Project Context and Scope
Migration governance remains a top priority for Albania. Despite the progress achieved in this area through the implementation of the National Strategy on Migration (2024-2030) and Action Plan (2024-2026), Albania continues to invest efforts to make further advancements in this area, especially considering ongoing EU accession negotiations that commenced in July 2022, imposing additional requirements on the Government of Albania and its institutions to meet EU standards in governing migration. Past efforts, including the EU fellowship scheme by IOM, have proven effective in leveraging diaspora expertise for Albania's EU accession. The accession negotiations mark a significant step towards EU integration, requiring Albania to align its legislation, rules, and procedures with the EU Acquis, there's a pressing need to strengthen the capacities of line ministries for approximation. A crucial part of the European integration process is related to the preparation and the implementation of the National Plan on European Integration (NPEI)[1]. As an important document that serves as a roadmap providing for legal acts, measures, and institutional changes within the framework of Acquis approximation, technical assistance and increased capacities will be provided to enhance the monitoring of the National Plan for European Integration (NPEI), ensuring a qualitative assessment and reporting system is in place. The Minister of State and Chief Negotiator (MSCN) has one of its primary responsibilities as the technical management related to EU Acquis approximation and the negotiation process, by providing technical leadership of the negotiations, ensuring internal coordination of the country's accession process to the European Union, and developing capacities of the administration to generate capabilities towards accession. The Department of Policies and European Integration (DPEI), in the Prime Minister’s Office, which serves as the EU Secretariat, provides technical support to the Minister of State and Chief Negotiator and the entire negotiation process, including the approximation of national legislation with the EU Acquis. The Government of Albania has reiterated the need for support in implementing tools and processes to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills from Albanian diaspora professionals. This support is crucial for the ongoing processes of negotiations, gradual European integration, accelerated development, and convergence with European standards. The project \"Leveraging the Potential of Diaspora to Advance EU Accession and Labor Mobility in the Western Balkans\" implemented by IOM Albania and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), aims to contribute to creating conditions for Diaspora members to fully support sustainable and economic development in four selected Western Balkan partners by leveraging Diaspora engagement to enable progress on the path to accession to the EU. With a focus on facilitating EU accession negotiations and leveraging the diaspora's development potential for Albania's benefit, a highly qualified member of the Albanian Diaspora with ICT expertise will be engaged in targeted consultancy roles to support institutions in Albania through technical expertise, capacity building, and international knowledge transfer. IOM Albania has closely collaborated with the SMART Specialization Strategy (S3) Team Albania at Deputy Prime Minister Office during the preparation of the strategy in aspects related to talent retention and diaspora engagement and it is foreseen to have a consistent role in the implementation of the related activities of the S3 action plan. The implementation of S3 will aim to drive economic transformation through innovation and sustainable development. Since launching S3 process in 2016, Albania has followed a structured and participatory design process, with support from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Albania joined the JRC platform for S3 in 2017 and formalized its working group in 2018. The S3 roadmap and priority sectors were developed through extensive stakeholder consultations (EDP) engaging policymakers, the private sector, academia, and civil society to define priorities collaboratively, with 32 events at national level, which report brought to the individualization of the S3 priority domains for Albania. Drafting of the S3 was based on this EDP report and went through further consultations with more than 120 individual meetings and round tables. On December 26, 2024, the Council of Ministers officially approved Albania’s National Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) 2025–2030 and its Action Plan. The preparation and implementation of the strategy is guided by an Interministerial Committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, while the National S3 Team (NS3T) operates at the technical level to coordinate implementation of the actions across sectors. The S3 framework now functions as a national and regional umbrella, enabling Albania to pursue innovation-led growth while fulfilling requirements for EU integration. Importantly, the S3 strategy is not only a tool for national economic advancement but also a key element in Albania’s path toward EU accession. As part of the broader European Research and Innovation agenda, S3 strategy is part of 3 chapters of the Acquis Communautaire, (Chapter 20 – Enterprises and industrial policy, Chapter 22 – Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, Chapter 25 – Science and research), while it is contributing also in other Chapters as: Chapter 5 - Public procurement, Chapter 11- Agriculture and Rural Development, Chapter 12- Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, Chapter 13 – Fisheries, Chapter 14 – Transport, Chapter 15 – Energy, Chapter 18 – Statistics, Chapter 19 – Social Policy and employment, Chapter 26 – Education and culture, Chapter 27 – Environment, Chapter 28 – Consumer and Health Protection, etc. In this context, the alignment of national policies and implementation capacities with EU directives and standards is fundamental for progress in accession negotiations. S3 implementation aligns with the EU enlargement strategy, supporting socio-economic development and offering an accession perspective. Albanian institutions and relevant sectors are therefore expected to implement the directives and priorities set forth in the S3 strategy as part of their strategic alignment to the EU acquis. This includes adopting European best practices in governance, investing in human capital, research and innovation, in talent retention and engagement of the diaspora, building cross-border synergies to strengthen innovation ecosystems in line with the EU’s smart growth model allowing investments in innovation in the 3 main vertical priority domains to be an added value for the economic growth.
