TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY

Design and Delivery of Advocacy Trainings on Inclusive Environmental Policy and Green Transition

Date: 24.04.2026

CARE Deutschland e.V. Office in Kosovo (in further text: CARE), within its project:

Green Horizons - Youth and Community Led Green Transition Initiative
in Western Kosovo

(in further text: the Project), co-funded by the European Union - EuropeAid/179419/DD/ACT/XK EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme for Kosovo – 2023 Lot 2: Local governance, development and activism, Contract no. 2024/461-252

is planning to engage a consultant/trainer to design, develop and deliver advocacy trainings for up to 50 civic activists from the target municipalities.

General Information summary

The trainings will be organised in two municipalities selected within the project target area (Gjakova/Đakovica, Mitrovica (North and South), Peja/Peć, or Prizren).

The project is looking to engage a (one) consultant/trainer with EU expertise in Green Deal, and Kosovo’s legislation, to facilitate advocacy trainings focused on green transition topics, enhancing civic engagement, raising public awareness and fostering dialogue on climate and environmental protection and sustainable practices.

This activity aims to influence local policymakers in all municipalities of the project target area to prioritise green transition topics in their development agendas by enhancing civic engagement, raising public awareness, and fostering dialogue on climate and environmental protection and sustainable practices.

Engagement period and duration: estimated 8 days of engagement, during May to be concluded (with the report) in June 2026.

About CARE in the Balkans

CARE’s mission in the region of Balkans is to contribute to post-war recovery, socio-economic development and building the societies of equality in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. CARE’s work in the Balkans started in 1993, when it provided humanitarian support to people affected by war. In the late 90-ties, CARE shifted its focus in the region from humanitarian post-war assistance and rehabilitation to socio-economic development, engaging in interventions directed at conflict prevention and peacebuilding, sustainable livelihoods, gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence. CARE in the Balkans places the quality of its program at the centre of its mission and has developed a regional strategy with key impact areas of Economic Justice (enhancing inclusive climate-smart economic empowerment and resilient livelihoods), Social Justice (fostering social transformation leading to enhanced social inclusion, reduced discrimination, and the protection and fulfillment of rights for marginalized and vulnerable groups) and Humanitarian Action (in emergencies, CARE will support people affected by natural or man-made disasters, conflict or displacement with lifesaving and urgently required support in line with CARE International’s global strategy). These efforts are guided by cross-cutting priorities, including promoting gender equality, advancing climate justice, strengthening social cohesion, and empowering civil society.

1. Project Information

The Project Green Horizons - Youth and community led green transition initiative in Western Kosovo is implemented by CARE and two local partners: non-government organizations Emancipimi Civil Ma Ndryshe (EC Ma Ndryshe) from Prizren and Syri i Vizionit (SiV) from Peja/Peć. The Project, which started on 1st January 2025 and has a duration of 28 months,is implemented in the municipalities of Gjakova/Đakovica, Mitrovica (North and South), Peja/Peć, and Prizren.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the resilience and role of youth and civil society of Kosovo in advancing participatory democracy, local development and social inclusion processes. This contributes to strengthening the resilience, role and capacities of civil society and media in advancing participatory democracy and social progress along with the EU integration and approximation agenda in Kosovo. Specifically, the action aims to support gender just, youth and community led local development processes focused on circular economy and green transition in Prizren, Peja/Peć, Gjakovë/Đakovica, and Mitrovica (North and South).

The main Project target groups are young people aged 14-29, local and national public servants and civil society actors (local CSOs’ representatives). The project aims to tackle youth and civil society actors and engage them in environmental protection, circular economy, and green transition programming and activism, by raising citizen awareness of environmental preservation and effective strategies, and cooperate with local policymakers to increasingly priorities green transition in local development, with a heightened focus on amplifying the voices of youth and women in decision-making processes, thus a sustainable transformation in the local policy landscape will occur, enhancing resilience and fostering participatory democracy in Kosovo.

