International Consultant on Monitoring and Reporting on Hate Crimes for the Ombudsperson Institution (OI)_(SSA)

Background:

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo (the OSCE) is implementing the project “Advancement of strategic and operational capacities and human rights compliance within security sector institutions”. The project supports Kosovo security-sector institutions and relevant oversight bodies to strengthen operational effectiveness, accountability and compliance with human rights standards.
In 2025, progress in Kosovo’s response to hate crimes created an important foundation for the Mission’s 2026 engagement. Regional hate-crime meetings and a public awareness campaign strengthened collaboration among the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and local institutions, while highlighting the need for effective victim support, consistent institutional responses and regional co-operation.
Activity 5.4 seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity and policy coherence of oversight and co-ordination bodies-primarily the Ombudsperson Institution (OI) and the Office for Good Governance (OGG) to monitor, report and advocate for effective responses to hate-motivated incidents. Through capacity building, targeted advocacy and multi-stakeholder co-ordination, the OSCE will support stronger analytical frameworks, alignment with international standards and sustainable inter-institutional co-operation.
Under Sub-activity 5.4.1, the OSCE will engage an international consultant to design and deliver a three-day, in-person capacity-building session for OI staff. The assignment will provide methodological guidance and practical tools to improve the collection, verification, classification, analysis and reporting of hate-crime information. It will emphasize bias indicators, distinctions between hate crime and related phenomena, disaggregated and ethically managed data, victim-sensitive monitoring, evidence-based reporting, institutional recommendations and follow-up within the OI mandate.

Objective of Assignment:

Objective. To strengthen the capacity of OI staff to monitor, document, classify, analyse and report hate crimes in accordance with relevant international human rights and equality standards.
KPI 5.4.1. Number of OI monitoring reports that include documented analysis of hate-crime elements.
Planned target. By the end of 2027, at least one OI monitoring report is developed following OSCE support to OI staff.
Means of verification. Activity report; NTF; OI monitoring report.
Assumption. OI staff participate actively in the training and apply the methodology through follow-up monitoring and regular reporting on hate crimes.

Duration of Assignment:

The Consultant will be hired for 20 working days.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the OSCE activity manager and OI focal points, review relevant OI monitoring and reporting practices and applicable Kosovo and international standards; conduct an online preparatory consultation to identify learning needs; and develop a tailored training methodology and agenda.
• Prepare a complete, context-specific training package covering international standards; identification and documentation of bias indicators; distinctions among hate crime, hate speech, discrimination and other incidents; data collection, verification, classification, disaggregation, confidentiality and data protection; analysis, public reporting, recommendations, referrals and follow-up. Develop a methodology for a practical hate-crime monitoring toolkit for subsequent institutional use, including monitoring indicators, data-source mapping, a case-tracking framework, classification criteria, a monitoring checklist, data collection tools and a reporting template.
• Deliver a participatory three-day, in-person capacity-building session for OI staff and facilitate practical application of the methodology to anonymized or sample cases, including the development of an outline and analytical framework for a future OI monitoring report.
• Prepare a post-training evaluation report assessing delivery, learning results, participant engagement, identified capacity gaps and recommended follow-up by the OI and the Mission; revise and submit all materials in final form.
  

Deliverables:

• By 4 November 2026, submit an inception note, draft agenda, methodology and proposed learning outcomes to the activity manager for review and comments.
• By 11 November 2026, incorporate comments and submit the final agenda, presentations, facilitator notes, exercises and case studies, monitoring/reporting toolkit and assessment forms in editable electronic format for approval.
• From 16 November 2026 to 18 November 2026 deliver three-day training for 20 participants.

• By 30 November 2026, submit a final report containing the agenda, summary of participation, assessment results, observations, recommendations and proposed follow-up, together with the final training package and monitoring/reporting toolkit.

Necessary Qualifications:

• A university degree in law, criminology, human rights, political or social sciences, or another relevant field; an advanced degree is an asset.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience in hate-crime response, human rights monitoring, anti-discrimination, criminal justice, policing or institutional oversight.
• At least five years of demonstrated experience designing and delivering adult-learning programmes or technical assistance on hate-crime monitoring, data collection, analysis or reporting.
• Demonstrated command of relevant OSCE/ODIHR, United Nations, Council of Europe and European human rights and equality standards, including the identification and use of bias indicators.
• Practical experience supporting national human rights institutions, ombudsperson institutions, equality bodies, police oversight bodies or comparable public institutions.
• Proven ability to develop practical monitoring methodologies, reporting templates, case studies and participatory exercises, including on data disaggregation, confidentiality, data protection and victim-sensitive approaches.
• Previous professional experience with international organizations and in South-Eastern Europe or the Western Balkans is highly desirable; knowledge of Kosovo’s institutional and legal context is an asset.
• Excellent spoken and written English and strong analytical, drafting, presentation and facilitation skills; knowledge of Albanian and/or Serbian is an asset.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity, sound professional judgment and ability to work effectively with participants from diverse backgrounds

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.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.