Zenmarku – enterimpact.org

Shkelzen Marku

Economic development & entrepreneurship | Institutional & organisational development

Co-founder and CEO, Enterimpact Balkans | Founder, Growpreneur Accelerator

Empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening organisations to expand economic and social opportunities for local communities

Short Bio

Shkelzen Marku is an economic development adviser, entrepreneurship programme leader and institutional development consultant with more than 25 years of experience. He supports entrepreneurs in building and growing businesses and helps institutions and organisations strengthen their strategies, capabilities and programme delivery. As co-founder and CEO of Enterimpact Balkans and founder of Growpreneur Accelerator, he leads initiatives supporting startups, SMEs, social enterprises and entrepreneurship ecosystems. His previous roles include Executive Director of Albania’s Mountain Area Development Agency, Director General responsible for agricultural and rural development policies in the Ministry of Agriculture, and Director of the Center for Rural Studies and Sustainable Development in Albania. His advisory experience spans more than 15 countries, including assignments for the World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP and GIZ. Across these roles, he connects policy and organisational development with practical support for enterprise growth and inclusive economic development.

Professional Profile

Shkelzen Marku brings more than 25 years of experience in economic development, entrepreneurship, and institutional and organisational development. As co-founder and CEO of Enterimpact Balkans, formerly Yunus Social Business Balkans, and founder of Growpreneur Accelerator, he designs and leads initiatives supporting startups, SMEs and social enterprises. His work combines business development and acceleration with practical training, coaching and mentoring. He helps entrepreneurs strengthen their business models, plan for growth, improve investment readiness and access financial and non-financial support. He also builds partnerships among enterprise-support organisations, investors and other participants in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

His institutional and organisational work covers assessments, strategic planning, governance, capacity development and programme design. He facilitates planning processes that help organisations strengthen their capacity, clarify priorities and translate strategies into clear responsibilities and implementation plans. He also contributes to policy analysis and recommendations on social and economic inclusion. His international advisory experience spans more than 15 countries across Europe, the Caucasus, Africa and Asia, including assignments for the World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP and GIZ. These assignments have addressed development policies, programme design and implementation, rural and territorial development, and institutional capacity building.

His earlier leadership roles include Executive Director of Albania’s Mountain Area Development Agency, Director General responsible for agricultural and rural development policies in the Ministry of Agriculture, and Director of the Center for Rural Studies and Sustainable Development. Alongside his consulting and programme leadership, he has served on boards and advisory bodies, taught at universities in Albania for more than 15 years, and contributed to publications, high-level policy dialogues and professional discussions on economic development, entrepreneurship and social inclusion. He holds a Doctorate in Economic Development Policies from the Agricultural University of Tirana, a Master of Science in Agribusiness Economics from CIHEAM-IAMM in France, and a degree in Agro-Engineering from CNEARC in France.

Areas of Expertise

Economic and private sector development: Designing and supporting programmes for SME development, enterprise competitiveness, market access and access to finance. Working with development partners and local institutions to strengthen the support available to businesses.
Entrepreneurship and innovation: Designing and delivering acceleration, business development, training and mentoring programmes. Helping founders strengthen their business models, prepare for growth and engage with potential investors.
Institutional and organisational development: Supporting institutional assessments, strategic planning, governance and organisational capacity. Facilitating planning processes and helping teams define priorities, responsibilities and implementation plans.
Development policies and programmes: Contributing to policy analysis, strategy development, programme and project design, implementation and management. Translating development priorities into practical interventions and delivery arrangements.
Social entrepreneurship and inclusion: Supporting social enterprise development and initiatives that expand opportunities for young people and underserved communities. Contributing to policy dialogue on inclusion, employment and social participation.
Rural and territorial development: Working on agricultural and rural development policies, agrifood value chains and economic opportunities in mountain and disadvantaged areas.

Selected Governance, Advisory & Academic Roles

President, Partnership for Development Foundation (PfD), Albania | 2007 – present
Member, Board of Directors, KGMA Microcredit Fund (KGMAMF), Kosovo | 2017 – present
Member, Advisory Board, Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER), Albania | 2016 – present
Member, Academic Senate, Qiriazi University College, Tirana, Albania | 2017 – 2020
Member, Editorial Board, Economicus Scientific Review, European University of Tirana | 2006 – 2016
Member, Board of Directors, First Albanian Development Finance Corporation, Albania | 2007 – 2012
Visiting Professor, Project Management, Economic Faculty, Qiriazi University College, Albania | 2017 – 2019
Visiting Professor, Development Policies, Agribusiness and Economic Faculty, AUT, Albania | 2002 – 2018
Visiting Professor, Territorial Management, Economic Faculty, European University of Tirana | 2011 – 2012

Selected conferences and professional discussions

September 2026. Renovabis International Congress, Freising, Germany. Speaker at the congress on social cohesion in East and West.
September 2026. Diaspora4Innovation, Tirana. Panellist in the interactive clinic on technology adoption and why promising technologies fail.
June 2026. Mediterranean Blue Economy Conference, Cartagena, Spain. Moderator of the discussion on financing and scaling blue innovation.
December 2025. Business 2030 Conference. Speaker on a sustainable future made in Albania.
November 2025. RISE Local Forum, Tirana. Moderator of the advocacy panel on social entrepreneurship in Albania.
July 2025. Investor Talks, Tirana. Speaker contributing to discussion of entrepreneurship and investment in Albania.
March 2025. Growpreneur partnership event. Contributor to discussion of international partnerships and Albania’s startup ecosystem.
November 2023. Bedër University. Guest lecturer on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills.
February 2023. Society for International Development United States. Panel contribution on the role of corporate partnerships in sustainable development.
October 2020. CSR Europe. Speaker on financing for impact in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
May 2020. Startup Grind Tirana. Guest speaker on entrepreneurship and social business.

