Achieving Sustainable Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Kosovo International Consultancy on Migration
1. BACKGROUND
The HOMEproject (Holistic Opportunities for Migrant and Diaspora Engagement) aims to support national institutions, municipalities, NGOs, associations and the private sector in implementing and institutionalizing envisaged national migration reforms, strategies and action plans for the (re)integration of returnees – repatriated/readmitted individuals-, those granted refugee and international protection status and building on their potential.
Kosovo’s immigration consists of various categories, including labour migrants, voluntary and forced repatriated and readmitted individuals, asylum seekers, refugees and those granted with international protection status. According to the Department of Citizenship, Asylum and Migration (DCAM), between 2009 and 2023, over 71,000 people have been readmitted to Kosovo, with non-voluntary returnees making up the largest share, approximately 60% of the total. Since 2015, Kosovo has also increasingly become a transit point for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees seeking to reach the European Union.
Sustained outmigration has further contributed to a growing demand for foreign labor, suggesting that immigration is likely to rise in the coming years. In 2024, nearly two-thirds of all residence permit applications submitted in Kosovo were related to employment purposes. 
The Kosovar government has established a comprehensive legal, institutional, and strategic framework aligned with international migration processes to promote well-managed migration. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is currently in the process to review these guiding documents aiming for adjustments and seeks technical support and expertise in this process. While Kosovo's institutions have made significant progress in addressing the needs of returnees and refugees in recent years, challenges remain in achieving sustainable (re)integration. One of the key issues is the insufficient flow of information, lack of cooperation between central and local-level institutions, and insufficient sustainable (re)integration sensitive funds at the municipal.
The HOME project builds on the successful implementation of the MARDI project implemented by Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo (CACH). Currently, the follow up project HOME is in its inception phase which includes preliminary assessments, mapping and consultation with stakeholders, identification of risks and opportunities and finalisation of the project document. This phase is crucial to establishing a clear foundation for project implementation, alignment with stakeholders’ expectations by defining the detailed, fine –tuned project interventions.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
- The primary objective of this assignment is to lead a comprehensive review of existing local legal and policy frameworks related to migration and (re)integration, in collaboration with Caritas Switzerland (CACH) HOME project staff. The review will assess the relevance, effectiveness, and alignment of these frameworks with national priorities and international best practices.
- The assignment will evaluate the extent to which these policies have been implemented and identify key institutional, coordination and capacity gaps at both central and municipal levels.
- Based on the findings, the consultant will propose context-specific recommendations for adjustment to the existing policies, legal and institutional frameworks in terms of reintegration of readmitted/repatriated persons and integration of refugees, drawing on international and regional good practices in (re)integration.
- These recommendations are also expected to inform the fine-tuning of the program document for the three years project implementation focused on sustainable (re)integration, including targeted interventions and capacity-building measures.
Particular attention will be given in refinement of
Outcome1 of the HOME project:
“Central and local governmental institutions have established effective systems and capacities ensuring well-managed (re) integration of readmitted/repatriated persons and those granted refugee and international protection status as well as diaspora engagement” Outcome 1 focuses on the establishment and continuous refinement of legal and policy frameworks, aligning them with national and international best practices to strengthen the overall migration governance system. Specifically, the first component of the HOME project aims to establish effective coordination mechanisms among key stakeholders at all levels, ensuring a cohesive and responsive approach to the integration of readmitted/repatriated persons and those granted refugee and international protection status. In addition, capacity-strengthening initiatives are planned to equip national and municipal officials, as well as non-governmental actors, with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver professional, tailored integration services. The project also aims to establish sustainable public financing mechanisms to support the targeted implementation of (re)integration efforts at the community level. Furthermore, it seeks to assist municipalities in engaging with the diaspora, fostering stronger ties, and leveraging their potential to support the socio-economic integration of readmitted/repatriated persons and those granted refugee and international protection status.
3. METHODOLOGY
The consultant will apply a participatory and contextualized approach on legal and policy migration frameworks, particularly in terms of implementation of sustainable (re)integration processes and services as well as the public financing mechanisms to support the (re)integration efforts, in close collaboration with the Migration Component Coordinator of the HOME project and under the supervision of the Senior Project Manager.
The methodology will include the following key tasks:
- Draft the research plan and design the research tools;
5. Review key national and local legal and policy documents, including migration and (re)integration strategies, action plans, relevant laws and regulations, and municipal plans as well as analyse existing assessments and evaluations by relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions with the support of HOME team (Migration Component Coordinator & M&E manager);
- Provide analysis and preliminary findings report;
- Conduct interviews with key stakeholders and incorporate the findings to the preliminary report;
- Facilitate one validation workshop with project stakeholders and staff to present preliminary findings and gather feedback as well as integrate relevant feedback into the final assessment/review report ensuring stakeholder concerns are addressed and provide second draft of the report upon feedback from HOME project staff.
- Contribute to the fine-tuning and finalization of the project document by providing the expertise on the best international (re)integration migration practices and integration of them into the national context.
4. DELIVERABLES
As key deliverables, the consultant will develop:
1. Draft review on main findings and recommendations due on September 15, 2025.
2. Facilitation of a one-day validation workshop with key stakeholders and project staff to present preliminary findings and recommendations middle of September 2025.
3. Inputs to final project document
4. Final review ready for submission to MIA and Final Assignment report including recommendations for effective project implementation of the Migration component of the HOME project due latest on October 31, 2025.
5. TIMELINE AND SCOPE OF AGREEMENT
The activity will commence preferably on August 15, 2025, once the contract has been signed by both parties, and will conclude by October 31, 2025. The proposal should clearly describe the work modality for each phase, specifying the number of days allocated to: desk-based analysis, fieldwork and stakeholder interviews inclusive of incorporation of the feedback from interviews and one day validation workshop, and preparation of the final deliverables including inputs to the final project document and final assessment report with the recommendations.
This assignment might be extended to support the Ministry of Internal Affairs in addressing recommendations of the assessment and the review until the end of the year based on a cost-extension.
For this assignment, the consultancy amount shall not exceed, 10.000 EUR unless negotiated in advance with the HOME Project Manager and approved by the Caritas Switzerland Country Director. This also includes accommodation and travel costs to Kosovo for consultation with national migration actors. The organizations of workshops and roundtables with relevant stakeholders will be covered by CACH.
6. KEY QUALIFICATIONS