Shkendije Himaj
Economist and Advocate for Financial Inclusion.
This is a portrait of Shkendije Himaj, captured in Prishtina, Kosovo's capital, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Photograph by Vudi Xhymshiti for THE PICTURES, via VX Pictures)
Shkendije Himaj, a 40-year-old economist, was born and raised in Decan, Dukagjini Plains of Western Kosovo. She pursued her studies in economics at the University of Prishtina. During the war in 1997-1999, she and her husband sought refuge in Canada, where they continued their education and careers in economics. In February 2004, they returned to Kosovo, driven by a strong commitment to contribute their expertise to their home country.
Shkendije applied for a position at the Central Bank of Kosovo in 2004 and successfully went through a selection process involving representatives from the IMF and USAID. Her talent and hard work led to her advancement within the institution, securing promotions through openly announced positions. However, her tenure at the Central Bank ended unexpectedly in May 2022 when she was informed of the termination of her contract by the current governor, Fehmi Mehmeti.
Despite this setback, Shkendije remains dedicated to her vision of ensuring equal access to banking products and services for all Kosovars. She firmly believes that financial inclusion plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and reducing poverty. Shkendije's expertise and commitment have earned her recognition as a highly qualified candidate for the position of governor at the Central Bank of Kosovo. A British company hired to ensure merit-based hiring processes for high-level government public servants has ranked her as the top candidate.
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