National Consultant – Support to the Preparation of Albania’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2026

Result of ServiceIV. Expected Deliverables and Indicative Timeline The following deliverables will be produced within 55 working days, starting from early February 2026, according to a detailed workplan agreed with SASPAC and UN Albania: 1. Inception Report and VNR Roadmap (detailed workplan, methodological note and fully developed VNR Roadmap). Within the first month of the assignment. 2. Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Consultation Package (stakeholder mapping, consultation plan, tools and initial consultation calendar). By the end of Month 2. 3. Synthesis of Consultation Results and Interim Analytical Note (summary report of consultations and interim analysis on SDG trends, structural issues and LNOB). By the end of Month 4. 4. Draft Main Messages (max 600 words) ready for validation and submission to the UN by the official deadline. In line with the UN deadline for Main Messages (indicatively April 2026). 5. Zero Draft and Revised Draft(s) of the VNR Report. Zero draft by Month 5; revised draft by Month 6. 6. Final VNR Report (final, edited VNR report in agreed UN language, in machine-readable PDF, with annexed statistical tables/indicators). In line with the UN deadline for VNR report submission (indicatively June 2026). 7. Presentation and Communication Package (presentations, key messages, Q&A, and short public-facing summary of the VNR). Before the HLPF session (HLPF takes place in the month of July 2026). 8. Post-VNR Lessons Learned and Follow-up Note. Within 4–6 weeks after the HLPF session, subject to remaining days (indicatively mid-September) within 55 working days allocation. V. Institutional Arrangements The Consultant will be contracted by UN Albania. The selection of the candidate for this task will be conducted by SASPAC. The consultant will work under the overall guidance of SASPAC as the Government lead counterpart for the VNR 2026. A designated focal point in SASPAC, in coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, will provide day-to-day guidance and approve deliverables. The Consultant will collaborate closely with relevant line ministries and agencies; INSTAT and the national statistical system; local governments and their associations; parliament and Supreme Audit Institution, as relevant; civil society, academia, private sector and youth organisations; and UN Country Team members and development partners. UN Albania and SASPAC may facilitate access to relevant documents and data; administrative support for organizing consultations and missions; and meeting facilities, subject to availability. VI. Duration, Level of Effort and Duty Station Duration of assignment: From early February until completion of the agreed deliverables, tentatively up to the end of 2026, with the bulk of work concentrated before and around the HLPF. Level of effort: Up to 55 working days over the contract period. Duty station: Tirana, Albania, with possible travel to other regions/municipalities as required by the consultation plan. Modality of work: Combination of in-person and remote work, as agreed with SASPAC and UN Albania. Financial offer: Please send your detailed offer to registry.al@un.org after submitting the application through Inspira. Preferred Currency of Offer: United States Dollars (US$). Skills required -Excellent analytical and drafting skills, with ability to synthesize complex material into clear, concise and readable text. -Strong facilitation and communication skills, including for participatory workshops and presentations. -Solid understanding of SDGs, LNOB, human rights–based approaches, gender equality and environmental sustainability. -Familiarity with Albania’s governance and policy context, including EU integration processes. Competencies required -Strong professionalism, planning and organizational skills. -Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. -Excellent coordination and teamwork, including in multicultural environments. -High level of integrity and commitment to inclusive, evidence-based policymaking. VIII. Key Reference Documents • Albania Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goals (2018). • SDG Baseline Report and related national SDG mainstreaming documents. • UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026 for Albania. • Relevant national strategies and sector policies, including NSDI and EU accession documentation. • VNR Handbook 2026 Edition. • UN DESA guidance notes and kick-off webinar materials for 2026 VNR countries. • Global and regional SDG reports and other relevant analytical or evaluation reports . Work LocationTirana, Albania Expected duration9 Feb - 21 Dec 2026 Duties and ResponsibilitiesI. Background and Rationale In 2015, Albania, together with all UN Member States, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Albania presented its first Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2018, supported by an SDG Baseline Report and a national consultation process involving institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector and development partners. Since 2018, Albania has continued aligning the SDGs with its national planning and reform agenda, including through the National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2022-2030 (NSDEI 2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026, which positions the SDGs as a central reference for policy dialogue, programming and monitoring. In