Terms of Reference (ToR)

Expert on EU Accession Alignment in the Agriculture and the agro-industrial sector, Kosovo

In the frame of the programme Empowering Rural Economies in Agriculture (EREA),

Implemented by Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo, funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)

1. Background

The Empowering Rural Economies in Agriculture (EREA) programme aims to stimulate growth and income generation opportunities in Kosovo’s rural economy by supporting the production, processing, marketing, and sales of key agricultural commodities, including Non-Wood Forest Products – Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (NWFPs-MAPs), berries, fruits, and vegetables. The programme follows a Market Systems Development (MSD) approach, working with National Associations (NAs), agribusinesses, and policy stakeholders to create sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities.

Kosovo’s EU accession process requires the alignment of key economic sectors, including agriculture, with EU policies, regulations, and quality standards. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), in force since 2016, serves as a framework for reforms aimed at enhancing economic stability, transitioning Kosovo into a functioning market economy, and fostering regional cooperation.

In line with EU accession requirements, EREA supports the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, compliance with EU food safety and quality standards, market integration and competitiveness, and access to EU markets. The program works closely with national associations such as:

• Mjedra e Kosovës (MeK) – representing the berry and forest fruit sector,

• Association ORGANIKA – focused on the NWFPs1and MAPs2sector,

• Association PePeKo – for fruits and vegetable processing.

Despite ongoing reforms, many agribusinesses and farmer associations lack technical knowledge on how to align their activities with EU standards and market requirements. There is a pressing need to strengthen their capacities, enhance their engagement in the EU accession dialogue, and develop a clear roadmap for sectoral alignment

To address these needs, EREA will contract EU expertise that will support selected National Associations in the agriculture sector

➢ in enhancing EU accession sector specific understanding,

➢ in strengthening organizational capacities in promoting and fostering the implementation of EU requirements through the development of tailored action plans, provision of tailored training and information, as well as through a help desk function addressing specific needs

1 Non-Wood Forest Products

2 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

in engaging in related policy formulation Additionally, the EU expert will provide specific recommendations to the EREA Steering Committee for strengthening EU accession aspects of the EREA programme.

2. Objective of the assignment

The objective of this assignment is to ensure that the agriculture sector, particularly the three agricultural sectors supported by EREA, has sufficient understanding and capacities to engage in and support Kosovo’s EU accession and reform process. EU expertise will be provided to National Associations (NAs) as the primary target group, to capacitate and promote their alignment with the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) requirements as part of Kosovo’s EU accession process.

The expert(s) will provide capacity-building on EU policies, SAA compliance, and sector-specific obligations and requirements, ensuring that NAs understand EU requirements related to EU accession and have the necessary tools to support their members in integrating EU standards, market regulations, and policy frameworks into their businesses and production.

As part of the capacity-building efforts, the experts will also engage other stakeholders and beneficiaries of the EREA program by raising their awareness of the EU accession process and the requirements for accessing EU markets. This may include media actors, NGOs active in the agriculture sector, and selected municipal officials.

3. Methodology

Contracted expert(s) will follow a structured, participatory approach in capacitating National Associations (NAs) and other stakeholders in their efforts to align with EU accession.

The methodology will include the following key steps:

Assessment & Gap Analysis

• Review NAs' current activities, identifying gaps in SAA compliance and in accessing EU markets. • Map existing policies and structures against EU requirements and best practices.

• Conduct stakeholder consultations with NAs, , policymakers and governmental institutions, EU donors, and other relevant actors such as NGOs, FOA and World Bank, .

Capacity-Building & Advisory Support

• Prepare tailored information & training material

• Deliver training sessions for NAs staff, including Training of Trainers (ToT).

• Support NAs in engaging with their members on strengthening sectoral know-how and actions on EU accession

• Facilitate the development of tailored EU Accession Action plans of respective NA’s which include sharing best practices and recommended structures, processes and collaboration

• Provide one-on-one coaching for NAs to support their transition.

• Engage with EREA Steering Committee members to strengthen the program’s interventions towards EU accession and access to EU markets

All activities need to be guided by gender mainstreaming, in particular by reflecting and addressing gender mainstreaming aspects of respective EU chapters related to agriculture in close cooperation with the Gender experts of the EREA program. Furthermore, environmental aspects in regard to climate change and environmental protection need to be considered through planning and implementing activities.

4. Deliverables

As key deliverables, the expert(s) will develop:

• An inception report, (detailed workplan, fine-tuned methodology after stakeholder mapping and assessment)

• Information and training material for NAs to effectively engage with their members and the sector on EU accession

• At least three NA Actions Plans to enhance sector actors’ compliance with EU accession and EU markets

• Recommendations for EREA Steering Committee (September 20025) to enhance EREA programs interventions in regard to support EU Accession process in the agriculture sector as per agreed outline.

• A Final report (Summarizing assessments and assignment’s findings, description of training outcomes, recommendations for future interventions as well as training evaluation feedback & action plans as annex),

5. Timeline and scope of agreement:

The activity will commence once the contract has been signed by both parties and will end by 31.03.2026, while the main activities will be implemented in quartal 2 and 3 of 2025.

For this consultancy, the financial offer amount shall not exceed 14`000 Euro unless negotiated in advance with the EREA Programme Manager and approved by the Caritas Switzerland Country Director.

6. Key Qualifications

The expert(s) should possess the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in European studies, Political Sciences, Agriculture, Economics, So, or a related field.

• At least 10 years of experience in advising various stakeholders in EU integration processes, EU accession policy alignment, and compliance in the Balkans, preferably in Kosovo.

• Expertise in developing institutional or organizational actions plans as well as training and information material related to EU accession in the agriculture sector.

• Proven expertise and experience in conducting policy analyses related to EU SAA alignment, market systems, rural development, and agricultural policies.

• Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation and communication skills in English as well as Albanian and Serbian languages.

Fulfilment of these criteria should be evidenced within submitted offers.

7. Application process

Interested bidders are requested to submit an electronic copy of their proposal by the 27th of April 2025 of with the subject line: REF: “EREA EU Accession Alignment” to [email protected]

Questions for clarification can be submitted to [email protected] until 24 April 2025. Applicants must submit:

• CVs of all individuals included in the consultancy team. Please note to have all CVs formatted in the Europass CV template.

• A technical Offer that includes:

o the consultants’ suitability for the assignment, previous work experience, qualifications, and sector expertise;

o proposed methodology (maximum 2). Draft work plan, which includes dates, milestones, team members assigned, etc

o List of projects related to the assignment and reference contacts.

• The Financial budget is broken down by deliverables.

Please note that transport costs need to be included in the budget offer. The proposal will be evaluated by using the Best Value for Money Approach (combined scoring method). The technical proposal will be evaluated with 80% weight, whereas the financial section will be evaluated at the remaining 20%. Offers that do not include all submission requirements will not be evaluated and considered ineligible.

Bidding Cost: Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo will not cover bidding costs and reserves the right to accept or refuse bidders, or to annul or postpone the whole bidding process before signing of any agreements.