ELVIS SHAKIRI

Executive director   

Elvis Shakjiri is one of the founders of the Institute for research and policy analyses – Romalitico, and a manager of the Law program. In 2010 he graduated from the Faculty of Law at the South East European University and later continued his MA studies in Budapest-Hungary at the Central European University in the Human Rights Program.

After completing his master’s studies, he is awarded with fellowship at the Policy Research & Consulting Institute – Political Capital in Budapest. During the engagement period his main focus is in the field of electoral models and political campaigns. Prior to the establishment of Romalitico, he worked in several non-governmental organizations as a legal advisor and coordinator of several projects. During his work, Shakjiri as an author is contributing for the researches and analyses carried out by the Institute.

SUAD SKENDERI

Program Manager - Politic  

Suad Skenderi graduated Political science, International Relations and Journalism at FON University. During his studies he was a volunteer at the Humanitarian and Charitable Roma Association "Mesecina" - Gostivar and a club coordinator for the youth network "Blue Sky" supported by the British Council. In 2009, he was promoted as an assistant in the sector for Human Rights and Inter-ethnic relations at "Mesecina" - Gostivar.  

He implemented several projects related to inter-ethnic dialogue and Roma among the other ethnicities in Macedonia. Suad Skenderi is one of the first pioneers of community organizing in the Republic of Macedonia. Romano Avazi in 2012 was the first Roma civil movement with an aim for equal representation of Roma in the state and public administration. He successfully finished the "Roma Access Program" and enrolled for masters degree in the Political Science Department at the Central European University in Hungary - Budapest. His specializations in the field of political science are political representation of minorities, research methodology.

ALBERT MEMETI

Program Manager - Economy   

Albert Memeti is one of the founder of Romalitico, and also a Manager of the Program for Economic Development. His research interest is in the field of employment, budget monitoring, local finances and entrepreneurship of Roma. He holds an MA in Economic Policy in Global Markets from the Central European University, Budapest. Also, at the moment he is enrolled at the Frankfurt School of Business and Management, pursing executive program in the field of Risk management.  

Prior to join Romalitico, he was also a Country Coordinator at the NGO Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initative, responsible for coordinating a team of Business Facilitators in Bulgaria, establishing relations with the Microfinance institutions in Bulgaria. In addition, in 2014-2015 he was engaged as a Risk Analyst at the Social Investment Fund – CoopEst from Brussels, providing debt financing to Microfinance Institutions. While in CoopEst, Albert has completed several due diligence missions in Bulgaria, Armenia, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the period 2016 -2018, he was also a project manager of the project “Improving Roma Employment through Education and Employment”, supported by the EU fund and implemented by the Roma Education Fund and local partner organizations. Albert is committed advocate for advancing the position of Roma and economic empowerment of the Roma community in Macedonia and EU.

DENIZ SELMANI

Program Manager - Local Democracy   

Deniz Selmani has graduated from the study program for Public Administration at the South East European University in Tetovo. He continues his education by enrolling his master studies at the same university in the study program for Diplomacy. In 2017, Selmani has been engaged as research fellow at the Center for Economic Analyzes - CEA where he developed a research on the concept of otherness and entrepreneurship.

Also, Selmani, as a national expert of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, has conduct a comparative analysis of the implementation of the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Macedonia, as well as a draft methodology for identifying persons without documents. His research interests are political parties, electoral models, as well as monitoring the implementation of public policies aimed at inclusion of the Roma community.

MARIJA SULEJMANOVA

Program Manager - Law  

Maria Sulejmanova is a graduate lawyer at the Faculty of Law - Justinian I in Skopje and holds master degree in Human Rights from the Central European University - CEU in Budapest. She is also alumni of the CEU and the RAP program in Budapest. During her undergraduate studies, Maria singled out volunteer experience in various institutions and NGOs, such as the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Appeal - Skopje, ELSA, Romaversitas and MOF. After completing her master studies, she was also an intern at the Roma Rights Center in Budapest.

Maria has the position of a junior researcher at Romalitico and she believes this experience will increase her willingness to engage in future engagements as an advocate and lawyer in the field of human rights. This experience also provides unique knowledge about issues related to the Roma and generally with the overall policy analysis process. Therefore, she is strongly motivated to upgrade, work and develop in a creative and highly ambitious environment where the initial criterion and principle of work is critical thinking. Her interest is directed at the analysis of laws, constitutionality and collision between laws, research aimed at targeting competent institutions, as well as comparing public policies and laws in different countries.