parallel, Albania has advanced EU accession negotiations, treating EU integration and SDG implementation as mutually reinforcing processes. Albania has expressed its intention to present a Voluntary National Review in 2026 at the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC. The 2026 HLPF will focus on the theme: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all,” and will conduct an in-depth review of SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17, while maintaining the integrated and indivisible nature of all 17 SDGs. The 2026 VNR will take stock of progress since the 2018 VNR; highlight transformative reforms and remaining structural bottlenecks; examine the interlinkages between SDGs and EU accession; and place particular emphasis on Leaving No One Behind (LNOB), gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, multi-level governance and Means of Implementation (SDG 17), in line with the VNR Handbook 2026 edition and the latest UN guidance. To this end, UN Albania, in close cooperation with the Government of Albania and under the leadership of SASPAC, will engage a National Consultant to support the coordination, consultation, analytical and drafting processes leading to the preparation and presentation of the Albania VNR 2026. II. Objective of the Assignment Overall objective. The overall objective of the assignment is to support the Government of Albania, under SASPAC’s leadership and in partnership with UN Albania, in preparing a high-quality, evidence-based, inclusive and nationally owned VNR 2026, fully aligned with: the Common Reporting Guidelines for VNRs and the VNR Handbook 2026 edition; the theme and modalities of the 2026 HLPF; Albania’s national development priorities and EU accession reforms; and the principle of Leaving No One Behind and a human rights–based approach. Specific objectives are to: • Coordinate and technically support the national VNR process, including the VNR roadmap, stakeholder engagement plan and data roadmap. • Facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations at national and local levels (including with local governments, parliament, civil society, youth, academia, private sector and vulnerable groups), ensuring their views are reflected in the VNR. • Support data analysis in close collaboration with INSTAT and other data producers, identifying progress, gaps, and data limitations across all SDGs, with particular attention to sex-disaggregated data and gender indicators, with particular attention to SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17. • Draft the Albania VNR 2026 report and Main Messages, including revisions based on national review, peer exchanges and UN feedback. • Propose follow-up and dissemination measures, ensuring that the VNR is used domestically as a strategic tool for policy dialogue, budgeting and monitoring. • Propose mechanisms for follow-up on gender equality recommendations emerging from the VNR, in alignment with national strategies and the UNSDCF. III. Scope of Work and Key Tasks Under the overall guidance of SASPAC as the Government lead counterpart, and the supervision of UN Albania, and in close cooperation with the inter-ministerial/technical SDG coordination mechanisms, INSTAT and the UN Country Team, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: Component 1 – VNR Roadmap, Coordination and Methodology 1.1 Review of existing documentation. Review the 2018 VNR, SDG Baseline Report and related SDG mainstreaming documents; review key national strategic documents (NSDEI 2030 and other national and sector strategies, EU accession documents, UNSDCF 2022–2026, relevant evaluations and analytical reports); and review the VNR Handbook 2026 and UN DESA guidance, the 2026 HLPF theme and in-depth SDGs, and relevant global/regional VNR good practices. 1.2 Support development of the VNR Roadmap. In close cooperation with SASPAC, relevant line ministries, INSTAT and UN Albania, support the drafting of a VNR 2026 Roadmap that specifies governance and coordination arrangements; key milestones and national deadlines (including for Main Messages and the VNR report in line with UN timelines); stakeholder engagement strategy and calendar; data and evidence plan; communication and dissemination plan; and resource needs and risk management. 1.3 Technical support. Provide day-to-day technical backstopping to the VNR coordination mechanism, and ensuring alignment with EU-related reporting and national policy cycles to avoid duplication. Component 2 – Stakeholder Engagement and Leaving No One Behind 2.1 Stakeholder mapping and engagement plan. Update and refine the mapping of stakeholders, including central government institutions, local governments, parliament, INSTAT and the national statistical system, CSOs, women’s and youth organisations, academia, private sector, social partners, marginalized and vulnerable groups, and development partners; and support development of a multi-channel engagement plan (consultation meetings, thematic workshops, online consultations, written inputs, focus groups, etc.), validated by SASPAC and UN Albania. 2.2 Multi-level consultations (national and local). Design and facilitate thematic and territorial consultations, aligned with VNR sections and the in-depth SDGs, including national-level thematic consultations. 