Overview
Consultants are sought to conduct a comprehensive border needs assessment in North Macedonia, focusing on identifying gaps and priority needs for improving border management technical capacities, including modernization and digitalization.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct a desk-based review of national strategies, legislation, operational documents, and EU standards.
- Hold consultative meetings and focus group discussions with stakeholders.
- Develop a detailed workplan for the needs assessment.
- Conduct on-site needs assessment of technical capacities, administrative capacity, and identify modernization/digitalization gaps.
- Assess data governance, interoperability, cybersecurity, and AI adoption opportunities.
- Identify technical and system requirements for a centralized coordination function.
- Assess cybersecurity governance and resilience of existing systems.
- Carry out field visits to border crossing points.
- Define detailed functional, technical, cybersecurity, interoperability, privacy, and operational requirements.
- Assess potential AI-enabled capabilities.
- Prepare a comprehensive assessment report with findings, analysis, and recommendations.
- Conduct market research on equipment, software, and solutions.
- Deliver a presentation summarizing assessment results and market research outcomes.
Required Experience
- Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience.
- Proven experience in conducting complex needs assessments in border management or relevant areas, including evaluation of infrastructure, technical equipment, and digital systems.
- Demonstrated experience working for the establishment or upgrading of National Coordination Centers under EUROSUR or similar ICT-based border management infrastructure/mechanisms in EU accession countries.
- Experience working with law enforcement agencies, government institutions, and international organizations in the EU and/or the Western Balkans region.
- Experience conducting field visits and engaging with operational and technical counterparts, including law enforcement and ICT officials.
Qualifications
A university degree in Security Studies, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Border Management, or a related technical field.
