Job Description

Deadline for Applications

March 8, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

CONS Local

Target Start Date

2026-03-02

Terms of Reference

Location: Tirana, Albania

Type of Contract: Local Consultancy (Individual Contract)

Duration of contract: until 30 April 2026

Tentative starting date: as soon as possible

Title: Consultancy to Support the Revision of Law No. 121/2016 “On Social Care Services” and Alignment with EU and International Protection Standards

1. Overview

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the protection of refugees and the pursuit of durable solutions. In Albania, UNHCR works in close cooperation with national authorities to strengthen asylum, reception, inclusion, and protection systems in line with international and EU standards.

2. Project relevance

This consultancy is undertaken within the framework of the EU4Migration project, which supports Albania in advancing migration and asylum governance reforms and aligning its legal and institutional structures with EU accession requirements.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MoHSP) is currently revising Law No. 121/2016 “On Social Care Services” as part of a broader reform process triggered by the adoption of the National Social Protection Strategy 2024–2030 and the National Strategy on Migration 2024–2030. The reform aims to modernise the social care system by strengthening integrated services for asylum seekers and individuals with protection status in country, improving responsiveness and inclusion, enhancing digitalisation, ensuring sustainable financing, and reinforcing institutional coordination.

The analytical phase identified structural gaps in the current legal framework, including insufficient regulation of access to social care services for vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals under temporary or international protection.

Within the EU4Migration framework, UNHCR will provide targeted technical support to ensure that the revised law and its accompanying legislation explicitly regulate access to social care services for persons under international protection and are fully aligned with EU standards, international protection obligations, and relevant UNHCR policy guidance on inclusion, protection safeguards, and access to national systems.

This consultancy contributes directly to the objectives of the EU4Migration project, supporting Albania’s efforts to establish a coherent, EU-aligned migration governance framework. By engaging in the revision of the social care legislation, the consultancy strengthens the interface between migration and asylum management and social protection systems, an area of increasing relevance in the EU accession context.

The reform of Law No. 121/2016 is a key implementation measure under the National Social Protection Strategy 2024–2030, which promotes inclusive, community-based, and crisis-responsive services, as well as improved governance and financial sustainability. At the same time, the National Strategy on Migration 2024–2030 calls for strengthened inclusion measures, protection safeguards, and inter-institutional coordination for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Ensuring coherence between these two strategic frameworks is essential to avoid regulatory gaps and fragmented service provision.

The consultancy supports the explicit inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, and persons under temporary or international protection within the social care framework, thereby reinforcing compliance with EU reception standards and international protection obligations. It strengthens legal clarity regarding eligibility, access, coordination responsibilities, and monitoring mechanisms, contributing to institutional predictability and non-discrimination.

In doing so, the project advances Albania’s commitments under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, relevant human rights instruments, and the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees. It also contributes to broader governance and inclusion goals reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to reduced inequalities and strong institutions.

By embedding protection-sensitive provisions within the primary social care legislation, the consultancy ensures that refugee inclusion is not treated as an ad hoc or secondary consideration, but as an integral component of Albania’s social protection and migration governance reform.

3. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialised legal and policy expertise to:

• Ensure that the revised Law No. 121/2016 and its secondary legislation are fully aligned with:

• The National Social Protection Strategy 2024–2030;

• The National Strategy on Migration 2024–2030 and its Action Plan;

• EU reception, qualification, and temporary protection standards;

• International refugee and human rights law.

• Support the explicit inclusion and regulation of access to social care services for refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals under temporary or international protection.

• Facilitate the structured incorporation of UNHCR technical recommendations into the drafting process led by MoHSP.

4. Scope of work

Under the supervision of the EU4Migration Project Coordinator and UNHCR Protection Team, the consultant will:
i. Strategic and Legal Review
• Review the draft revised Law No. 121/2016 and related secondary legislation.
• Assess coherence with the National Social Protection Strategy 2024–2030; The National Strategy on Migration 2024–2030; Albania’s asylum and migration legislation; Relevant EU acquis; International refugee and human rights instruments.
• Identify gaps concerning: Legal definitions and scope of beneficiaries; Eligibility and access provisions; Crisis and temporary protection arrangements; Financial and institutional responsibilities at national and municipal levels; Inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms; Monitoring and data disaggregation by protection status.

ii. Drafting and Policy Development
• Prepare a concise technical position paper outlining recommended amendments.
• Provide article-by-article drafting suggestions.
• Develop model legislative language where necessary.
• Propose safeguards ensuring: Non-discrimination; Continuity of care; Explicit recognition of protection status categories; Alignment between primary and secondary legislation.

iii. Facilitation of Integration
• Participate in technical exchanges with MoHSP and relevant authorities.
• Provide structured input during consultations.
• Support coherence between social protection reform and migration governance reform processes under EU4Migration.

Expected Timetable
This consultancy duration is 40 working days and is expected to last up to 3 (Three) months and be implemented between the period of 1 November 2025 and 31 December 2025.

5. Supervision/Reporting line

The consultant will report directly to the Senior Protection Associate and the Project Coordinator.

6. Consultancy Deliverables

• Inception Report: Outlining methodology, work plan.

• First Draft: Presenting preliminary analyses and recommendations for stakeholder feedback.

• Final Report: Provide proposed amendments and solutions, detailed recommendations, including template by-law language for municipal consideration and implementation strategies.

7. ToRs Amendment

UNHCR and the consultant may amend certain parts of the present Terms of Reference (ToRs) to ensure deliverables that better align with the context. The final report will reflect the amendments agreed upon. The amendments must be signed by both parties at the beginning of the consultancy.

8. Proposed Timeframe
until 30 April 2026

9. Payment milestones (Based on section 6. Consultancy Deliverables)

20% of the amount (EUR 1,500) will be paid upon receipt of the inception report.

20% of the amount (EUR 2,500) will be paid upon receipt of the first draft report.

50% of the amount (EUR 3,500) will be paid upon receipt of the final report.

Total amount allocated for the consultancy is EUR 7,500.

10. Qualifications

Academic Background
• Advanced degree in Law, Public Policy, Social Protection, or related field.

Professional Experience
• Minimum 7 years of experience in legislative reform, social protection policy, or EU acquis alignment

Required skills:

• Proven expertise in migration, asylum, or refugee protection law.
• Demonstrated experience engaging with government reform processes.

Languages
• Fluency in English and Albanian required.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be nationals of Albania OR in the possession of a valid residency and work permit OR have the right to reside and work in Albania.

Applications:

All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.

Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.