Selected media appearances

November 2025. Top News. Discussion of Albania’s innovation ecosystem and participation at Slush Helsinki.
April 2025. Scan TV. Interview on preparing Albanian startups to attract international investors.
April 2025. Founders Talk. Conversation about Growpreneur and the support founders need to build growing businesses.
2022–2023. Top Channel. Expert panel member on the Startop television programme.
March 2022. A2 CNN. Interview on the food crisis and its economic implications.
January 2019. A2 CNN. Discussion of youth employment and access to work.
February 2017. RTV Ora Ekopolitikë. Discussion of economic inequality and differences in living standards.

Selected Publications

2020. Marku, S. Leadership in social economy sector: navigating new realities in times of COVID-19 crisis, social distance and community boundaries. Chapter in Social Distances and Community Boundaries, SOCIETIES, pp. 85–91.
2019. Marku, S. Policy Paper: Fostering inclusion and protection of rights of people with disabilities in Albania. Caritas Albania, 32 pp.
2016. Riolli, L., Hysa, X., Marku, S. Reducing Labour Migration by Increasing Local Employment and Talent Engagement through Social Businesses. Journal of Science and Higher Education Research, pp. 26–40.
2014. Jaupi, A., Marku, S., Bajraktari, E. Review of the regulatory framework on genetically modified food and feed in Albania: a policy perspective. Albanian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, special edition, pp. 230–236.
2013. Schaefer, B., Cela, R., Marku, S. The Effects of EU Integration on a Transitioning Economy. Chapter in Agricultural Markets in a Transitioning Economy: An Albanian Case Study. CABI.
2012. Marku, S. Ecuria e zhvillimit të bujqësisë në Shqipëri dhe në Kosovë: Sfida të përbashkëta dhe nevoja për koordinim të politikave zhvillimore. Chapter on agricultural development and policy coordination in Albania and Kosovo. UET Press, pp. 127–136.
2011. Marku, S. Eksperienca europiane në përcaktimin e zonave malore më pak të avantazhuara: aplikimi në kushtet e Shqipërisë. Economicus 7, pp. 155–161. European approaches to less-favoured mountain areas and their application in Albania.
2010. Cela, R., Marku, S., and Imami, D. Review of agriculture and agricultural policy in Albania. In Volk, T. (ed.), Agriculture in the Western Balkan Countries. IAMO, volume 57, pp. 37–62.
2010. Proko, A., Marku, S., and Civici, A. Le pastoralisme en Albanie: un patrimoine culturel important pour le développement rural durable. Options Méditerranéennes, Series A, no. 93, pp. 181–190. CIHEAM.
2010. Lerin, F., and Marku, S. Mobilités spatiales et développement en Albanie: enseignement de la transition post-communiste et enjeux d’avenir. Fourth International Conference on Balkan Demography, Budva, 13–15 May.
2009. Marku, S., and Treska, T. Politikat e zhvillimit të zonave rurale dhe të defavorizuara – nevoja për konceptime bashkëkohore. Economicus 3. Policy approaches for rural and disadvantaged areas.
2003. Civici, A., Guri, F., and Marku, S. (coordinators) Sfidat e konkurencës ne tregun ballkanik. Comparative study of agrifood competitiveness and business-support policies in Balkan markets. Centre for Rural Studies, Tirana, 147 pp
2001. Civici, A., and Marku, S. Développement et dynamique des exploitations agricoles familiales en Albanie. Chapter on family farms and agricultural policy, in Milieu rural et agriculture familiale: itinéraires méditerranéens. CIHEAM-IAMM, pp. 299–327.
2001. Marku, S. Développement et dynamique de la filière légumes. Options Méditerranéennes, Series B, no. 28. CIHEAM-IAMM.
2001. Civici, A., and Marku, S. Ecuria e ofertes se produkteve agroushqimore shqiptare dhe politikat me efektive per rritjen e aftesise se tyre konkuruese ne treg. Study of Albanian agrifood supply and policies to improve competitiveness. Centre for Rural Studies, Tirana, 167 pp.
1999. Marku, S. La filière légumes en Albanie. Research on actors and constraints in the vegetable value chain during economic transition, with a case study of Kavaja. CIHEAM-IAMM

Connect

For collaboration on enterprise development, entrepreneurship programmes, policy advice, institutional strengthening or organisational development, as well as training, mentoring and speaking engagements, connect with Shkelzen on LinkedIn.

Follow Enterimpact Balkans and Growpreneur for updates on programmes and opportunities.