in the frame of inception phase of the project Holistic Opportunities for Migrant and Diaspora Engagement (HOME), implemented by Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo, funded by the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein
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

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
The consultant should possess the following qualifications: 
  • Master’s degree in one of the following fields: Law (especially International or Human Rights Law), International Relations, Political Sciences, and/or migration studies. 
  • 6. Minimum year of relevant work experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in analysing and implementing migration policies, laws and modalities, particularly in (reintegration) process and any other relevant migration management topics. 
  • In-depth understanding of global migration trends and challenges, international legal frameworks and human rights law. 
  • Familiarity with migration policies and trends in the Western Balkans and EU. 
  • Knowledge in development of the M&E indicators is an asset. 
  • Excellent written and spoken English language. Albanian and/or Serbian language is an asset. 
Fulfilment of these criteria should be evidenced within submitted offers.
7. APPLICATION PROCESS 
Interested applicants are requested to submit an electronic copy of the following documents by the 8th of August 2025, 23:59 CEST, with the subject line: REF: “International Consultancy on Migration” to kosovo@caritas.ch

Questions for clarification can be submitted to kosovo@caritas.ch. 

Applicants must submit: 
  • CVof the consultant. 
  • A technical Offer that includes: 
   - the consultant’s suitability for the assignment, including relevant work experience, qualifications, and sector expertise. 
  - proposed methodology (maximum 2).
  - draft work plan, which includes dates and milestones 
  - List of projects related to the assignment and reference contacts. 
  • The Financial budget broken down by deliverables. 
Please note that transport and accommodation costs must be covered within the total amount of €10,000 and should therefore be included in the budget offer. The proposal will be evaluated by using the Best Value for Money Approach (combined scoring method). The technical proposal will be evaluated with 80% weight, whereas the financial section will be evaluated at the remaining 20%. Offers that do not include all submission requirements will not be evaluated and considered ineligible.

Bidding Cost: Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo will not cover bidding costs and reserves the right to accept or refuse bidders, or to annul or postpone the whole bidding process before signing of any agreements.
www.caritas.ch
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