Apply Now: Strengthening Protection and Legal Assistance in Kosovo

Deadline: 09-Oct-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking experienced organizations to support the implementation of its 2027–2030 strategy in Kosovo. The partnership will focus on protection, legal assistance, advocacy, and socio-economic inclusion for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and returnees. The initiative forms part of the UNHCR Strategy for Central and South-East Europe and aims to strengthen protection systems, improve access to legal assistance, support inclusive national policies, and promote self-reliance among forcibly displaced and stateless populations in Kosovo.

About the UNHCR 2027–2030 Strategy in Kosovo

The strategy seeks to strengthen protection and inclusion for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and other people affected by forced displacement. The work is organized around four main outcome areas: - Ensuring access to territory and identifying people with specific vulnerabilities. - Improving the quality and timeliness of asylum decisions and access to legal assistance. - Supporting national legal frameworks that are aligned with international standards. - Promoting socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance. Partners will contribute to these objectives through protection monitoring, legal counselling, advocacy, capacity-building, data collection, and targeted integration assistance. Protection and Information Support Partners will be expected to help ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers receive clear and accessible information when they arrive in Kosovo.

Information support may cover:

- Rights and available protections. - Asylum procedures. - Available services and assistance. - Registration and referral procedures. - Identification of people with specific vulnerabilities. Organizations may also support protection monitoring, data collection, pre-screening, registration, and referrals to appropriate services. Legal Assistance and Counselling Legal assistance is an important component of the partnership. Selected organizations may provide free legal information, counselling, and other forms of assistance to help refugees, asylum-seekers, and other affected individuals understand their rights and navigate relevant procedures.

Activities may include:

- Legal clinics. - Individual legal counselling. - Legal information services. - Capacity-building for relevant actors. - Assistance with protection and asylum procedures. The programme also seeks to strengthen access to legal aid for refugees and asylum-seekers, including their inclusion in the national legal aid scheme. Advocacy and Legal Frameworks Partners will support efforts to improve national legislation and strengthen the implementation of protection standards.

This work may involve:

- Evidence-based advocacy. - Data collection and analysis. - Engagement with national institutions. - Judicial engagement. - Support for legislation aligned with international standards. - Advocacy for the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers in national legal aid systems. These activities are intended to strengthen the overall protection environment and improve access to rights and services. Preventing and Reducing Statelessness The partnership will also address statelessness through legal assistance, advocacy, and monitoring. Organizations may contribute to efforts related to: - Prevention of statelessness. - Reduction of existing statelessness. - Legal assistance for affected individuals. - Monitoring of birth registration practices. - Advocacy for appropriate legal and administrative procedures. The objective is to help ensure that people at risk of statelessness can access documentation and relevant legal protections. Socio-Economic Inclusion and Self-Reliance UNHCR also seeks to promote socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance among refugees and other vulnerable groups. Partners may provide integration assistance to people facing administrative, social, or economic barriers.

Support may include:

- Administrative assistance. - Community engagement. - Assistance with access to relevant services. - Language classes. - Vocational training. - Emergency support for the most vulnerable individuals. Where existing systems do not adequately address specific needs, partners may directly deliver language training, vocational programmes, or emergency assistance. Support for Refugees, Asylum-Seekers and Returnees The partnership is intended to strengthen services for a range of affected populations in Kosovo.

The target groups include:

- Refugees. - Asylum-seekers. - Stateless persons. - Returnees. - People facing specific protection or inclusion vulnerabilities. Activities should contribute to better access to protection, legal assistance, services, and opportunities for socio-economic inclusion. What UNHCR Partners Will Be Expected to Do Experienced partner organizations will be expected to contribute their technical expertise and operational capacity to the implementation of the 2027–2030 strategy.

Key areas of work include:

- Protection monitoring and data collection. - Information provision upon arrival. - Pre-screening, registration, and referrals. - Legal counselling and assistance. - Legal clinics and capacity-building. - Advocacy and judicial engagement. - Support for improved national legislation. - Prevention and reduction of statelessness. - Monitoring of birth registration practices. - Integration and community engagement. - Language and vocational training where necessary. - Emergency assistance for vulnerable individuals. Who Can Apply? The opportunity is open to experienced organizations capable of supporting the implementation of UNHCR’s protection and inclusion priorities in Kosovo. Organizations should have relevant experience and capacity in areas such as: - Protection of refugees and asylum-seekers. - Legal assistance and counselling. - Advocacy and policy engagement. - Statelessness prevention and reduction. - Integration and socio-economic inclusion. -