Local Expert to Develop a strategic plan for the Press Council of Kosovo (SSA)

Background:
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OSCE) is committed to supporting the Press Council of Kosovo (PCK) in enhancing its institutional performance and responsiveness through strategic planning and long-term visioning.
The PCK is a self-regulatory body established in 2005 with the support of the OSCE, to assist print and online media to uphold ethical standards and adjudicate complaints against print and online media. The role of self-regulatory bodies such as the PCK remains central but requires substantial strengthening. The PCK faces increasing pressure to oversee online media and address misinformation, yet its resources and strategic planning capacity remain limited. The 2022 external evaluation confirmed that the PCK needs clearer strategic planning, stronger technical capacities, and modernised tools to expand into the digital sphere. 
Based on PCK’s request, the 2026 Media Section Unified Budget foresees support to the development of three- to five-year strategic plan that defines its institutional priorities, enhances its capacity for effective self-regulation in the digital media environment, and reinforces its collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including online media and non-majority outlets. This plan will outline mechanisms to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and public trust in self-regulation while aligning with EU standards and the evolving media landscape. 
The strategic plan will help the PCK to reflect on evolving priorities, foster institutional resilience, and strengthen its functions in line with self-regulatory standards promoted by the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE), the EU acquis, particularly the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and the European Media Freedom Act, ensuring the PCK remains a resilient guardian of media freedom and journalism ethics and reporting standards in the digital age. As such, this process requires comprehensive technical expertise, stakeholder consultations, legal and policy analysis, and alignment with relevant EU and international standards, including the AVMSD.
 

Objective of Assignment: 
The objective is to develop a three- to five-year strategic plan for the PCK that defines its institutional priorities, enhances its capacity for effective self-regulation in the digital media environment, and reinforces its collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including online media and non-majority outlets.

Duration of Assignment:
5 months

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Conducting a desk review, including: current PCK strategic and institutional documents, the 2022 OSCE External Evaluation for the PCK and Independent Media Commission (IMC), the Code of Ethics, and relevant EU and international media governance frameworks. Draft and submit inputs to a workplan outlining the methodology, workplan, key milestones, and proposed structure of the PCK Strategic Plan 2027–2031. A methodology for the strategic planning process should incorporate comparative international and EU best practices in media self-regulation, strategic institutional development, and media governance, including alignments with the AVMSD framework and relevant European standards, adapted to the Kosovo context. The Local Consultant will ensure that all inputs are grounded in the Kosovo media landscape and provide contextual analysis to support the international expert in ensuring feasibility and relevance of the strategic planning process.

Conducting Stakeholder Consultation Process and Draft Summary Report

In close co-ordination with the international consultant will:

• Support the identification and engagement of relevant stakeholders and contribute to the organization and facilitation (including translation support, if necessary) of interviews, focus groups, and/or consultative meetings with up to 20 interlocutors. Consultation will be mostly organized in-person nonetheless, if needed, they can be partially organized on-line.
• Contribute to capture key findings, including the key challenges and opportunities in the media regulatory environment and current institutional framework.
• Contribute to formulate evidence-based recommendations to inform the drafting of the Strategic Plan.
• Provide contextual expertise on Kosovo stakeholder dynamics in the media sector to support consultation processes.
• Contribute to ensuring that consultations reflect Kosovo media landscape realities, including online media and non-majority media outlets.

• Support analysis of stakeholder perspectives within the broader regulatory and institutional context.
   

  Drafting of the SDP 2027–2031

In close co-ordination with the international consultant: 
Contribute to develop the first complete draft of the PCK Strategic Plan. 2027–2031, including but not limited to: 

• Vision, Mission, and Core Values
• SWOT Analysis
• Strategic Objectives and Expected Results 
• Priority Development Areas 
• Financial Sustainability Measures 
• Media Literacy and Digital Adaptation Components 
• Inclusion and Gender Mainstreaming Measures 
• Implementation Action Plan
• Budget Framework
• Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation (KPIs)    The first draft of the PCK SDP 2027–2031 shall be submitted for review following the initial drafting process.

• Monitoring and Implementation Framework, including reporting arrangements, responsibilities, and a mechanism for periodic review of progress against the Strategic Plan’s objectives.

The local expert will pay specific attention in ensuring the draft strategic plan is locally grounded, responding to identified local needs and priorities.
Ensure the draft reflects Kosovo-specific implementation realities and operational feasibility.

Incorporating feedback into the Draft of the Strategic Plan 2027–2031

In close co-ordination with the international consultant:

Support the incorporation of feedback into the Draft of the SP 2027–2031 for PCK, following a consultation and validation workshop (meetings and consultations) at the PCK with relevant actors, including OSCE Activity Manager.
 

Deliverables:

Within 15 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit his/her contribution to the desk review, including review and analysis of relevant documentation, provision of summaries, explanations, or translations of key findings from documents available only in Albanian and/or Serbian, and written contextual analysis inputs on the Kosovo media landscape, institutional practices, stakeholder dynamics, regulatory environment, and implementation realities.

Within 20 days of contract signature, the consultant will submit his/her contribution to the workplan providing local expertise and stakeholder insights to the methodology, key milestones, timeline, and proposed structure of the PCK Strategic Plan 2027–2031.

Withing 40 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit his/her contribution to the Consultation Report (3–5 pages), meeting expectations of the OSCE Activity Manager and highlighting key findings and recommendations derived from the stakeholder consultation preces. The Consultation Report will serve as a foundational input for the drafting phase of the Strategic Plan 2027–2031.

Within 50 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit input for the Draft Strategic Plan 2027–2031 for PCK. The document’s quality shall meet OSCE style guides and quality standards.

Within 70 working days of contract signature, the consultant will submit his/her contribution to the submission of a final Strategic Plan 2027 – 2031 for Press Council of Kosovo. The final Strategic Plan shall present a coherent and operational framework for strengthening transparency, accountability, public trust, and institutional effectiveness, while ensuring alignment with European standards, media legiclastive framework in Kosovo. The document’s quality shall meet OSCE style guides and quality standards.

By 30 November 2026, the consultant will submit a Summary Report, briefly summarizing objective of the consultancy, performed duties, responsibilities and deliverables produces in accordance to the ToR.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in media law, journalism, communications, public policy, strategic management, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in media development, media policy, media regulation or self-regulation, governance reform, or institutional strengthening in Kosovo or comparable contexts in the Western Balkans.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Kosovo media landscape, including its regulatory environment, institutional framework, and key media actors. 
• Proven experience in supporting strategic planning or policy development processes in Kosovo, including stakeholder co-ordination, facilitation of consultations, and provision of contextual inputs to national strategies, policies, or institutional development plans.
• Ability to provide substantive Kosovo-specific context analysis, ensuring that strategic plans/processes are realistic, implementable, and aligned with institutional needs and capacities
• Familiarity with local media legislation and its alignment with relevant European standards and practices.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken); knowledge of Albanian and/or Serbian language is required.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven drafting skills. 
   

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.