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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing IOM North Macedonia will manage the activity, in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior, under the project titled “Strengthening Management Systems of Irregular Migration and Fight against Organised Crime in North Macedonia” funded by the EU. 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. First deliverables – the follo