SIMONA SIMOVA

Finance assistant   

Simona Simova is a graduate marketing manager at the European University - Skopje. She continues her education at the Institute of Economics Cyril and Methodius - Financial Management. She acquired her first experience in marketing as an intern in MPM and Idea Plus, where she mainly worked on marketing research on the Macedonian market.

In June 2016 she started as an intern in Croatia Insurance - Life to progress later in a Coordinator for billing and customer care. She continues her financial experience in the Institute for Analyzes and Public Policies - Romalitico, where she holds the position of financial assistant.

MUHAMED AJVAZ

Project manager (Roma Inclusion Activity)   

Muhamed Ajvaz has graduated from the Institute of Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje and continues with his postgraduate studies at the Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, in the field of Political Science and Human Rights.

He has been involved in the civic sector: as a local coordinator in the NGO “Romano Avazi”, as a researcher and editor of a student magazine in the NGO “Romaverzitas” then as a trainer and event organizer in the NGO “Sumnal “ and as project coordinator in the field of changing the negative narrative toward Roma in the healthcare institutions in the NGO “HERA”.

During the studies, he was an intern at the Primary school “Brakja Ramiz and Hamid” and at the Gerontology Institute “13 November”. He is one of the organizers of one of the biggest Balkan student camps “Philosophijada”, where he has previously won the fourth place in a debate at a Balkan level. He was awarded a plaque for successful promotion of the Faculty of Philosophy, also he was named the best student in the  academic year of 2015/16 by NGO “Romaversitas”. Muhamed has the position of a junior researcher at Romalitico because he believes that the research provides insights, facts and evidence that provide a stronger position in advocating for marginalized groups.

SHENAS IMER

Project manager (Roma Inclusion Activity)   

Shenas Imer, graduated historian and archivist at the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" - Skopje at the Faculty of Philosophy. She believes that volunteering should be a feature of every young person, so during her secondary and higher education she tried to be active as an activist and volunteer in various NGOs. First of all, as a long-term volunteer, coordinator of the social-humanitarian sector as well as leader of the Youth Club of Shuto Orizari within the "Red Cross - Skopje". 

Later  a volunteer in the NGO "Sumnal" as well as a paralegal/ facilitator in the NGO "Romano Chachipe". She is a co-creator of a research related to the Roma community on the topic "Problems and needs of Roma students at the beginning of their studies conducted within the Association of Citizens Romaversitas".

SIBEL AMET

Project manager (Roma Inclusion Activity)   

Sibel Amet graduated (LL.B) in 2015 from the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, and in 2018 earned her masters degree (LL.M) in International law, international relations and EU law at the Faculty of Law “Iustinianus Primus” Skopje.

Prior to joining Romalitico’s team as part of the USAID's Roma Inclusion Activity , Sibel was actively engaged in the civil society sector, working in organizations as the National Youth Council in North Macedonia, the Helsinki committee for human rights, Coalition all for fair trials etc. She is an author and co-author of seven publications in the area of human rights and judiciary reform.

VERICA BOJKOVSKA

Project manager (Together for a Prosperous Community)   

Verica Bojkovska graduated International Relations at the Law Faculty of Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria and continued her MA studies at the FON University in the field of International Politics and Diplomacy. During her postgraduate studies she attends an internshipat the Ministry of foreign affairs in the Directorate for multilateral affairs (Units for UN, OSCE and Council of Europe). She was part of the team and contributed in organizing National Conference on human and minority rights under the Macedonian Chairmanship with the Council of Europe.

She has acquired her professional experience in the field of promotion and protection of human and minority rights in many national and international organization among: Balkan Children and Youth Foundation, National Democratic Institute – Skopje, OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and Association Initiative for Social Change – InSoC – Skopje. She has worked on several project related to protection and improvement of the position of Roma community in Macedonia, including Roma access to funds, Civil society in action for equality, Out of the circle - invisible in society, Roma Action + Civic engagement of the local community, etc. She is a co-author of the research "Challenges of Roma returnees in Macedonia" developed within the project "Encouraging sustainable reintegration of Roma - returnees in Macedonia", conducted by the Institute for European Policy - Skopje (EPI).

