Local Consultant Technical Expert for UASC Center Operationalization

About the role

IOM and UNHCR in Albania are implementing the EU4Migration in Albania project, which strengthens migration and asylum governance aligned with the EU. As part of it, IOM supports the establishment of a dedicated center for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC). This consultancy asks a local consultant to develop a practical model for how the center will be managed, staffed, financed and linked to child protection, social care, migration and asylum systems, and to prepare options for discussion with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW).

Key responsibilities

• Review legal, policy and procedural documents on child protection, social care, migration and asylum, guardianship, reception arrangements, licensing and service standards.
• Consult central institutions and stakeholders, including MoIA, MoHSW, the State Agency for Child Rights and Protection (SACRP) and social care structures.
• Map institutional roles and responsibilities and identify the legal and administrative steps needed to make the center operational.
• Develop options for management models (state-led, delegated, mixed or partnership-based), staffing structure, professional profiles, service standards, case management, referral and coordination arrangements.
• Assess guardianship options, including professional guardians, legal representation and safeguards, in line with Law No. 92/2025 and the best interests of the child.
• Prepare a financial model covering recurrent costs, staffing and service costs, maintenance, possible state budget implications and sustainability.
• Test the options with stakeholders, then revise and finalize the model and present it to MoIA and MoHSW.

Deliverables and timeline

• Inception note, methodology and workplan (5 working days)
• Legal and institutional mapping notes (8 working days)
• Draft operational model (12 working days)
• Guardianship options note (7 working days)
• Financial model and sustainability note (6 working days)
• Final technical options paper and presentation package (7 working days)
• Total of 45 working days; payments in three instalments after acceptance of deliverables.