Terms of Reference 

Title: Legal expert - strategic cases  

Project Reference: Improving Civil Society Capacities to Enhance Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men  

Implementing Lead Organization: Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN)  

Location: Kosovo  

Duration of Engagement: Up to 80 Days 

1. BACKGROUND  

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) is a network of women’s groups and organizations from various regions in Kosovo, established informally in 1996 and formally registered in 2004. KWN’s mission is to support, protect, and promote the rights and interests of women and girls, regardless of their political or religious beliefs, age, education level, sexual orientation, or abilities.  

This Terms of Reference (ToR) is developed within the framework of the Action “Improving Civil Society Capacities to Enhance Access to Quality Social Protection for Diverse Women and Men,” funded by the European Commission through the EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme for Kosovo – 2023. The Action aligns with KWN’s Strategy 2023-2026, focusing on gender-responsive social protection and strengthening civil society’s role in shaping inclusive policies.  

The overall objective of the Action is to strengthen the resilience, role, and capacities of civil society in advancing inclusive democracy and gender-responsive social progress, in line with Kosovo’s EU integration agenda. Its specific objective is to enhance KWN’s and its members’ capacity to influence, reform, and monitor social protection policies, ensuring better access to services for diverse women and men.  

Expected results of the Action include enhanced participation and activism of KWN and its members in shaping social protection policies, improved quality of policy recommendations submitted to institutions, increased access to social protection services for marginalized groups, and strengthened capacities of civil society organizations to advocate for gender-responsive reforms. The Action also aims to improve municipal and national institutions’ commitment to gender-responsive budgeting, ensuring adequate resource allocation for social protection services.  

Through legal aid, capacity-building, and policy engagement, the Action reinforces civil society’s role in advancing gender equality, rule of law, and democratic governance, ensuring that legal frameworks and service provision are inclusive, effective, and aligned with European standards.  

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE ENGAGEMENT  

The contracted legal expert will:  

• Enhance the capacities of KWN members, including community activists and mobilizers, in understanding legal processes and advising women within their communities on how to realise their rights and file complaints when relevant.  

• Contribute to institutional accountability by supporting the filing of complaints that hold responsible entities accountable for service delivery and rights protection.  

3. SCOPE OF WORK  

The legal expert will undertake the following tasks:  

1. Legal Consultation and Advice:  

• Provide legal advice to diverse women seeking support in filing complaints.  

• Offer consultations through multiple channels, including in-person, email, online, and phone.  

2. Capacity Building for KWN Members:  

• Train KWN member organizations, community activists, and mobilizers on legal rights and complaint processes.  

• Provide guidance on how to document and file complaints effectively.  

• Guide women and KWN members on utilizing digital complaint mechanisms and e-governance tools for legal aid.  

3. Strategic Litigation and Legal Support:  

• Assist in preparing and submitting complaints to relevant institutions.  

• Provide legal representation or referrals for cases requiring further legal action.  

• Ensure confidentiality, data security and protection of personal data.   

4. Monitoring and Reporting:  

• Track and monitor complaints filed through the Action, ensuring secure data handling.  

• Provide periodic brief reports on the number and nature of complaints filed, along with an analysis of trends and institutional responses.  

4. DELIVERABLES  

The legal expert is expected to deliver:  

• One day training session for KWN members and mobilizers on complaint procedures. 

• Legal support sessions for women filing complaints (at least 20 cases).  

• Documentation of cases handled, ensuring data security and confidentiality as relevant.  

• Brief reports summarising cases filed (at least 20 cases), key legal challenges, and institutional responses, as relevant.  

• Guidelines or materials to support KWN members in future legal assistance efforts.  

5. TIMEFRAME  

The legal expert will be engaged for up to 80 days within a period of 34 months, with key milestones structured around case handling, training, and reporting:  

Application and Contracting Period  

• Call for Applications: Open for 21 days from the date of publication (March 18, 2025).  

• Interviews: April 10-11, 2025.  

• Selection and Contracting: Completed by April 14, 2025.  

• Contract Start Date: April 14, 2025  

• Contract End Date: January 31, 2028.   

Level of Effort 

The legal expert will be engaged for up to 80 days over the course of the project. The estimated breakdown of tasks is as follows: 

• Start-up & Initial Preparation – 1 day 

• Planning & Designing Training – 2 days 

• Conducting Training Sessions – 1 day 

• Reporting – 0.5 days per report (based on the number of required reports) 

• Mentoring & Capacity Building – 5 days 

• Case Support & Legal Aid – The remaining days allocated for providing direct legal assistance, consultation, and follow-ups on strategic cases 

Deliverables Timeline  

• Capacity-Building Sessions for KWN and Community Activists (5-month period): 

• Content: Training on accessing social protection services, filing complaints, legal services referral, and interactive engagement techniques (role play, forum theatre). 

• Method: Practical, hands-on learning to equip mobilizers with the skills to support and educate women in their communities. 

• Outcome: Mobilizers will be able to refer women to legal services and assist in filing complaints. 

• Case Support (Estimated 20 Cases): 

• Each case will include legal aid, advice, complaint filing, and follow-up. 

• All cases must be fully documented and submitted in the reports. 

• Quarterly Reports on Cases and Institutional Responses: 

• Reports due at the end of each quarter, including any additional brief reporting as requested by the donor. 

6.  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE  

The ideal candidate should have:  

• A law degree and relevant legal practice certification in Kosovo.  

• At least 5 years of experience in human rights law, social protection law, or related fields.  

• Experience providing legal aid to marginalized communities, particularly women.  

• Familiarity with Kosovo’s social protection framework and legal complaint mechanisms.  

• Strong training and capacity-building experience.  

• Excellent communication skills. 

• Knowledge of digital legal services and e-governance tools.  

• Fluency in Albanian (English proficiency is an asset).  

7. DATA PROTECTION (GDPR COMPLIANCE)   

The legal expert must adhere to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding handling personal data of beneficiaries. All sensitive information must be stored securely and used solely for the purpose of legal assistance, with written consent obtained where necessary. Compliance with EU and Kosovo data protection laws is mandatory.  

8. PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE COMPLIANCE  

The selection of the legal expert will follow a competitive and transparent procurement process in line with EU procurement regulations. Evaluation criteria will be based on expertise, financial offer, and technical approach.  

9. APPLICATION PROCESS  

Interested candidates should submit the following:  

• CV detailing relevant experience.  

• Technical proposal outlining approach and methodology (3-5 pages max).  

• Financial proposal including proposed daily rate in gross.  

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:  

• Technical Proposal (70%): Relevance of approach, experience, and qualifications.  

• Financial Proposal (30%): Cost-effectiveness and feasibility.  
  All applicants will receive an official notification regarding the selection outcome, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. 

The technical and financial proposals must be submitted, each in a separate document, by April 8, 2025. Proposals should be submitted electronically in PDF format to info@womensnetwork.org. Late submissions will not be accepted. Incomplete submissions may lead to disqualification.  

10. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS & CONFLICT OF INTEREST  

The legal expert must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect the execution of duties. Any affiliations with institutions subject to legal complaints under this contract must be declared. The expert is expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in legal representation and advocacy.