[1] https://integrimi-ne-be.punetejashtme.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NPEI_2022-2024_EN-.pdf Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing
The consultancy will contribute to the successful realization of the project \"Leveraging the Potential of Diaspora to Advance EU Accession and Labor Mobility in the Western Balkans\" implemented by IOM Albania and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The overall objective of the assignment aims to align with Albania’s strategic objectives for regional innovation and economic transformation, as defined in the S3 Action Plan. The involvement of diaspora experts for the Implementation of Albania’s Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) 2025–2030 on ICT-related Research and Innovation ensures the transfer of knowledge and experience from global and European innovation systems to domestic institutions, reinforcing Albania’s reform efforts in education, R&I, talent retention and diaspora engagement, digitalization, and competitiveness—core areas of the EU accession process, creating the basis for the growth of the vertical priority domains of S3. By reconnecting Albania with its global talent base, the initiative seeks to:
Priority Sectors
The engagement focuses on Albania’s strategic areas as defined in the S3 Strategy, encouraging diaspora professionals to contribute with their knowledge and field expertise across the following cross cutting priority domains:
Human Capital Development in 3 main domains: Advancing Education - Fostering Innovation and Workforce Readiness, through Digitalization and Curriculum Modernization. Empowering Youth and Retaining Talent. Engaging Diaspora - Boosting Human Capital, Technology and Culture Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity – Advance digital transformation across sectors through smart infrastructure, digital tools, and e-services. Research and Innovation for Smart Growth – Foster applied research, technology transfer, and synergies between academia, industry, and government.And related actions within the vertical priority domains:
Renewable Energy and Natural Resources Sustainable and Diverse Tourism Healthy and Sustainable Food Chain. Tasks to be performed under this contractThe consultant / Diaspora expert engaged by IOM Albania will work closely with S3 Team Albania and where necessary with other Albanian institutions in the above priority sectors and domains to provide strategic guidance, develop tools and frameworks, deliver capacity-building activities, and support internationalization efforts. All of the work will be conducted remotely, allowing flexibility for the consultant based abroad. The consultant will contribute to the design and implementation of targeted actions that respond to institutional needs, support reform processes, and align with the national priorities defined in Albania’s S3 Strategy as assigned by the head of S3 Team Albania. Expected Outputs Based on ongoing collaboration with the National S3 Team, workplans and deliverables will be tailored to institutional needs and sector-specific contexts. Through this engagement, diaspora expert is expected to generate a range of tangible and impactful outputs that respond to institutional needs and contribute to the broader objectives of Albania’s S3 Strategy. These outputs will serve as tools for knowledge transfer, policy development, long-term institutional improvement, and implementation of the S3 Action Plan: Desk research and needs assessments – Identify institutional gaps, policy contexts, and sector-specific challenges through targeted desk review and consultation with relevant stakeholders to conduct analyses, evaluations and facilitate implementation of the activities part of the S3 action plan. Development of policy briefs, frameworks, or training modules – Produce practical and context-adapted tools to support institutional strengthening, reform implementation, and knowledge dissemination. Capacity Building – Deliver tailored remote trainings, mentoring sessions, and advisory support provided by diaspora experts. These activities will be developed in close coordination with the S3 Team Albania and adapted to the specific needs and priorities of each target area. In addition to fostering long-term skills development among local professionals and institutional staff, the capacity-building component will include guidance on project writing and implementation, support in identifying and accessing funding opportunities, and training on innovation management, digital transformation, policy development, and partnership-building, especially in relation to the vertical and cross-cutting priorities of the S3 Strategy. Comparative analysis and good practice reports, especially related to EU – Highlight regional experiences, extract actionable lessons, and propose scalable practices for Albania's innovation and development agenda in their specific field of expertise, according to the S3 priority domain. Strategic recommendations and institutional support outputs – Contribute to the design of policy directions, incentives, operational plans, or project proposals that align with Albania’s S3. Mapping of funding opportunities through different frameworks – Identify and analyze relevant international and regional funding instruments (e.g., Horizon Europe, IPA III, Erasmus+, bilateral programs, etc.) to support the sustainability and scaling of institutional initiatives. Supporting the revision of guidance materials for project applicants and enhancing Albania’s attractiveness as a partner in international research and innovation collaborations. Contributing to the design/implementation of talent retention and diaspora engagement initiatives/activities part of the S3 action plan. Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
