International Consultant to contribute to the design and implementation of a training on strategic planning and organizational management (SSA)

Background:

Under its project “Consolidating the OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women Alumnae Network,” the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (the Mission) supports the consolidation and strategic development of the Dialogue Academy Network of Alumnae (DANA), a women-led platform comprised of over 230 highly educated and multilingual young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade. DANA aims to advance dialogue, trust, and confidence-building across divided communities and to strengthen women’s leadership in fostering resilient and peaceful societies. It represents a long-term, cross-generational investment in peacebuilding and inclusive security in the region.
DANA emerged from the Dialogue Academy for Young Women (DA), an initiative jointly launched by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and Mission to Serbia as part of the broader “Follow Us” platform in 2012. The Academy brings together young women from both cities to build leadership, advocacy, and dialogue skills. Upon completing the DA, participants become part of the DANA network, which continues to serve as a space for collaboration, activism, and local impact.

As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen DANA, the Mission seeks to engage an international consultant with proven experience in strategic planning and organizational management to design and deliver a six-day training, structured in a series of either two or three sessions (as decided with the Activity Manager), to be completed by the end of 2025, for a selected group of approximately six (6) DANA core-group members. The goal is to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to shape and sustain DANA’s governance structure, support the formation of thematic working groups (WGs), and contribute to the implementation of the DANA Roadmap 2024–2027 and the development of the post-2027 strategy. 
The training modules will combine lectures, interactive sessions, learning-by-doing activities, and team-building exercises. While focused on strategic planning and organizational management, the module will also incorporate related themes such as inclusive leadership and governance in women-led networks; confidence-building in cross-community teams; conflict-sensitive organizational development; internal communication and resolution of internal disagreements; long-term visioning and sustainability planning; and the integration of gender equality into governance frameworks. Emphasis will be placed on incorporating diverse perspectives and lived experiences into effective leadership and collective decision-making.
The training sessions will directly support the establishment of DANA’s governance structure and thematic working groups (WGs), contributing to the update of the DANA Roadmap 2024–2027 and the development of the post-2027 strategy.

The consultant is expected to:

•    Facilitate inclusive and participatory training sessions, ensuring equal opportunities for all participants to engage.
•    Guide discussions toward practical outcomes aligned with the objective of strengthening DANA’s governance structure.
•    Support participants’ development of strategic planning and organizational management skills.
•    Address group dynamics diplomatically and foster a collaborative learning environment.
•    Integrate gender equality and inclusion as core elements throughout all activities.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience working in youth- and women-led networks, as well as those with expertise in conflict-sensitive approaches, inclusion of women in decision-making, and familiarity with the women, peace, and security agenda. The primary objective is to support the establishment of a representative and functional governance model for DANA and to enable the network to implement its Roadmap 2024–2027 while preparing its long-term strategy beyond 2027.

After the completion of the training sessions, the consultant will submit a joint activity report, highlighting the key findings and recommendations for future actions. The final report will be submitted and be presented to the Activity Manager and finalized based on the provided comments.

International Consultant to contribute to the design and implementation of a training on strategic planning and organizational management 

Objective of Assignment: 

To strengthen the strategic planning and organizational management capacities of approximately six selected DANA members through the design and delivery of targeted training sessions.

Duration of Assignment:

The Consultant will be hired for 10  working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Co-ordinate with Activity Manager on the structure and timeline of training sessions;
2. Meet with the DANA Governing Board;
3. Develop outline of training programme;
4. Develop training materials (programme, team building exercises, agendas, presentations, handouts etc) in coordination with Activity Manager;
5. Design pre and post evaluation method for participants;
6. Deliver the targeted training sessions on strategic planning and organizational management;
7. Draft final report submitted to the Activity Manager for review.

Deliverables:

• Coordinate with the Activity Manager on the best way to structure the six-day training, either in a series of two or three sessions, for approximately 6 participants, within three weeks of signing the contract.
• At least one meeting with the DANA Governing Board is held within the first month of signing the contract, in order to best design the training programme.
• Outline of training programme to be developed and shared with the Activity manager for approval at least 1 month before the training date.
• The modules for the training sessions should focus on organizational management, governance models, strategic planning, internal decision-making, and network coordination. As an implementing modality, the sessions should be delivered through a mix of methodologies including lectures, group work, simulations, learning-by-doing activities, and other modalities that will be agreed with the Activity Manager.

Special attention should be given to the following concepts as they relate to the governance and strategic development of youth- and women-led      networks: Inclusive and participatory leadership approaches tailored to diverse and cross-community contexts; Organizational governance models that promote shared leadership, transparency, and accountability; Confidence-building and trust within teams, particularly in networks bridging divided communities; Strategic visioning, priority setting, and long-term planning; Conflict-sensitive approaches to organizational development and internal conflict resolution tools.

• All training materials should be drafted and shared with the Activity Manager at least three weeks before the training date. Training materials should include: outline of training programme, presentations, hand-outs, case studies, and other relevant documents, including incorporating one team-building exercise per training, aimed at strengthening collaboration and internal trust within the network.
• Design the evaluation method to capture the participants’ pre- and post-event skills, in collaboration with the Activity Manager, at least 3-weeks before the first training sessions.
• By 15 December 2025, training sessions on strategic planning and organizational management (a total of a six-day training) delivered to approximately 6 participants, of which at leat one will be implemented in Q3 of 2025.
• Joint report on the implementation of the training sessions should be submitted no later than 15 days upon implementation of the last session.
• Final Report to be submitted to and approved by the Activity Manager by December 15, 2025.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in organizational and/or network development, management, public administration, political science, international relations, or a related field;
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in strategic planning, organizational management, organizational and/or network development, and governance, preferably within civil society organizations, networks, or initiatives led by youth and/or women;
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programmes or trainings on topics such as internal governance, leadership development, strategic visioning, and institutional strengthening;
• Familiarity with the dynamics of women-led or youth-led networks, including inclusive decision-making processes, is highly desirable;
• Knowledge of conflict-sensitive approaches to organizational development and experience working in post-conflict or divided contexts is preferred;
• Understanding of the Women, Peace and Security and/or Youth, Peace and Security Agendas is an asset;
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to foster inclusive, participatory learning environments.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

In order to apply for this position, you must complete the OSCE's online application form, found under OSCE Careers - Jobs. Applicants are encouraged to use the online recruitment and only fully completed OSCE applications will be accepted. However, if you have technical difficulties with the system, you may use the offline application form found at Offline application form | OSCE Employment and forward the completed form quoting the vacancy number by e-mail to: consultancy.omik@osce.org. In line with your qualifications please indicate a preference for one or more fields of expertise listed above (while using the online application the field of expertise preference can be indicated in the cover letter part). Kindly note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form or other languages than the English language would not be considered. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic, and social backgrounds to apply.