Brief Introduction of Lucia Kišš
Lucia Kišš
Director General, Economic and Development Cooperation Section, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Ms. Lucia Kišš has been Director General of the Economic and Development Cooperation Section of Slovakia's MFEA SR since July 2021. Before this position she served as: Director of the Slovak Agency for International Cooperation (SlovakAid) being responsible for yearly allocation of 7 mil. EUR (2018-2021); Director at the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic being responsible for the Inclusions of Marginalized Roma Communities and 450 mil. EUR budget allocation from European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund (2015-2018); Head of Unit for programming and methodology for the Operational Programe Effective Public Administration at the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic. Prior to that she worked also as the project evaluator, research analyst, consultant working for Asylum and Migration Fund, National Migration Office, International Organization for Migration (IOM), European Council on Refugees and Exile (ECRE). Ms. Lucia Kišš studied International Studies with Political Science at the University of Birmingham (UK) and Forced Migration and International Development at the University of Oxford (UK).
Lucia KIŠŠ
EXPERIENCE
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic 07/2021 - present
Director General, Section of Economic and Development Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic 01/2018 – 06/2021
Director, Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SlovakAid)
- Responsible for €7 mil. (yearly allocation from the state budget)
- In charge of the design and publication of calls for proposals for projects, financial contributions, micro-grants, sending
volunteers and experts to developing countries, engaging the private sector in development etc.
- working with UNDP, UNESCO, USAID, OECD and V4 countries on joint development and humanitarian projects.
- Management of 2 teams; 18 employees
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic 09/2015 – 1/2018
Director, Department for the Inclusion of Marginalized Roma Communities
Implementation Body for the Operational Program Human Resources 2014-2020
- Responsible for €450 mil. budget allocation from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund
- In charge of the design and publication of the calls for proposals for demand oriented projects (construction of pre-school
infrastructure, community centers, water supply, housing and roads) and national projects (social fieldwork, support for
teaching and healthcare assistance etc.), their implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Management of 4 teams; 50+ employees
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic 10/2015 – 12/2017
External Project Evaluator, Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF)
- Evaluating submitted project proposals based on selection criteria.
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic 10/2014 – 09/2015
Head of Unit, Programming and Methodology
Managing Authority for the Operational Program Effective Public Administration 2014-2020
- Strategic management of €335M from the European Social Fund focusing on institutional capacity building.
- Collaborated with ministries, social and economic partners, civil society organizations, the European Commission and
external consultants. Consulted beneficiaries on the preparation of projects, provided methodological guidance.
- Management of 8 employees.
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic 02/2013 – 10/2014
Advisor for the programming of European Structural and Investment funds 2014-2020
- Strategic planning and negotiation of the operational program Effective Public Administration with the EC.
- Organized and coordinated high level working groups and events; interpreting and translating.
Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic 08/2012 – 02/2013
Research Analyst at the National Migration Office
- Provided comprehensive research on Country of Origin Information (COI) and analysis for the purposes of asylum claims;
working with bilateral and multilateral foreign asylum and immigration authorities; attending international conferences.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 11/2012 – 12/2012
Consultant for the Next Door Family EU project – Inclusive Neighborhoods
- Project implementation; promoted and raised awareness of the project; liaised with migrant families; coordinated meetings;
assisted with the film shooting and project evaluation.
European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), Brussels 02/2012 – 06/2012
Media and Communications Assistant
- Worked in a busy communications team and answered media inquiries; drafted press releases, reviews and articles;
conducted interviews; produced and disseminated daily news updates and weekly e-bulletins; assisted with event organisation and coordination of the ECRE Media Officers Network; created and managed website content (CRM, HTML, Google Analytics)
and enhanced social media presence (Facebook, Twitter)
European Commission, Brussels 10/2011 – 01/2012
Blue Book Trainee in the Cabinet of the Vice-President of the European Commission
- Prepared reports, translations and bilingual press releases; collaborated in organizational, informational, administrative and
logistical tasks; acquired practical knowledge of EU policies, rules and procedures; created social media content.
Delegation of the EU to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN, Jakarta02/2011 – 06/2011
Trainee in the Economic and Trade Unit; Trainee in the Political Unit
- Built and maintained successful business relationships with stakeholders in a B2B environment; produced a report on the
enhancement of investment opportunities in Indonesia; assisted with the organisation of the EU-ASEAN Business Summit.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Jakarta 09/2010 – 11/2010
Intern in the Project Development Office
- Developed a project proposal in the area of migration health together with a budget and a logistical framework; designed a
resource mobilization strategy and liaised with donors and stakeholders.
Additional professional experiences as a Board Member/Former Co-editor of the Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration
(online journal); researcher working with marginalized Roma communities for the Association for Culture Education and
Communication (ACEC), fundraiser for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Friends of the
Earth Gift Fundraising Ltd. Birmingham, UK; interpreter/translator for Social Work Inputs & Interpreting Services in the West
Midlands, UK; Activity Leader in an international summer camp for Bell Educational Trust, Kent, UK; Lifeguard/ First Aid
Officer/Recreational Assistant for the University of Birmingham Munrow Sports Centre, UK; Student Mentor for the
University of Birmingham Aim Higher Scheme; legal assistant for Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP Ottawa, Canada; social
worker and English teacher in the Dominican Republic.
EDUCATION
HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL 2021
Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries, Executive Educationonline
DUKE UNIVERSITY 2019
Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Programs, Executive EducationDurham, USA
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE 2015
Economics of European Integration, Summer School (A+)London, UK
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 2009 – 2010
Master of Science in Forced Migration, Refugee Studies Centre, International Development (High 2.1/Merit)Oxford, UK
Published MSc dissertation on the legal status of Kosovo Roma in Germany
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM 2006 – 2009
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with Political Science (1st Class Honors/Distinction) Birmingham, UK
IMMACULATA HIGH SCHOOL 2002 – 2006
Ontario Secondary School Diploma, Ontario Scholar Award Ottawa, Canada
LANGUAGES
Proficiency in English, German, Slovak
INTERESTS
Passion for life, traveling, diving, hiking, mountain cycling and cooking
