Stefan Chichevaliev
Summary
Skilled researcher, program and project management professional with more than a decade of experience in the private, public, and civil sectors. Demonstrated results in working in and with the think-tank industry, financial partners, and governmental institutions, and a solid track record of research, analyses, and publications. Consultant for many international organizations in creating and implementing innovative solutions with significant impact on people’s wellbeing. Bridging science and practice and boosting international academic partnerships.
Specific Experience
- 10+ years as a researcher.
- 8+ years in managing international projects and clients.
- 8+ years as a sustainable and social business development trainer.
- 8+ years in policy development
- 7+ years in executive positions.
- 6+ years as a consultant in international projects.
- 5+ years of managing an organization.
- 5+ years of coordinating networks and consortiums.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
MSCA ImpACT Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels
04.2022 - Current
- Analysed the level of influence of the macro-level factors on the meso- (organisational) and microlevel (individual) factors in the social entrepreneurship context.
- Analysed how the environmental elements impact the development of social entrepreneurship to better the efforts and advance towards creating a conducive ecosystem.
- Identified the factors for creating a conducive environment for developing and promoting social entrepreneurship.
- Analyzed the level of influence that the social entrepreneurship environment has on social enterprises and entrepreneurs.
- Conducted quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Conducted a survey with social enterprises.
- Conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with social entrepreneurs and organisations supporting social enterprises.
- Identified the social entrepreneurship ecosystem accelerators and constraints for future sector development in Belgium.
- Identified a roadmap that would help social entrepreneurs how to navigate the ecosystem.
- Conducted a national study in Belgium which could pave the way for future social entrepreneurship ecosystem development.
Country Coordinator
Swiss Refugee Council
Skopje
07.2015 - 12.2023
- Conducted legal research on policies, provisions and implementation of laws and bylaws, focused on social and health issues.
- Researched the availability, accessibility, quality, and affordability of specific treatments and medications, as well as potential discriminatory practices in the social and health care system that may limit certain vulnerable groups' access to medical services.
- Conducted social-related research focused on the social protection system.
Executive Director
Social Entrepreneurship Observatory
Skopje
12.2018 - 06.2023
- Developed a Regional Network and Resource Center for Social Entrepreneurship - the Social Entrepreneurship Observatory (www.seobservatory.org), focused on the development of social entrepreneurship in South-East Europe.
- Contributed to the development of the social economy ecosystem.
- Built the capacity of existing and new social entrepreneurs and enterprises.
- Offered various services, including research, training, consulting, editing and publishing, networking and coordination and event organizing.
Legal Consultant/Mentor
Association for Social Innovation “ARNO”
Skopje
07.2020 - 09.2021
- Provided legal advice and consultation for organizational issues, contracts and legal support.
- Revised legal documents for the organization and their compliance with contemporary laws and bylaws.
- Provided mentorship and consultancy to potential sustainable and social businesses as part of the “RISE JOURNEY” program, implemented by the Association for Social Innovation “ARNO”, as part of the “RISE” regional program.
- Developed a Toolkit for social entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurs.
Legal Expert
EPTISA Regional Office for Southeast Europe
Skopje
02.2021 - 06.2021
- Revised the Draft-Strategy for Support of Social Enterprises of the country.
- Revised the Draft-Action Plan for Support of Social Enterprises of the country.
- Conducted training for social entrepreneurship for policy and decision makers and Regional Centers for Support of Social Enterprises in the country.
Consultant/Trainer
UNDP
Skopje
05.2020 - 05.2021
- Provided of entrepreneurship training and business plan development.
- Assessed of business ideas.
- Drafted a report on the development of business ideas.
Legal Expert
EPTISA Regional Office for Southeast Europe
Skopje
10.2019 - 12.2019
- Supported the development of a suitable legal and policy framework for the implementation of the Strategy.
- Supported the Senior Legal Expert with the creation of bylaws, standards, guides and other documents for regulating the establishment, management and delivery of effective services, in the public and private sector.
