Short Bio

Shkelzen has more than 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). As an entrepreneur himself, he is involved in various companies as co-founder, investor, board member or advisor. He is also President of the Partnership for Development Foundation (Albania), member of the Board of Directors of KGMA-Microcredit Fund (Kosovo) and member of the Advisory Board of Albanian Center for Economic Research (Albania). He graduated from CNEARC (France) in Agro-Engineering and 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.