Border management experts to conduct a border needs assessment in North Macedonia

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants. 

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

Project Context and Scope

Within the framework of support funded by the European Union (EU), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) assists national authorities in North Macedonia in strengthening the border management system in the country to effectively manage cross-border movements of people and prevent transnational organized crime, including migrant smuggling and human trafficking, in line with national priorities and EU standards.

As part of these efforts, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior (MoI), particularly the Border Police, IOM will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment aimed at identifying existing gaps and priority needs to further improve the border management technical capacities in the country, with a particular focus on the modernization and digitalization of relevant infrastructure, equipment, systems, and operational procedures and response mechanisms across Border Police structures and relevant authorities. 

The results of the assessment will provide concrete, evidence-based proposals and recommendations to support the modernization and digitalization efforts, ensuring alignment with national legislation, national priorities, and EU standards and recommendations. 

In line with the above, IOM will recruit two individual consultants (border management experts) to undertake the needs assessment in North Macedonia. The selected consultants are expected to work jointly as a team, with clearly defined and mutually agreed roles, to effectively carry out the tasks outlined in the ToR. The consultants will cover complementary areas of expertise, including (i) border management systems, coordination models and EU standards, and (ii) technical infrastructure, surveillance systems and ICT solutions.

The consultants will report directly to the Project Manager of IOM North Macedonia and will work in close coordination with the IOM project team and relevant government stakeholders throughout the consultancy period.

The scope of services to be provided by the selected consultants includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Conduct a desk-based review of relevant national strategies, legislation, operational documents, and EU standards and recommendations to establish the current status of border management technical capacities, identify preliminary gaps, and define key areas for further assessment.

2. Hold consultative meetings and/or focus group discussions with IOM, Border Police, MoI representatives, and other relevant national stakeholders to validate and triangulate the preliminary findings, collect qualitative insights on operational challenges, and confirm priority needs. 

3. Develop a detailed workplan for the needs assessment in consultation with IOM and relevant national authorities. The workplan will outline the proposed methodology, timeline and approach. It must be submitted for review and formally agreed by IOM and relevant authorities before the commencement of the assessment. 

4. Conduct a comprehensive on-site needs assessment in North Macedonia, including:

• Assess existing border management technical capacities, including infrastructure, equipment, systems, operational procedures, response mechanisms, and the current digital architecture across Border Police structures and relevant national authorities, and recommend a target enterprise architecture for border management digital systems.

• Assess existing relevant border management administrative capacity, including human resources, technical expertise, organizational structures, and others.   

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• Identify gaps and priority areas requiring modernization and digitalization, in line with national priorities and EU standards and recommendations. 

• Assess data governance frameworks, information management processes, interoperability requirements, cybersecurity posture, cloud readiness, and opportunities for responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to support border management operations.

• Identify technical and system level requirements necessary to support the future establishment or upgrading of a centralized coordination function, in line with EUROSUR principles for information exchange and system integration. 

• Assess cybersecurity governance, security controls, identity and access management, network security, incident response capabilities, and cyber resilience of existing border management systems and supporting ICT infrastructure.

• Carry out field visits to border crossing points and other relevant locations, as needed, in coordination with IOM and relevant national authorities. 

• Define detailed functional, technical, cybersecurity, interoperability, privacy, and operational requirements sufficient to inform future procurement processes.

• Assess potential AI-enabled capabilities, including risk-based prioritization of use cases, feasibility assessment, data requirements, governance requirements, operational benefits, and regulatory considerations.

5. Prepare a comprehensive assessment report that includes key findings, analysis, reviews, and identified gaps, as well as a set of evidence-based tailored proposals and recommendations for the modernization and digitalization of border management technical capacities in North Macedonia. All proposals and recommendations must align with national legislation and priorities, EU standards and recommendations, and relevant context-specific best practices.

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6. Conduct market research on the equipment, software platforms, cloud-based services, analytics platforms, and AI-enabled solutions where applicable, identified and proposed through the needs assessment, including analysis of current market trends, key suppliers, technical specifications, indicative cost ranges, and sustainability considerations, as well as a comparative analysis of suitable technical solutions and indicative cost efficiency considerations relevant to the national context.

