Dr. Shkelzen Marku

Shkelzen is co-founder and Managing Director of Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans), supporting development of entrepreneurship ecosystem and impact enterprising initiatives in Western Balkan countries. He has 20+ years of experience in the design and delivery of business development services, practical/hands-on training, coaching, and mentoring to MSMEs, startups and social impact entrepreneurs, as well as in the design and implementation of financial and non-financial instruments in support to entrepreneurs in Albania and other Western Balkan countries. He has served, for several years, as consultant and advisor on economic development policies and project design, implementation, and management for several governmental and international development institutions (including World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, etc.) in more than 15 countries around the world (including in Western Balkans, Caucasus, Africa and Asia). He holds a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Economy from CIHEAM-IAMM (France) and a Doctorate degree in Economic Development Policies from AUT (Albania). For more than 15 years he has also served as visiting lecturer at various universities in Albania.