International Consultant on Evaluation of Kosovo Police Oversight Frameworks (SSA)

Background:

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OSCE) is implementing a comprehensive project on “Advancement of strategic and operational capacities and human rights compliance within security sector institutions.” This project mainly targets the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and Kosovo law enforcement institutions, including the Kosovo Police (KP), Police Inspectorate of Kosovo (PIK), Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS), Kosovo Probation Service (KPS), and Kosovo Agency on Forensics (KAF). Activities of this project focus on enhancing their operational capacities and specialised skills to effectively respond to criminal behaviour. Specifically, the project foresees numerous specialised and advanced trainings, and workshops and support implementation of local strategies and associated action plans to improve operational effectiveness in tackling all forms of criminal activities, as well as develop and review sub-legal framework.

The project’s overall objective is to support the security sector institutions to advance their strategic and operational capacities, and human rights compliance within the police, forensics, police oversight, and correctional services. This will be covered through three specific objectives:
Security sector institutions operate more effectively in areas of forensics, oversight mechanisms, re-integration and rehabilitation;
Local law enforcement institutions are able to effectively identify, prevent and combat serious and organized crime; 
Law enforcement institutions and relevant oversight bodies improve their response to preventing, combating, and monitoring hate crimes, while institutional mechanisms efficiently address VERLT.

An effective and accountable police oversight system is essential for ensuring professionalism, integrity, and public trust within the KP. Strengthening both internal and external oversight mechanisms, including the Internal Investigation Directorate (IID) and the PIK, is critical for enhancing transparency, safeguarding human rights and ensuring that misconduct is addressed in a consistent and credible manner. Addressing gaps in investigative practices, inter-institutional coordination, and complaint-handling procedures contributes to building more resilient and independent oversight structures. Evaluating the effectiveness, relevance and sustainability of past interventions therefore plays a key role in informing future strategies aimed at reinforcing institutional accountability and ensuring long-term impact in line with international standards.

In line with this, the OSCE will conduct a comprehensive assessment of its support to police oversight mechanisms, focusing on both IID and PIK. This process will involve a detailed review of investigative practices, complaint-handling procedures, and inter-institutional co-ordination, with particular attention to alignment with international standards and human rights principles. The assessment will also incorporate stakeholder perspectives to better understand institutional progress, existing challenges, and the extent to which these bodies are equipped to carry out their oversight functions independently. By generating evidence-based findings and practical recommendations, this activity will support informed decision-making, strengthen accountability mechanisms and guide future programming toward more effective, sustainable and transparent police oversight systems. The external expert is engaged to provide independent, comparative expertise—expected to conduct objective analysis, identify gaps against international standards, validate findings through stakeholder consultations, and deliver actionable recommendations that bring credibility, technical depth, and lessons learned to enhance the assessment's impact.
 

Objective of Assignment: 

To assess the performance and impact of interventions by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s support to police oversight, including a review of the internal (KP Internal Investigation Directorate – IID) and external (Police Inspectorate of Kosovo – PIK) frameworks, in order to evaluate the effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability of past interventions based on OECD/DAC criteria;
 

To analyse institutional outcomes and stakeholder perspectives and to examine the extent to which interventions have strengthened investigative practices, transparency, and human rights compliance through a review of complaint-handling procedures and inter-institutional coordination to determine if the IID and PIK are better equipped to handle oversight independently;
 

To provide strategic recommendations and reporting in close co-operation with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, develop evidence-based findings and a final evaluation report to guide the next programming cycle, informing strategic prioritization, resource allocation, and the sustainability of accountability mechanisms within the KP system.
 

Duration of Assignment:

The Consultant will be hired for 30 working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Participate at remote meetings with OSCE activity manager in order to prepare and submit an Inception Report, including detailed methodology, evaluation framework, data collection tools and work plan.
• Participate in in-person meetings with beneficiaries and OSCE activity manager o collect necessary data for the evaluation, and initiate desk-based analysis of relevant documents.
• Conduct desk research analysis of all relevant documents, including project documents and analytical reports, and submit the draft evaluation report for OSCE Activity Manager’s review. 
• Prepare and deliver the final evaluation report.
   

Deliverables:

• By 1 September 2026, the consultant shall participate in at least one remote meeting with OSCE staff to support the preparation of the Inception Report.
  Performance Indicators:
  Submitted an Inception Report by 5 September, including a detailed methodology, evaluation framework, data collection tools, and a comprehensive work plan.
• From 7 to 21 September 2026, the consultant shall conduct and complete all in-person meetings with beneficiaries and OSCE activity manager.
  Performance Indicators:
  All in-person meetings with beneficiaries and OSCE staff are conducted as planned, with relevant data systematically collected and documented, and desk-based analysis of relevant documents initiated. The work is carried out in full compliance with the evaluation plan’s methodology and data collection protocols.
• From 22 to 28 September 2026, the consultant shall submit the draft version of the evaluation report to the OSCE Activity Manager.
  Performance Indicators:
  Draft version of the Evaluation Report is completed and submitted to OSCE activity manager. 
• By 30 September 2026, the consultant shall deliver a final version of the Evaluation Report to the OSCE Activity Manager, addressing comments and suggestions of the OSCE staff.
  Performance Indicators:
  Qualitative and concise final report submitted to the OSCE project activity manager according to the agreed-upon timeline

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in law, criminology, security studies, human rights, political science, or a related field;
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in evaluating programs related to police reform, internal affairs, or security sector oversight;
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting complex evaluations, specifically focusing on institutional accountability, integrity mechanisms, and human rights compliance in a multi-stakeholder context;
• Proven knowledge of police oversight frameworks, including the functions of internal investigation departments (IID) and external police oversight bodies;
• Strong experience in applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including desk reviews of sensitive investigative reports, key informant interviews with police officers, and facilitation of focus group discussions;
• Experience working with international organizations, preferably with the OSCE or similar organizations (e.g., UN, EU) in the Western Balkans, is considered a significant asset;
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and reporting skills, with a proven ability to produce high-quality evaluation reports that include strategic recommendations for future programming;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior police officials, inspectorate staff, and international stakeholders;
• Excellent command of English (written and oral); proficiency in local languages (Albanian or Serbian) is considered an asset.
   

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.