Sara Zekaj joins the Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD) as a Project Officer, bringing extensive expertise in community mobilization, multi-stakeholder coordination, and youth empowerment within Albania’s rural regions.
Her field experience includes coordinating large-scale community events and leading initiatives in municipalities across Kukës, Has, Tropojë, and Dibër for Swisscontact, where she successfully increased female participation in community actions to over 70%.
Sara also has a strong background in policy and governance, having served as a Youth & Leadership Development Officer for The Palladium Group, supporting the activation of Local Youth Councils in Kukës and Elbasan. Previously she was engaged as a Migration Expert/Local Consultant for IOM Albania, supporting the monitoring and reporting of the National Strategy on Migration. This expertise is complemented by her background in central governance as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs.
She possesses significant experience in Western Balkan regional cooperation acting for two years as board member for Western Balkan Alumni Association.
As a Chevening Scholar, Sara holds an MA in International Relations & Security from the University of Westminster, London, in addition to her Msc. in Public Law from University of Tirana. Her combined professional experience is deeply rooted in her personal passion for hiking, traveling in Albania, and cultural tourism. Her dedication to exploring and promoting Albania’s diverse landscape and heritage makes her an invaluable asset to ANRD’s mission to drive sustainable rural development.