2.3 LNOB and vulnerable groups. Ensure specific outreach to and participation of groups at risk of being left behind (e.g. Roma and Egyptians, persons with disabilities, rural poor, youth not in employment, education or training, migrants, elderly, women and girls facing multiple discrimination); and document who is being left behind, where, and why based on evidence and stakeholder feedback, for inclusion in the LNOB section of the VNR. 2.4 Documentation of stakeholder inputs. Record inputs from all consultations; produce concise synthesis notes from each major consultation; and synthesize stakeholder contributions and ensure traceability of how they are reflected in the VNR draft. Component 3 – Data, Indicators and Analytical Work 3.1 Support to the VNR Data Roadmap. In collaboration with INSTAT, support the design and implementation of a VNR Data Roadmap, covering available national SDG indicators and level of disaggregation; gaps vis-à-vis the global indicator framework; use of proxy indicators, modelling or qualitative evidence when needed; integration of administrative data and sector information systems; and preparation of a statistical annex to the VNR. 3.2 Trend and gap analysis. Support INSTAT and line institutions to analyse trends, accelerators and bottlenecks across all 17 SDGs, with particular depth for SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17; identify structural issues affecting SDG progress; and highlight interlinkages and trade-offs between SDGs and across sectors. 3.3 Integration with EU and climate/green agendas. Map the interplay between SDGs and EU accession chapters/clusters, including the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, climate and energy legislation, and the European Green Deal, highlighting synergies, coherence and remaining gaps. Component 4 – Drafting of VNR Main Messages and Full Report 4.1 Outline and structure. Propose a detailed outline of the VNR 2026 report, fully aligned with the Common Reporting Guidelines and the VNR Handbook 2026. 4.2 Drafting of Main Messages. Prepare draft Main Messages (maximum 600 words), ensuring they reflect key findings, priorities and transformative actions; are accessible and communicable to a broad audience; and align with the HLPF 2026 theme and emphasize equity, innovation and coordination. 4.3 Drafting of full VNR report. Based on consultations and data analysis, produce successive drafts of the VNR report, ensuring an evidence-based narrative with clear references to data and concrete examples; balanced treatment of progress and remaining challenges; coverage of all 17 SDGs with in-depth focus on SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, 17; systematic integration of LNOB, gender equality, youth and environmental sustainability; and coherence with EU accession reforms, UNSDCF and other international commitments. 4.4 Support to revision and finalization. Integrate comments from SASPAC and other central government institutions; local governments and their associations; CSOs, academia, private sector, youth and other stakeholders; UN Albania and development partners; and possible regional or global peer exchanges on VNR preparation. Ensure the final VNR is linguistically and technically consistent, ready for submission to the UN in machine-readable PDF format and for national publication. Component 5 – Communication, Presentation and Follow-up 5.1 Communication and outreach support. Contribute to a communication plan for the VNR, including launch events, social media content, infographics and simplified summaries for the general public and youth; and prepare key messages and talking points for high-level representatives (e.g. for the HLPF presentation, national launch, side events). 5.2 Support to Albania’s VNR presentation at HLPF. Assist in preparing presentations and background materials for the Albanian delegation; and, if requested and feasible, provide remote technical support during the HLPF session. 5.3 Follow-up and domestic use of the VNR. Propose options for institutional follow-up, including use of VNR findings in budgeting and medium-term planning; strengthening national SDG monitoring arrangements; linkages with future Voluntary Local Reviews and sector strategies; and potential use of country-led evaluations to deepen analysis of selected SDG areas. Qualifications/special skillsA recognized advanced level university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, public policy, development studies, political science, statistics, environmental policy, EU studies or other related field is required. At least 7 years of r professional experience is the field of programme and project management, data analysis, sustainable development, or related fields is required. Extensive experience in one or more of the following areas: public policy analysis, SDG implementation, or monitoring; gender analysis and gender mainstreaming approaches, with experience integrating gender equality perspectives into SDG or national policy frameworks is desirable. Preparation of national development strategies, major policy reports or VNRs/UN reports; EU accession-related policy or programming is desired. Demonstrated experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and working with government, civil society, private sector and development partners is required. Proven experience in results-based analysis, use of statistics and indicators, and drafting of complex analytical documents is required. Previous work experience with UN, EU or international organizations in Albania or the Western Balkans is desired. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and Albanian are required for this post. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.