The consultant's performance will be evaluated against the following criteria:
• timeliness,
• responsibility,
• initiative,
• communication,
• quality of products delivered,
• satisfactory completion of tasks indicated in this ToR,
• quality of provided report Education Advanced university degree from an accredited academic institution relevant to the assignment (Master’s or Ph.D.) Experience At least 3 years of experience in the area of expertise relevant to the priorities and domains mentioned in this open announcement. Candidates should have practical experience in supporting startup initiatives, tech transfer, digital transformation, or implementing advanced technologies in one or more priority sectors (e.g., agri-tech, energy, tourism, education). Familiarity with innovation ecosystems cooperation with public institutions and international funding mechanisms is preferred (Research / Innovation) Previous experience and engagement in diaspora or similar initiatives is preferable. Preferably 2 years of experience with international or development institutions in the area of expertise such as EU bodies or other international organizations is preferable. Demonstrated experience on designing and/or implementing EU funded projects in their field of expertise or other similar experience in business sector for innovation expertise is preferable. Demonstrated knowledge of EU policy frameworks and instruments, particularly those linked to S3 priority sectors and domains and regional development. Experience in contributing to international standards implementation or EU accession-related reforms or involvement in EU-funded programs (e.g., Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg, IPA III) is preferable. Skills
• Very good communication skills in written and oral form.
• High commitment, adaptability, and flexibility.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and team-working
• Ability to produce analytical work, including written reports and brief presentations of research.
• Effective communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including public authorities, local authorities, and the private sector.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accuracy and confidentiality in performing responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills, with attention to detail.
Languages
Fluency in English and Albanian is required (oral and written).
Travel required The experts are expected to conduct most of their work remotely with travel to Albania only if needed to attend physically the meetings. All official travel will be coordinated and approved by the IOM team in advance. IOM will cover the costs of transportation and daily allowance. Required Competencies IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process. Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values: Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion. Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct. Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges. Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance. Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated. Core Competencies – behavioural indicators Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results. Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes. Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate. Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work. Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way. Notes Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications following the guidelines on IOM Albania website: https://albania.iom.int/job-vacancies. Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation. Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, verification of residency, visa, and authorizations by the concerned Government, where applicable. IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work. IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM online recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application. The expected candidates for this assignment are required to be accomplished professionals from the Albanian diaspora residing abroad, who are motivated to contribute their expertise to the country’s development and innovation agenda. For more information on Albania’s S3 Strategy, please visit: https://s3albania.org Interested candidates are invited to include the following documents with their application at IOM Albania website mentioned above: Updated CV highlighting relevant experience in one or more priority sectors as mentioned in this call Motivation letter outlining proposed contribution Two professional references Samples of previous work or publications (optional)No late applications will be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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