Who we are

Bojana Balon

Head of SEESAC

bojana.balon@undp.org

Bojana Balon is responsible for the long-term strategic planning of the initiative, leading the partnerships and overseeing the implementation of projects within the SEESAC portfolio thus contributing to strengthening the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of SALW, advancing gender equality, facilitating regional cooperation and thus contributing to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. As Head of SEESAC, Bojana is also leading the Secretariat of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Multi Partner Trust Fund. Bojana joined SEESAC in 2010 as Project Officer and coordinated SEESAC's activities related to gender mainstreaming in the security sector, including both the Women Police Officers Network in SEE (WPON) and the Gender Equality in the Military project. Prior to joining SEESAC, she worked for UNDP in Serbia, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the General Police Directorate in Slovenia. Bojana earned her Master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Alain E. Lapon

Chief Technical Adviser

alain.lapon@undp.org

Alain E. Lapon is an expert in the security sector specializing in firearms, ammunition and explosives. With broad experience in the Western Balkans, Alain has been working as Project Manager for UNDP since 2003. He served as Project Manager of the UNDP small arms control project SACIM and the UNDP project Partnership for Community Safety and Security in the Republic of North Macedonia. He led the UNDP Kosovo* small arms control project KOSSAC from 2008 onwards. Alain began his role as Technical Adviser to UNDP SEESAC in June 2014. Besides arms control (including consultations on cross border control, information management, legislative frameworks, collection campaigns, destructions of small arms and light weapons, stockpile management, and capacity building), he has been engaged in Integrated Border Management strategies, private security service legislation, civil use of explosives, and – as of late – in the field of countering violent extremism. He has an extensive military background. 

Juliana Buzi

Regional Cooperation Specialist

juliana.buzi@undp.org

Juliana Buzi joined the UNDP SEESAC team in March 2014. She is primarily responsible for coordinating SEESAC’s regional cooperation and arms control policy related activities as well as overseeing SEESAC’s activities related to the coordination and monitoring of the Western Balkans Roadmap. Juliana holds a degree in philology from the University of Tirana and has completed post-graduate studies at the Albanian Diplomatic Academy. Prior to joining SEESAC, she worked for the NATO Support Agency - NSPA (former-NAMSA) in the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mines Project in Albania (2000-2001). During 2002-2014, Juliana served as Programme Specialist with the Albanian Mine Action Executive for the implementation of the Mine Action and Hotspots Clearance Programme in Albania. In addition, she held the position of Project Officer at the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), as well as at the Implementation Support Unit for the AP Mines Ban Convention (2006-2008) based in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Jelena Bujaković

SALW Project Specialist

jelena.bujakovic@undp.org  

Jelena Bujaković is the SALW Project Specialist. Prior to joining the SEESAC team, she worked for the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia as Deputy Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, EU Affairs and Planning; and before that, she served as the Assistant Head of Border Police Directorate. She also worked in the Belgrade City Police on combatting trafficking in human beings and in Bureau for International Cooperation in the Office of the Minister of Interior. Jelena also served as the first Chair of the Women Police Officers Network in South East Europe. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology in the University of Belgrade.

Danijela Djurović

Project Analyst

danijela.djurovic@undp.org

Danijela Djurović is the key SEESAC contact on all issues related to the Gender Equality in the Military project. Danijela joined the SEESAC team in June 2012, having previously worked for the UNDP Serbia office since 2002. She has extensive experience in the human rights-based approach to development programming as her work mainly focused on social inclusion, support to civil society organizations, marginalized groups and gender mainstreaming. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Serbian language and literature, from the Faculty of Philology, Belgrade University. She also gained additional education on Gender Equality and Social Development at the University of London (International Programmes). Currently engaged on gender equality and Security Sector Reform. 

