana and a certification in energy auditing, Sara is committed to modernizing public administration through digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
Joani Leka is a lawyer with eight years of experience in private practice, working within multidisciplinary legal and tax teams on matters involving international businesses, organizations and domestic corporations.
His experience spans commercial and tax law, dispute resolution and regulatory matters across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on energy and natural resources. Working across these areas has given him a practical view of the legal and regulatory environment shaping business and investment in Albania. He has a particular interest in European integration, as well as in the relationship between law, regulation and economic development.
Saimir Bakalli is a senior civil society, governance and social development professional with over 15 years of experience in NGO leadership, EU- and UN-funded programme, social inclusion, and institutional cooperation, with particular expertise in the social reuse of seized and confiscated assets. As Executive Director of the Joscelyn Foundation, he has led initiatives transforming confiscated assets into community services and social enterprises, creating employment opportunities and supporting vulnerable groups. His work in this field has received support from the OSCE and the European Union Delegation to Albania and has been promoted as a good practice in the Western Balkans. Saimir holds degrees in Psychology, Social Work, Clinical Psychology and an Executive MBA. As a LEAD Albania Fellow, he focuses on strengthening policies and institutional mechanisms for the social reuse of seized and confiscated assets, contributing to community development, good governance and the rule of law.
Dafina Peci has an academic background in Political Science, International Relations, and Regional Policy Studies and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Tirana, with a research focus on human capital, institutional capacities, and national security. Since 2016, she has led the National Youth Congress of Albania, while also serving as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana, since 2017. Her experience spans strategy development, institutional development, research, and cooperation with public and international stakeholders. Her contribution to leadership, youth empowerment, and regional cooperation has been recognised through international awards and programmes, including “Architect of Tomorrow”, “Youth Ambassador of Peace”, the Austrian Leadership Program, and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
Leonard Proko is an environmental and climate change professional with over 12 years of experience across the private sector, international consultancy, and environmental projects in Albania. He holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, completed as a Chevening Scholar, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental and Energy Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana. His expertise includes environmental management, climate change, air quality, and industrial environmental compliance, developed through experience in the cement industry and internationally funded projects, including those supported by the EBRD and IFC. His professional interests include environmental and climate policy, sustainable development, industrial decarbonisation, and Albania’s alignment with EU environmental standards, with a particular focus on linking technical expertise, evidence-based policymaking, and effective environmental governance.
Daena Madhi is a photonics scientist with more than a decade of experience in research institutes and industry across Germany, Denmark, Spain and Portugal. Her career bridges advanced scientific research and executive leadership, from developing photonic technologies in Europe’s leading laboratories to running a technology company. She holds a PhD in optical physics from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and an MSc with Honours in Advanced Optical Technologies from Erlangen-Nürnberg University (FAU). She has held research positions at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Germany and CIC nano GUNE in Spain.Since 2021, Daena Madhi has served as Chief Operating Officer of FileRun, a software company based in Portugal. She now brings her international experience to support innovation and technological transformation in Albania.
Joani Leka is a lawyer with eight years of experience in private practice, working within multidisciplinary legal and tax teams on matters involving international businesses, organizations and domestic corporations.
His experience spans commercial and tax law, dispute resolution and regulatory matters across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on energy and natural resources. Working across these areas has given him a practical view of the legal and regulatory environment shaping business and investment in Albania. He has a particular interest in European integration, as well as in the relationship between law, regulation and economic development.
Dafina Peci has an academic background in Political Science, International Relations, and Regional Policy Studies and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Tirana, with a research focus on human capital, institutional capacities, and national security. Since 2016, she has led the National Youth Congress of Albania, while also serving as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana, since 2017. Her experience spans strategy development, institutional development, research, and cooperation with public and international stakeholders. Her contribution to leadership, youth empowerment, and regional cooperation has been recognised through international awards and programmes, including “Architect of Tomorrow”, “Youth Ambassador of Peace”, the Austrian Leadership Program, and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.