The main Project’s Outputs are:

• Output 1 encompasses participatory research, focusing on identifying key environmental challenges, stakeholders, and the inclusivity of green transition policies and local processes, particularly in relation to women and youth.
• Output 2 focuses on capacity-building activities around circular economy and green transition, aiming to foster environmental resilience and social activation among youth and CSOs. The School of Activism for Environment aims to enhance local youth engagement by educating students on citizens’ rights, the green transition, circular economy principles, youth activism, and peer-to-peer exchange.
• Output 3 focuses on fostering collaboration with cultural institutions, supporting local youth activism and volunteerism, and encouraging regional exchange to build social cohesion and a sense of shared responsibility for environmental and sustainable development issues.
• Output 4 focuses on ensuring the participation of youth, women and other marginalized groups in decision-making related to green transition. The project will engage youth and civil activists in structured advocacy, including training and round table discussions on local environmental protection and inclusive policy-making processes.

2. Purpose, Objectives and Tasks of the Consultancy

The purpose of the advocacy trainings is to build the capacities of youth, and civil society including youth/women-led CSOs from the project target areas, to actively engage in environmental governance and influence inclusive decision-making processes at local and national levels.

The Project foresees the engagement of the training participants in structured advocacy interventions, including roundtable discussions organised in local communities, as well as direct engagement with local decision-makers. These actions will aim to contribute to more inclusive green transition policy-making processes in municipalities and support the development and/or updating of Municipal Local Action Plans that reflect community needs and perspectives.

The training will focus on the unequal impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, primarily women and youth, as well as the possibilities for their increased involvement in processes and measures regarding environmental protection. The training agenda will be particularly informed by EU Green Agenda and Gender Equality Strategy (including GAP III) elements, Kosovo’s existing laws/related policies, as well as by the Green and Just Transitioning research report and Policy Brief, developed within the Green Horizons Project.

The objectives of the advocacy trainings are:

• To strengthen participants’ knowledge on environmental protection, green transition, and relevant local and national policy frameworks.
• To enhance participants’ understanding of the policy landscape, including existing policies, programs, and initiatives related to green transition.
• To increase awareness of inclusive and equity frameworks, particularly regarding gender equality and youth participation (support participants in analysing the current level of participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups in environmental governance and policymaking), and the roles of relevant stakeholders involved in policymaking processes. This training segment will be directly informed by the Project developed documents Green and Just Transitioning research report and Policy Brief.
• To develop participants’ practical advocacy, communication, and negotiation skills to effectively engage with decision-makers.

The Consultancy tasks are:

• Design advocacy training plan, based on the objectives of the task and informed by the logframe indicators of the Project, in communication with CARE Project Manager.
• Review relevant project documents, the Research Report; Green and Just Transitioning, identifying the main challenges and key opportunities, with a focus on Western Kosovo and Policy Biref: Inclusive Climate Governance in Kosovo, as well as official reports, decisions, studies and surveys, laws/policies on the subject of the consultancy.
• Develop advocacy training materials tailored to the local context, taking into account previous actions and relevant data from the target project area, the roles of various stakeholders and the existing legislative and policy framework at both national and local levels.
• Facilitate interactive training sessions in two municipalities of the Project target region, for the participants selected by the Project.
• Generate a Final Consultancy Report, including feedback and evaluation from participants, as well as key points to inform the future development/update of the Local Action Plans in two target municipalities in which the trainings were conducted.

3. Outputs, Deliverables and Methodology

CARE Outputs:

• Provide necessary information and documents on The Project: relevant Project logframe elements, Research Report and Policy Brief, information about partners, target groups, associates, and stakeholders.
• Agree on the Advocacy training plan, training material with the Consultant/trainer.
• Coordinate with the Consultant/trainer and partner organisations – EC Ma Ndryshe and Syri i Vizionit during the preparation and realisation of the trainings. Select municipalities and participants for the training.
• Provide logistical support to the Consultant/trainer necessary for the realisation of the task, apart from travel logistics (travel and accommodation costs for the fieldwork envisaged should be included in the Consultants’ bid).

Expected Consultant/trainer deliverables:

• Preparatory work: training plan, training material (including agenda, PP presentation and other interactive materials), questionaries/evaluation forms.
• Training sessions: two-day training sessions in each of the two target municipalities that will be selected by the project within the project target area. Each of the two training groups will consist of up to 25 civic activists (youth and women). The logistics for the advocacy trainings will be organized by the Green Horizons project.
• Final Consultancy Report in English (8-10 pages plus annexes that include training plan, agenda, materials used, participants’ evaluation), including recommendations for future Project advocacy actions. The Final report shall include an executive summary (up to 2 pages), an overall description of the training, the process and methodology, as well as main observations and recommendations for upcoming project activities related to structural dialogue and the update of Environmental Local Action Plans.

