Project Management Support – Specialist for Assessment of Roma Inclusion Strategy Implementation - retainer position

Following its formal designation in January 2025 as the National Contact Point (NCP) for the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022–2030, the Cabinet of the Minister without Portfolio assumed responsibility for coordinating, monitoring, and reporting on the Strategy’s implementation. However, limited staffing and technical capacity have hindered the Cabinet’s ability to fully carry out these functions and ensure effective implementation of the Strategy across sectors and governance levels.

In response, the Cabinet has requested targeted technical assistance from the Project to assess the current status of implementation, identify key challenges and gaps, and support evidence-based planning for the next phase. This request is closely aligned with North Macedonia’s EU accession priorities under Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights), Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment), and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security), all of which emphasize inclusive policymaking and the protection of vulnerable groups.

To address this need, the Project will deploy a Specialist under the supervision of the Project Manager to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022–2030. The expert will review progress to date, evaluate implementation effectiveness, and provide actionable recommendations to strengthen coordination, monitoring, and future planning. The assignment will also contribute to reinforcing the Cabinet’s institutional role and technical capacity in fulfilling its mandate as the National Contact Point.

The Specialist will carry out the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of existing strategy documents, action plans, reports, and relevant government and donor materials.

• Identify and assess:

  • Key achievements to date;

  • Implementation challenges and institutional bottlenecks;

  • Coordination and monitoring gaps across institutions and sectors.

• Conduct stakeholder consultations with the Cabinet, line ministries, local authorities, and Roma civil society representatives.

• Review the functionality and usage of the Roma digital monitoring platform (developed with Council of Europe support).

• Prepare a report on the status of the implementation of the Roma Strategy, implementation and coordination gaps, challenges and opportunities.

• Provide strategic recommendations for improving implementation and monitoring of the Strategy.

• Propose institutional and operational measures to support the Cabinet’s role as NCP and align with EU reporting standards.

Education

• Advanced university degree in public policy, social sciences, development studies, EU integration, or related fields is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in policy assessment, social inclusion, minority rights, or Roma integration is required
• Experience with EU-funded projects and the EU Roma Strategic Framework 2020–2030 is an asset
• Proven knowledge of institutional frameworks in North Macedonia and/or the Western Balkans is an asset
• Experience in coordinating with government bodies and Roma civil society organizations is an asset.
• Familiarity with digital monitoring platforms and data management is desirable.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) - retainer*
Contract level: IICA 2 (ICS 10)
Contract duration: Up to 40 working days over a 6 month period

*If the selected candidate is based in a duty station where there is a national scale, s/he may be offered the local equivalent position. 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.



• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.