Milena Nikolova holds a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Philology and Master’s degrees in Public Relations and Political Sociology from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Her professional interests and experience include advocacy and policy development in the field of human rights, as well as direct fieldwork as a child protection officer, ensuring children’s rights and safeguarding their best interests.
She has over 15 years of experience as a volunteer, activist, and staff member in non-governmental and international organisations, working in areas such as education, health, early childhood development, migration and asylum, and children’s rights.
Milena served as Children’s Policy Coordinator at the Secretariat of the National Network for Children (NNC) from 2013 to 2016, and subsequently joined the International Organization for Migration – the UN Migration Agency, where she worked until January 2025. During her tenure with the UN, she held positions in Bulgaria, Germany, Nigeria, and Sudan, working on the ground with internally displaced persons, refugees, and economic migrants, including victims of human trafficking, women and children affected by gender-based violence, and other vulnerable groups.
Her professional experience includes training initiatives for national institutions and NGOs in advocacy, asylum, and migration; policy development and coordination among stakeholders in human rights; fieldwork and team coordination in hard-to-reach areas and crisis situations; and proven programme experience in human rights protection.
Milena holds certifications from various training organisations, including the Bulgarian School of Politics and the U.S. Department of State.