Methodology:

The advocacy training program will be fact-based, drawing on data gathered through the Consultant’s desk review of the existing green transition legislature, policy and programming framework in Kosovo, as well as data and recommendations from the Project’s Research Report and Policy Brief.

The training methodology will be adjusted to the local context and tailored to the capacities of training participants – youth and women from the target municipalities. A participatory approach will be used, ensuring gender-sensitive and youth-friendly methodologies, fostering safe and inclusive space for discussion.

The Consultant/trainer will be required to submit a detailed methodology and schedule will as initial documentation to support agreement on the training plan with the CARE Project Manager. The planning process will be informed by the Project documents.

If/when applicable, in communication with the Project Manager, the Consultant will analyse data corelating to the project logframe indicators and suggest the methods for their regular follow up.

Co-applicants and CARE will support the realisation of the training sessions, including logistical arrangements and ensuring the participation of youth and women.

4. Process & Timeline

The consultancy is limited to 8 full consultancy days, over the period May – June 2026, according to the following timetable:

Action Responsible Deadline

• Submission of the bid (electronically) Consultant 7 May 2026
• Initial meeting CARE, Consultant 18 May 2026
• Submission of the training plan/materials Consultant 19 May 2026
• Conduct 2 two-day trainings sessions Consultant, Co-applicants during last two weeks of May 2026
• Submission of the Final Consultancy

Report, with supporting documentation Consultant 08 June 2026

5. Payment Schedule

CARE will undertake one/final payment for the consultancy. Payment will be made upon completion of all activities outlined in this ToR and after receiving the necessary approvals from CARE. The Payment will be carried out in line with all necessary documentation as per CARE’s administrative procedures (timesheets, approved final report and annexes as well as the invoice).

6. Required Qualifications of the Consultant/trainer

CARE invites individual consultants/trainers, experienced on advocacy and environmental protection/green transition, to submit their bids and present their relevant expertise and experience. The general requirements for consultant/trainer expertise are:

• MA Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Climate Change, Sustainability, with extensive EU expertise in Green Deal programming and practice.
• Excellent knowledge of the EU Green Agenda and familiarity with Gender Equality Strategies (such as GAP III). Excellent knowledge green transition processes and current environmental policies in Kosovo, on the national and local levels.
• In-depth knowledge of advocacy techniques, with a minimum of 5 years of proven professional experience and extensive experience in delivering advocacy trainings.
• Proven experience in working with vulnerable communities (including women, youth, minorities, people with disabilities) and marginalized groups in the context of gender equality, climate and environmental issues.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Albanian languages, highest standard of written English, knowledge of Serbian language is an asset.
• Good presentation skills, and advocacy techniques.
• Clear demonstration that the consultant/trainer can meet the consultancy task in the envisaged timeframe.

7. Application Process

The Consultant/trainer bid/application should consist of the following:

1. Portfolio including the Consultant/trainer CV (preferably in EU Format), with detailed information relevant to the required qualifications including two relevant references from similar consultancy conducted for local and/or international organisations.
2. Draft consultancy plan, brief methodology – implementation plan (schedule/timeline) for the consultancy.
3. Bid – financial offer: The Consultant shall suggest a gross daily fee/rate in EUR per consultancy and an excluded VAT daily fee/rate in EUR for the companies. Transportation, food and accommodation costs should be included in the daily rate. There is no standard format for the bid.
4. Copy of ID for Consultant/trainer.

THE APPLICATION/BID SHOULD BE IN ENGLISH!

Interested candidates are invited to apply to the e-mail: [email protected] . Closing date for applications is 7 May2026.

For any additional information concerning the application, you may contact: [email protected] no later than 5 May 2026.

8. Criteria for Selection of Best Offer

CARE will assess both technical and financial proposals submitted by bidders. The bids received will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis methodology: technical and quality evaluation weigh 70% and financial criteria weigh 30%. Only the bids obtaining a minimum of 70 points in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

CARE reserves the right not to select any of the bids if they do not meet the required quality standards for the project.