International Expert to develop a strategic plan for the Press Council of Kosovo (SSA)

Background:

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (the OSCE) is committed to supporting the Press Council of Kosovo (PCK) in enhancing its institutional performance and responsiveness through strategic planning and long-term visioning.  
The PCK is a self-regulatory body established in 2005 with the support of the OSCE, to assist print and online media to uphold ethical standards and adjudicate complaints against print and online media. The role of self-regulatory bodies such as the PCK remains central but requires substantial strengthening. The PCK faces increasing pressure to oversee online media and address misinformation, yet its resources and strategic planning capacity remain limited. The 2022 external evaluation confirmed that the PCK needs clearer strategic planning, stronger technical capacities, and modernised tools to expand into the digital sphere. 
Based on PCK’s request, the 2026 Media Section Unified Budget foresees support to the development of three- to five-year strategic plan that defines its institutional priorities, enhances its capacity for effective self-regulation in the digital media environment, and reinforces its collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including online media and non-majority outlets. This plan will outline mechanisms to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and public trust in self-regulation while aligning with EU standards and the evolving media landscape.
The strategic plan will help the PCK reflect on evolving priorities, foster institutional resilience, and strengthen its functions in line with self-regulatory standards promoted by the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE), the EU acquis, particularly the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), and the European Media Freedom Act, ensuring the PCK remains a resilient guardian of media freedom and journalism ethics and reporting standards in the digital age. As such, this process requires comprehensive technical expertise, stakeholder consultations, legal and policy analysis, and alignment with relevant EU and international standards, including the AVMSD.
 

Objective of Assignment: 

The objective is to develop a three- to five-year strategic plan for the PCK that defines its institutional priorities, enhances its capacity for effective self-regulation in the digital media environment, and reinforces its collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including online media and non-majority outlets. 
 

Duration of Assignment:

5 months.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

-  Conducting a desk review, including:  current PCK strategic and institutional documents, the 2022 OSCE External Evaluation for the PCK and Independent Media Commission (IMC), the Code of Ethics, and relevant EU and international media governance frameworks.

-  Drafting a workplan outlining the methodology, workplan, key milestones, and proposed structure of the PCK Strategic Plan 2027–2031.The methodology for the strategic planning process should incorporate comparative international and EU best practices in media self-regulation, strategic institutional development, and media governance, including alignments with the AVMSD framework and relevant European standards, adapted to the Kosovo context.

-  Conducting Stakeholder Consultation Process and drafting Summary Report:

• Conducting interviews, focus groups, and/or consultative meetings with up to 20 interlocutors. Consultation will be mostly organized during a field visit to Kosovo (exact timing and duration of the field visit to be agreed with the OSCE Activity Manager) nonetheless, if needed, they can be partially organized on-line.
• Aggregating and analysing findings on the current institutional framework, key challenges and opportunities in the media regulatory environment. 
• Formulating evidence-based recommendations to inform the drafting of the Strategic Plan.
• Drafting a concise Consultation Report (3–5 pages) highlighting key findings and recommendations.
• Conducting structured consultations with PCK members, media actors (including non-majority media representatives), relevant institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners to ensure that the strategic plan is locally grounded, operationally feasible, and widely owned by stakeholders.

-  Drafting the Strategic Plan 2027–2031 for PCK including but not limited to: 

• Vision, Mission, and Core Values 
• SWOT Analysis 
• Strategic Objectives and Expected Results 
• Priority Development Areas 
• Financial Sustainability Measures 
• Media Literacy and Digital Adaptation Components 
• Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming Measures 
• Implementation Action Plan 
• Budget Framework 
• Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation (KPIs) The first draft of the PCK SDP 2027–2031 shall be submitted for review following the initial drafting process. 
• Monitoring and Implementation Framework, including reporting arrangements, responsibilities, and a mechanism for periodic review of progress against the Strategic Plan’s objectives.

-  Incorporating feedback into the Draft  Strategic Plan 2027–2031, following a consultation and validation workshop (meetings and consultations) at the PCK with relevant actors, including OSCE Activity Manager. 

Deliverables:

• Within 15 working days from the date of contract signature, the consultant will submit the desk review. 

• Within 20 working days from the date of contract signature, the consultant should submit the workplan, including the proposed methodology, key milestones, and draft structure of the PCK’s Strategic Plan 2027-2031. 

• Withing 40 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit a Consultation Report (3–5 pages), meeting expectations of the OSCE Activity Manager and highlighting key findings and recommendations derived from the stakeholder consultation preces. The Consultation Report will serve as a foundational input for the drafting phase of the Strategic Plan 2027–2031. 

• Within 55 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit a Draft Strategic Plan 2027–2031 for PCK. The document’s quality shall meet OSCE style guides and quality standards. 

• Within 80 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit a final Strategic Plan 2027 – 2031 for Press Council of Kosovo. The final Strategic Plan shall present a coherent and operational framework for strengthening transparency, accountability, public trust, and institutional effectiveness, while ensuring alignment with European standards, media legiclastive framework in Kosovo. The document’s quality shall meet OSCE style guides and quality standards. 

• By 30 November 2026, the consultant will submit a Summary Report, briefly describing objective of the consultancy, performed duties, responsibilities and deliverables produces in accordance to the ToR. 

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in media law, journalism, communications, public policy, strategic management, international development, or a related field. 
• Minimum ten years of relevant professional experience in strategic planning, media policy, media regulation and self-regulation, institutional development, and/or governance reform.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting strategic development plans, policy papers, institutional strategies, action plans, and other governance- or media-related documents.
• Direct experience working with media regulatory or self-regulatory bodies would be considered a strong asset. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of media freedom standards, media self-regulation mechanisms and EU media-related frameworks, including the AVMSD and the European Media Freedom Act. 
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, including proven experience in leading multi-stakeholder consultation processes, as well as conducting interviews, focus group discussions, consultations, and surveys for primary data collection and institutional assessments.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken); 
• Outstanding writing, analytical reporting, and presentation skills. 
• Capacity to coordinate with a broad range of stakeholders, including media representatives, civil society organizations, public institutions, and international partners, to ensure comprehensive and inclusive data collection. 

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 email 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.