7. The consultants shall submit a draft assessment report for review by IOM and relevant national authorities and incorporate consolidated feedback before submitting the final version.

8. Deliver a presentation to IOM and relevant national authorities summarizing the assessment results including key findings, confirmed needs, proposals, and recommendations, and the outcomes of the market research. 

Tasks to be performed under this contract

The following deliverables shall be submitted to IOM by email in accordance with the timelines indicated below. The contract price will be paid in two instalments, subject to the timely submission of deliverables and IOM’s approvals of their satisfactory completion. 

1. First deliverables – the following document shall be submitted to IOM no later than 9 October 2026:  

• A workplan of the comprehensive needs assessment  

  [First instalment (20 % of the total contract value) will be paid upon submission of the deliverable and IOM’s approval.] 

2. Second and final deliverables – the following documents shall be submitted to IOM no later than 10 December 2026: 

• A comprehensive needs assessment report, including: 

  -  Results of the needs assessment of existing border management capacities in the country, covering, but not limited to, the areas described in the ToR; 

  -  Identified gaps and detailed needs for the modernization and digitalization of the border management technical capacities, in line with national priorities and EU standards and recommendations; 

  -  A matrix of prioritized needs, including justification and priority ranking; 

  -  Detailed technical requirements and specifications, aligned with national legislation and priorities as well as EU standards and recommendations, to inform procurement processes for the modernization and digitalization efforts; 

  -  Capacity-building needs and resource requirements to ensure the sustainability of improved technical capacities; digital skills, cybersecurity capacity, AI governance awareness, and data governance capabilities; 

  -  Outcomes of the market research on identified and proposed equipment; and  

  -  Recommendations for the development or strengthening of centralized coordination frameworks for information exchange and system integration, aligned with EUROSUR principles.

  -  A presentation material on the results of the comprehensive needs assessment and market research. 

[The second and final instalment (80% of the total contract value) will be paid upon submission and IOM’s approval of all final deliverables.]  

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results 

1. Timely delivery of all deliverables within the agreed scope;

2. Successful completion of all required field visits for the on-site needs assessment;

3. Participation in relevant meetings necessary to carry out the assessment;

4. Effective coordination and quality communication with IOM staff and national authorities;

5. Formal agreement and endorsement of the assessment report by the MoI and IOM;

6. Provision of evidence-based, feasible proposals and recommendations aligned with national legislation and priorities, as well as EU standards and recommendations, including sufficiently detailed technical specifications to inform procurement processes; and

7. Adequate incorporation of stakeholder feedback into the assessment report.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education, Experience and Skills

1. A university degree in Security Studies, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Border Management, or a related technical field, with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience; 

2. Proven experience in conducting complex needs assessments in border management or relevant areas, including evaluation of infrastructure, technical equipment, and digital systems; 

3. Demonstrated experience working for the establishment or upgrading of National Coordination Centers under EUROSUR or similar ICT-based border management infrastructure/mechanisms in EU accession countries;  

4. Strong understanding of how assessment findings inform procurement, system upgrades, and infrastructure improvements, particularly in the area of border management; 

5. Demonstrated knowledge of EU standards and Schengen requirements, including Schengen Acquis, Schengen external borders acquis, and European Integrated Border Management (EIBM), and border management frameworks in the Western Balkans; 

6. Experience working with law enforcement agencies, government institutions, and international organizations in the EU and/or the Western Balkans region; 

7. Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks, critical infrastructure protection, and secure digital transformation practices; 

8. Understanding of AI governance principles, data analytics, automation technologies, and digital public sector transformation; 

9. Strong analytical, reporting, and communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, evidence-based technical proposals and recommendations and engage with technical stakeholders; 

10. Experience conducting field visits and engaging with operational and technical counterparts, including law enforcement and ICT officials; and  

11. Full computer literacy, including familiarity with Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Languages

Excellent written and spoken English is mandatory for this consultancy. Knowledge of local language will be considered as asset.  

Travel required

1. The selected consultants will be required to undertake travel to and within North Macedonia as part of the comprehensive needs assessment, and to participate in relevant meetings, as necessary for the successful consultancy services.

2. The consultancy fee is all-inclusive and covers all costs related to the required travels. 

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 five 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

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. 

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, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

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 does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies