Professional Affiliation

Researcher, Harvard Kennedy School Class 2013

Expert Bio

Lidija Levkovska Franklin currently heads a start-up consultancy practice ‘Franklin & Asaya,’ based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, she serves at the NATO’s Key Opinion Formers Forum on “Women, Peace and Security from NATO and Partner Countries,” organized by NATO’s Secretary General’s Special Representative on Women, Peace and Security, and as a reviewer for the Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index (GI) 2015 with Transparency International. Ms. Franklin holds Master Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MA in International Relations and European Studies from Central European University in Budapest and B.Sc in Business Administration from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Macedonia. During her career, Lidija served in various capacities with Booz Allen Hamilton’s Defense Modernization and Transformation Team. Most recently, she served as Defense Resource Management Specialist, advising Macedonian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation in areas pertaining to NATO integration, security sector reform and gender mainstreaming in peace and security. Ms. Franklin was also Harvard Kennedy School Mason fellow in Public Policy and Management, and fellow with the Harvard’s Women in Public Policy program.

Wilson Center Project

"Gender Mainstreaming of Peace and Security in the Western Balkans"

Project Summary

Women across the globe and throughout history have been disadvantaged in terms of access to resources, power and decision-making forums. On the global level in the last twelve years, we have seen a magnitude of positive developments that strengthen the role of women on the global stage. Although, the majority of the Western Balkans countries have acknowledged the pivotal role women play in peace and security, there is still a delay in the actual national planning and implementation to ensure women’s rights and responsibilities are fully acknowledged, to include women participation in defense and security decision-making forums. This project aims to determine the possible enablers for a greater women participation in defense and security decision-making, removal of discriminatory legislation and mainstreaming gender into national legislation, public policies, budget allocations and advanced standards for governmental planning in Western Balkans.

Major Publications

"The Limits of Rhetorical Entrapment: NATO Enlargement in South East Europe," Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Germany, ISBN-10: 3639114299 (December 23, 2008).

“Constructivist Approach to Western Balkans Contribution Towards Peace and Stability,” Analytical Journal, Analytica Thinking Laboratory (June 2011).

“Show Me the Money: Burden Sharing Troubles in NATO,” Atlantic Community Open Think Tank, (October 2010).