Consultant/Researcher
Red Cross of North Macedonia, Austrian and Swiss Red Cross
Skopje
04.2019 - 09.2019
- Explored the possibility of establishing a social enterprise by introducing the service “Emergency Button and Other Support Services for Elderly People in North Macedonia”.
- Developed a fully-fledged concept for performing a feasibility study.
- Developed a methodology for the feasibility study.
- Prepared a feasibility study according to the concept and methodology.
- Developed and implemented a capacity building module and workshop for “conducting a survey, as a research tool”.
- Presented feasibility study results.
- Developed and delivered a final report with recommendations to the contractor.
Researcher/ Program Coordinator
Centre for Regional Policy Research and Cooperation ‘Studiorum’
Skopje
10.2014 - 12.2018
- Developed and managed projects.
- Fundraised.
- Developed and managed research assignments.
- Developed and implemented trainings, workshops and other public and expert events.
- Conducted analytical work (policy and legal documents),
- Provided legal expertise, communication and coordination.
- Provided input in the development of the country’s Health 2020 Agenda.
- Conducted research on rare diseases, Roma discrimination and integration, health care, social protection focused on social services and integration into the labour market.
- Advocated through policy documents and briefs and communication with authorities on a national and local level.
Consultant/ Technical Support
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Skopje
09.2013 - 09.2014
- Developed policies on the protection of children's rights.
- Assisted in the monitoring and implementation of children’s rights policies.
- Provided legal assistance in transposing the EU Acquis into domestic legislation.
- Developed policies and mechanisms for child care in the rural regions of North Macedonia.
- Provided technical support for existing child care structures in North Macedonia.
- Conducted analytical work (policy and legal documents).
- Provided legal support in social and child care, communication and coordination, and administrative support.
Junior Associate
Law Firm Chichevaliev & Ilijovski
Skopje
02.2013 - 08.2013
- Assisted in handling company law cases.
- Handled company law cases.
- Drafted legal documents (lawsuits, appeals, various acts, contracts, etc.).
- Conducted contract negotiations.
- Provided administrative support.
- Revised laws and bylaws for the needs of state institutions.
Education
Ph.D. - Business Administration
University “American College Skopje”
Skopje, North Mcedonia11-2020
Certificate - Public Policy Analysis
School of Public Policy “Mother Teresa”
Skopje, North Macedonia05-2020
Diploma - Innovation Ecosystems And Entrepreneurship
Lund University
Lund, Sweden05-2019
Master of Laws - Business Law
University "Ss. Cyril And Methodius"
Skopje, North Macedonia10-2012
Bachelor of Law - General Law
University "Ss. Cyril And Methodius"
Skopje, North Macedonia10-2010
Skills
- Fully computer literate (Windows and Macintosh software), MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Scientific software for qualitative analysis: TAMS Analyser, MaxQDA, and Nvivo
- Scientific software for quantitative data collection and analysis: Qualtrics, LimeSurvey, SPSS and Smart PLS
- Webpage development software - WordPress
- Infographic development and data visualization: Canva, Infograph, PikToChart, Infogram, Venngage, Easelly
- Video editing: Wondershare Filmora, FlexClip, Moovly, Renderforest
- Virtual tools - Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and others
- Business modeling: Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas, Customer Profile, Value Map, Customer Gains, Customer Pains, and others
- Financial projecting
- Proficient in research methodologies, sampling, data collection, and analysis
- Development of training courses, various modules, and curricula
- Project management and coordination
- Grant Writing
- Knowledge valorization
Accomplishments
Awards:
- Social Entrepreneurship Specialist of the Year - Southern Europe Prestige Award 2022/2023 [2023]
- ImpACT Postdoctoral Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship (fully funded) [2022]
- Best Delegate Award – Conference ‘The Model of World Bank’ – Balkan Youth Council [2020]
- PhD Scholarship (70%) – funded by Centre for Regional Policy Research and Cooperation ‘Studiorum’ [2016]
Languages
Macedonian
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Serbian
Advanced (C1)
C1
Bulgarian
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Croatian
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Bosnian
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
French
Beginner
A1
Key qualifications
- Research
- Program and project development, implementation and assessment
- Business Law
- Business development
- Sustainable and social entrepreneurship and innovation
- Policy development and analysis
- Methodology development
- Civil society and community development
- Circular economy
- Consulting
- Mentoring and training
- Advocacy
Specific experience
- 10+ years as a researcher.
