Since its founding in September 1997, The Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe has been building bridges and networks for peace across Southeastern and East-Central Europe and between the region and the rest of the world.

Based at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Kokkalis Program's mission is to enhance the quality of stability, democracy, prosperity and institutional vitality in Southeastern and East-Central Europe. Towards the fulfillment of this aim, the Kokkalis Program supports an integrated network of educational, research and outreach activities that prepare individuals for leadership roles in public service and bring together practitioners, scholars and students to encourage enterprising solutions to contemporary policy challenges facing the region.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government's mission is to strengthen democratic governance around the world by training people for public leadership and by helping to solve problems of public policy. As a professional school within Harvard University, the Kennedy School is dedicated to learning through research and experience, actively fostering the collaborative efforts of scholars, public officials, and others who are vitally concerned with the public good.