SELIKA ALILI

Project manager (Together for a Prosperous Community)   

Selika Alili is a graduate of the Faculty of Economics at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University - Skopje, in the field of Financial Management. She has a previous work experience as a financial officer in two non-governmental organizations: "Romano Chachipe" and "Romaversitas". She was previously a volunteer in the Red Cross of North Macedonia as well as other international non-governmental organizations. Selika has participated in various trainings and workshops during her studies.

BEKIM MEHMED

Project manager (Together for a Prosperous Community)   

Bekim Mehmed from Skopje, Bachelor of Economics - Financial Management, graduated from the Faculty of Business Economics Skopje, is currently a postgraduate student majoring in Financial Management at the Institute of Business Economics in Skopje. 

Prior to joining Romalitico, he was employed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, as a junior associate at the Department for Implementation of the Roma Strategy, at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

His specific terms of reference while working in the Ministry were administrative support, monitoring and guidance to the Roma Information Centers in 8 municipalities with predominantly Roma population.

According to his work experience, he possesses skills for planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling activities, processing collected data and reporting. Bekim will contribute to the improvement of the inclusion and the standard of living of the Roma in the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

VIKTORIJA NIKOLOVA

Finance assistant (Together for a Prosperous Community)   

Viktorija Nikolova Krstevska has a bachelor on the University St.Kiril and Methodius, Skopje, department financial management. She has working experience in the financial area more than 10 years, as in the field of corporative finance and non government sector.

Also, she is a licence accountant, and she has worked mainly in foreign investment companies in North Macedonia, on production and construction sector. She is a licence broker, and she has worked in the Macedonian Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2008, and also focused on financial statements analyze and portfolio management. She has worked as a manager for finance and administration in the projects financed by EU, on education, law and agriculture, as project Care, IASON-Greece and others.

MERSIHA USEIN

Focal Point of ROMACTED II program   

Mersiha Usein is a graduate political scientist at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. She started her career in 2005 at the Secretariat for European Affairs until 2016 as Office Coordinator of the State Secretary and NPAA Coordinator for Chapter 23 "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights". From 2017 to 2020 she is part of the team of the Minister responsible for the implementation of the National Strategy for Roma as Chief of the Cabinet of three ministers and Special advisor for the improvement and development of the Roma community in North Macedonia.

She uses her work experience in the field of development and monitoring of the implementation of national and local action plans, involvement of Roma in the planning, and decision-making process in government programs and policies on a national and local level. During the work, she has participated in several working groups, including the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Fundamental Rights, the Working Committee on European Integration, the Regional Working Group for the Preparation of a Guidelines for Roma Responsive Budgeting, the Regional Working Group on Drafting and Aligning the Text of the Regional Declaration for Roma integration (Known as Poznan Declaration on Roma Integration), National Coordinative Body for Roma integration.

Her interest is aimed at monitoring the implementation of projects, programs, and policies related to Roma as well as improving the position of this community in all priority areas (housing, education, health, employment, non-discrimination, and youth).

KRISTINA ILIEVSKA

Administrative associate   

Kristina Ilievska has many years of work experience in the field of office and archival work. Before joining the Romalitico team, she was actively involved in the non-governmental sector, within several projects in the field of public administration and socio-economic development, mainly intended for the development of public administration institutions and support for EU membership reforms.

She has participated in several researches in the field of public services, open data and the work of public institutions in the country. She has attended several trainings in the field of office and archival work, as well as courses on Social media and "Design Thinking" methodology.

KENAN TAIR

Communication officer (Roma Inclusion Activity)   

Acquired in Skopje, Macedonia, Kenan Tair’s background in computer science and engineering focuses upon software engineering and UX/UI design. Throughout his studies, he worked on many web and mobile applications as an intern for several IT companies, to whose work he contributed by offering fresh and innovative ideas regarding better user experiences and designing more user-friendly interfaces. In his projects, he combines many fields, such as education, e-commerce, health, entrepreneurship, marketing and graphic design. 

He has long been involved in the NGO sector as an IT consultant, volunteer and activist. His work includes building web pages for different companies, preparing complete solutions for e-commerce sites and working on mobile applications for preventing health issues through a healthy diet. He uses his technical knowledge to help the Roma community in a way that is accessible thanks to the era of digital democracy. Kenan plans to expand his knowledge of computer science by pursuing the field of business management so he can develop his own business that will benefit the Roma people.