- 8+ years in managing international projects and clients.
- 8+ years as a sustainable and social business development trainer.
- 8+ years in policy development
- 7+ years in executive positions.
- 6+ years as a consultant in international projects.
- 5+ years of managing an organization.
- 5+ years of coordinating networks and consortiums.
Projects Lead
- FACTLOI - Social Entrepreneurship: The Level of Influence of Macro-Level Factors on Organizational and Individual Factors [March 2022- March 2024] - Ongoing
- Introductory Virtual Conference for Social Entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans [2021-2022]
- Citizen’s Perception of Social Entrepreneurship [2020]
- Let’s Talk Social Entrepreneurship [2020-2021]
- INNOVENT – Building Bridges for Greater Impact [2019-2020]
- Public Opinion for the Public Health Services in North Macedonia [2018]
- Policies, Practices and Their Influence on the Quality of Life of People with Rare Diseases [2017]
- The Situation of Roma Women in Macedonia [2016]
- Civil Society Index 2015 – Civica Mobilitas [2015-2017]
- Civil Society Organizations Sustainability Index 2014 – USAID [2014]
Organisation of events
Conferences
- Western Balkans Conference for Social Entrepreneurship – “The Challenges of Developing a Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem”, 04 May 2022.
Webinars
- SETalks - http://setalks.org/ - Social Entrepreneurship Webinars with SEE and global experts.
Workshops and Trainings
- Training for educators - “Social Entrepreneurship as a Career Path”
- Training for students as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, North Macedonia – “Design Thinking for Solving Societal Challenges”, 14 November 2022.
- Introduction in the Hackathon for Solving Societal Challenges, 25-26 May 2022.
- Citizen-centric Approach to Delivery of Public Service, November 2018.
Coaching
- Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs Incubation Program, Organization for Social Innovation “ARNO”.
- Social Entrepreneurship Challenge 2022, VUB Chair of Social Entrepreneurship.
Guest lecturer
- London Metropolitan University
- University American College Skopje
- University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Guest speaker
- Guest speaker [2022] - University Tor Vergata Rome.
- Global Entrepreneurship Week [2022] – Yunus Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Economy, Skopje, North Macedonia.
- Global Entrepreneurship Week [2021] – Social Entrepreneurship Observatory, Skopje, North Macedonia.
- Global Entrepreneurship Week [2020] – Social Entrepreneurship Observatory, Skopje, North Macedonia.
- Global Entrepreneurship Week [2019] – American College Skopje.
- Erasmus Mundus Association [2019] – Webinar.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
MSCA ImpACT Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
04.2022 - Current
Legal Expert
EPTISA Regional Office for Southeast Europe
02.2021 - 06.2021
Legal Consultant/Mentor
Association for Social Innovation “ARNO”
07.2020 - 09.2021
Consultant/Trainer
UNDP
05.2020 - 05.2021
Legal Expert
EPTISA Regional Office for Southeast Europe
10.2019 - 12.2019
Consultant/Researcher
Red Cross of North Macedonia, Austrian and Swiss Red Cross
04.2019 - 09.2019
Executive Director
Social Entrepreneurship Observatory
12.2018 - 06.2023
Country Coordinator
Swiss Refugee Council
07.2015 - 12.2023
Researcher/ Program Coordinator
Centre for Regional Policy Research and Cooperation ‘Studiorum’
10.2014 - 12.2018
Consultant/ Technical Support
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
09.2013 - 09.2014
Junior Associate
Law Firm Chichevaliev & Ilijovski
02.2013 - 08.2013
Ph.D. - Business Administration
University “American College Skopje”
Certificate - Public Policy Analysis
School of Public Policy “Mother Teresa”
Diploma - Innovation Ecosystems And Entrepreneurship
Lund University
Master of Laws - Business Law
University "Ss. Cyril And Methodius"
Bachelor of Law - General Law
University "Ss. Cyril And Methodius"
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