For the first time in its history, the European Wergeland Centre will welcome a new Executive Director at its helm.
“We are very happy that Eva Kløve has accepted the position as Executive Director of the European Wergeland Centre. She has solid international leadership experience in the field of human rights and democracy, and a strong passion for the work we do. The board is confident that she is the right person to lead the Centre’s efforts to defend and strengthen democracy in Europe through education,” says Sofie Høgestøl, Chair of the Board.
Kløve joins the Centre from her position as Head of Strategy and Policy, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law at the EEA and Norway Grants in Brussels. With close to 25 years of professional experience in international development, she has worked with a wide range of stakeholders to promote democracy and human rights based economic and social development. Before her time in Brussels, she was a manager at the World Bank Group, overseeing the implementation of the Human Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment Umbrella Program. She has also been a senior adviser at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Oslo.
“In addition to her solid professional experience, she has a strong record as an activist for youth engagement and solidarity work in organisations such as Operation Day’s Work and the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH). This is a perfect fit with the Wergeland Centre’s core values and its emphasis on building young people’s political efficacy,” says Høgestøl.
“Democracy is under pressure, also in Europe. There is a growing need to strengthen human rights and democratic citizenship, and education is a powerful tool for meeting this challenge. The European Wergeland Centre bases its work on the Council of Europe’s standards, ensuring legitimacy and sustainability,” Kløve says.
“I am very much looking forward to taking on the role of Director of the Wergeland Centre. In today’s Europe, few things are more important than equipping new generations to protect and further develop democracy. The European Wergeland Centre has established itself as a leading centre of expertise in education for democratic participation, and having the opportunity to contribute to this important work together with a dedicated team feels deeply meaningful.”
Kløve will take up her new role on 3 August. During the interim period, the Centre will be led by its Head of Finance, Luvisa Hansen, as the current Acting Executive Director, Ingrid Aspelund, goes on maternity leave.