Jelena Dinov Stevanović

SEESAC Operations Manager

jelena.dinov.stevanovic@undp.org

Jelena Dinov Stevanović is responsible for overseeing SEESAC projects’ finance and operations. Jelena joined SEESAC team in 2016 and since then she was holding positions of the Project Finance Associate and Events Support Consultant. Jelena has extensive knowledge and experience in financial and operational management of development projects. Prior to joining SEESAC, Jelena worked for the UNDP Rapid Employment Programme, Municipal Improvement and Revival Programme 1 and 2 (2002-2009) and for the EU Delegation Municipal Infrastructure Support Programme implemented by Eptisa (2010-2016). Jelena holds an International Diploma in Business Management from the University of Cambridge and a Diploma in English Language and Literature from the University of Nis.

Edin Serezlić

SALW Control Specialist

edin.serezlic@undp.org 

Edin Serezlić joined the SEESAC team as the SALW Control Specialist, focusing on supporting SEESAC’s regional cooperation and arms control policy-related activities and the monitoring and coordination of the implementation of the Western Balkans Roadmap.

Edin brings over 26 years of professional experience with various government and international organizations, promoting the rule of law, justice and security sector institutional development and capacity building, security sector reforms, and human rights protection in the regions of the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Since 2019, Edin has been with UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving as the Regional War Crimes Project Coordinator, SALW Programme Coordinator, and finally as the Justice and Security Sector Leader, focusing on transitional justice, human security, cybersecurity, and environmental justice. Previously, Edin worked with the OSCE Mission to Ukraine, IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a national expert, and with the USDOJ ICITAP in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro as a Political and Rule of Law Advisor.

Edin holds a master’s degree in Crisis Management in the Security Sector from the University of Sarajevo.

Tamara Svirčev

Project Analyst - SALW Control

tamara.svircev@undp.org

Tamara Svirčev supports arms control activities focusing on the improvement of capacity for physical security and stockpile management through infrastructure security upgrades, surplus reduction and training. She provides assistance and technical advice to the national authorities in particular in relation to stockpile management. She has been an active contributor to several regional processes in this field. Until April 2017, Tamara was responsible for financial monitoring, planning, and overseeing of SEESAC procurement processes, as well as for the day-to-day coordination of the CASM Programme (2012-2016). She joined the SEESAC team in 2005. Her prior experience includes working for UNDP Serbia and Montenegro - Beautiful Serbia Project, as well as the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and various international organizations. Tamara obtained her degree in architectural engineering from the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture.

Dragan Božanić

Gender and Research Project Analyst

dragan.bozanic@undp.org

Dragan Božanić joined the SEESAC team in February 2016 as Gender and SALW Consultant. He is a gender specialist with expertise in gender mainstreaming, public policies, gender budgeting, gender research and analysis, as well as organizational change. He has vast experience in the implementation of gender equality policies in different fields, particularly gender mainstreaming and violence against women, as well as project design and management. Prior to SEESAC, Dragan served as Gender Advisor in the Provincial Secretariat for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality within the Government of Vojvodina. As part of his work in the public administration, Dragan co-initiated pioneering work in the field of gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting within the provincial government. Dragan Božanić has also been engaged as an expert consultant by: OSCE Mission to Serbia, ODIHR, CIDA, UN Women, UNICEF and is a member of the UN Secretary-General's Network of Men Leaders since 2012.

Vesna Cipruš

Senior Gender Adviser

vesna.ciprus@undp.org

Vesna Cipruš joined the SEESAC team as a Senior Gender Adviser in September 2020, focusing on the Gender Equality in the Military project. Previously, she worked at the Rio Tinto mining corporation in Serbia. In charge of the 'Jadar' project social performance, Ms. Cipruš worked on gender mainstreaming in social impact assessment and established the Family and Domestic Violence Policy. In addition, Vesna has extensive experience in working for UNDP in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States – CIS, providing advice on civil society, social inclusion, and gender equality. She has held various consultancy roles in UNICEF, UNAIDS and UN Women, and conducted Gender Scorecard assessments for Albania, Armenia, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Vesna has also served as Technical Committee Member of the UN Fund for Gender Equality. Ms. Cipruš earned her Master's degree in Sustainable Development Management from the Imperial College, UK, and her Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Department of International Affairs, from the University of Belgrade. She also holds a postgraduate degree in Development and Ethics from the University of Bath, UK.