Local Consultant to support and draft the 2025 report on the local level implementation of the Action Plan of the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali Communities in Kosovo 2022-2026 (SSA)

Background:

This consultancy engagement supports the OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s outcome of advancing government compliance with community rights standards by strengthening institutional capacities and fostering the inclusion of vulnerable groups, particularly Kosovo Roma, Kosovo Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptian, men and women and youth. 
In 2022, the Government adopted the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali communities 2022-2026, and its Action Plan 2022-2024, the new action plan was approved earlier this year for 2025-2026. The strategy aims to advance the rights of Kosovo Roma and Kosovo Ashkali communities in the fields of education, health, housing, employment and economic empowerment, and the fight against discrimination, among others. The Mission, in co-ordination with the Government’s Office of Good Governance (OGG) supported the drafting of the local level component of the Strategy, trained Municipal Action Committees (MACs) members, promoted the Strategy at local level and continues to advocate and support MAC (the local level body for implementation) to draft, implement and report to the OGG on implementation.
To date, with Mission advocacy, the 20 out of 21 municipalities, who are obligated to implement the Strategy have established their MAC to implement the Strategy at local level. The Mission has supported individual municipalities with drafting Local Action Plans and implementing activities. In April 2024, the OGG compiled the annual report on the implementation of the Strategy for 2023 and requested municipalities to report. Only seven municipalities reported. The mid-term progress report, published in April 2025, did not specifically mention local level implementation. As of June 2025, seven municipalities have approved Local Action plans, others are still in the drafting stage or have not started yet. Note that previous strategies have been assessed with ‘limited implementation’ due to low reporting from local level mechanisms to the OGG.
The consultancy, in co-ordination with the OGG and support from OSCE Regional Centres will support municipalities to report and draft the local component of the annual report 2025 on the implementation of the Action Plan of the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali Communities in Kosovo 2022-2026, with a focus on gender and youth.
Support in reporting and visibility of local level implementation is critical to having the local level acknowledged within the final evaluation of the Strategy. 

Objective of Assignment: 

To support municipalities in reporting and to draft the local component of the annual report 2025 on the implementation of the Action Plan of the Strategy for the Advancement of the Rights of the Roma and Ashkali Communities in Kosovo 2022-2026, in tight coordination with the OGG. Followed by presenting the local level component of the report at a conference in April. 

Duration of Assignment:

The Consultant will be hired for 35  working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Support Municipalities to Strengthen Reporting on Strategy Implementation
   Provide tailored, hands-on guidance to municipalities to improve the quality, completeness, and timeliness of their reporting to the OGG regarding the 2025 implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan, with a focus on gender and youth. 
   Delivered by: End of February 2026
2. Draft the Local-Level Component of the 2025 Annual Implementation Report
   Compile, analyse, and systematize municipal-level data collected from MACs and municipal departments, ensuring consistency with the OGG reporting requirements and reflecting trends, challenges, and progress across thematic areas (education, health, housing, employment, anti-discrimination, etc.) with a focus on gender and youth.
   Delivered by: End of March 2026
3. Present the Local-Level Component of the 2025 Annual Implementation Report at a Conference.
   Once the report is finlaised in co-ordination with the OGG, the main findings should be presented to stakeholders at a conference. 
   Delivered by: End of April 2026 
4. Consultancy Reporting and Updates
   Provide regular progress updates and a final report summarizing activities, findings, and recommendations for next steps.
   Delivered by: End of April 2026

Deliverables:

• At least 15 municipalities receive individualized technical support (In-person and virtually)
• A reporting support package (template + instructions) developed and shared with all 21 obligated municipalities in Albanian and Serbian.
• Minimum 12 municipalities submit a completed 2025 report to the OGG using the standardized format.
• A tracking matrix documenting which municipalities have submitted drafts, completed reports, or require follow-up, submitted to Activity Manager and OGG.
• A consolidated draft in English of the Local-Level Implementation Report (2025) of approximately 10–15 pages prepared in line with the OGG’s reporting structure.
• A validated dataset (in Excel or similar) covering all received municipal reports, with gaps and inconsistencies clearly flagged.
• Two rounds of revisions completed based on comments from the OGG and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
• A final version of the Local-Level Component submitted to the OMiK and OGG for translation and integration into the government  annual report.
• Support with organizing of conference (agenda and participants in local languages)
• Present main findings to the stakeholders
• Respond to questions and remarks from participants

• Bi-weekly email updates to the Activity Manager on progress, challenges, and next steps throughout the assignment, and a brief final report (two-three pages) summarizing activities, outputs, and recommendations for future action, submitted to the Activity Manager no later than April 2026.

   

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree, preferably in education, public administration, social sciences, human rights or other relevant fields; 

• Minimum seven years of working experience in the field of protection and promotion of communities’ rights;
• Demonstrated experience working with municipal institutions in Kosovo, preferably on communities’ rights, social inclusion, Kosovo Roma, Kosovo Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptian issues, or minority protection;
• Proven experience in data collection, analysis, and drafting analytical reports for government or international organizations;
• Excellent ability to produce clear, structured, and evidence-based reports in English;
• Professional fluency in the Albanian and Serbian languages, both oral and written; 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet research;
• Strong analytical, organizational, financial management, and logistical co-ordination skills; and
• Experienced in research methods and project implementation.

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.