Desarta Rapushaj, Albania

Desarta Rapushaj is a dedicated business development and strategic communication professional with over 11 years of experience across the public and private sectors in Albania. She brings extensive expertise in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development, project management, stakeholder engagement, and coordinating international initiatives, all with a strong focus on sustainable economic development. Desarta Rapushaj is currently an Advisor to the General Director at the Agriculture and Rural Development Agency. In this role, Desarta leads strategic communication initiatives, designs and implements outreach campaigns, and coordinates stakeholder engagement to strengthen relationships with farmers, agribusinesses, and institutional partners. She began her career in the banking sector, working for five years to expand access to finance for businesses and entrepreneurs, and later served for five years at the Albanian Investment Development Agency, where she held roles such as Market Research Analyst, Head of Innovation and Projects, and Director of SME and Projects.

As a Humphrey Fellow, Desarta aims to enhance her expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship, gain insights into best practices for SME growth, and develop tools to promote digital adoption among Albanian SMEs. After the Humphrey Fellowship Program, Desarta plans to leverage her expertise to foster a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, improve international market access, and promote digital transformation among SMEs, contributing to job creation, economic stability, and global competitiveness for Albania.

• Master’s Degree in European Policies and Governance at University of Tirana, Albania 2025
• Master’s Degree in Accounting and Auditing at University of Tirana, Albania 2014 
• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance at University of Tirana, Albania 2012

Available to speak on topics including:

• Trade Promotion, Market Acesss , and Investment Facilitation as Pathways to SME Competitiveness
• Digital Transformation and E-commerce as Drivers of Inclusive Competitiveness
• Women’s Access to Finance and Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Inclusive Development
• Building Resilient Food Systems through Climate-Smart Agriculture and SME Innovation
• Innovative Financing Mechanisms for SME growth in Emerging Economies

Contact Desarta via email or LinkedIn.