Eligibility Criteria:

For the purpose of this call, a Diaspora member is a person of origin from North Macedonia who has temporary or permanent residence outside North Macedonia, regardless of citizenship status.

To be eligible, Diaspora applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Relevant professional experience: Experience gained in institutions, bodies, or agencies of the European Union; public administrations of EU Member States at national, regional, or local levels; academic institutions, universities, or research centers; think tanks and policy institutes; and/or civil society organizations with a proven focus on EU-related policies, governance, or public administration; and/or
• Academic background and qualifications: Relevant academic experience and professional qualifications aligned with the thematic areas and EU acquis chapters covered by this call; and/or
• EU accession-related experience: Practical experience in supporting EU accession processes, including but not limited to the preparation and drafting of analyses and policies; development of action plans, strategies, or reform roadmaps; and contributions to progress reports, assessments, screening activities, or alignment with the EU acquis.

Skills:

1. Core Technical & EU Accession Skills

• Strong knowledge of the EU acquis
  • One or more chapters (e.g., Rule of Law, Public Administration Reform, Environment, Justice & Home Affairs, Internal Market, Social Policy, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with EU institutions or EU Member State administrations
  • European Commission, EU agencies, ministries, regulatory bodies, or EU-funded programmes
• Understanding of the EU accession process
  • Screening, negotiations, benchmarks, action plans, progress reports
• Legislative alignment & policy transposition
  • Translating EU directives/regulations into national legislation
  • Gap analysis, compliance assessments, implementation monitoring
• Institutional reform experience
  • Strengthening administrative capacity, coordination mechanisms, and governance systems

2. Policy & Strategic Skills

• Policy analysis and drafting
  • Laws, by-laws, strategies, action plans, reform roadmaps
• Strategic planning
  • Medium- and long-term reform planning aligned with EU benchmarks
• Monitoring & evaluation
  • Indicators, progress tracking, reporting (including EU-style reporting)
• Public administration reform (PAR)
  • Civil service systems, accountability, efficiency, and digitalization

3. Cross-Cutting EU Values & Thematic Competencies

• Rule of law, fundamental rights & governance
• Human rights and gender equality
  • Gender mainstreaming, non-discrimination, inclusion
• Migration management & mobility
  • Labour mobility, return and reintegration, Diaspora engagement
• Digital transformation
  • E-government, digital public services, interoperability
• Institutional coordination
  • Inter-ministerial cooperation, stakeholder engagement

4. Knowledge Transfer & Capacity-Building Skills

• Ability to transfer knowledge, not just expertise
  • Explaining complex EU systems in practical, accessible ways
• Training & mentoring skills
  • Lectures, workshops, and on-the-job training for civil servants
• Advisory & coaching skills
  • Supporting institutions through reform processes
• Experience working in multicultural environments

5. Soft Skills

• Excellent communication skills
  • Clear, structured, audience-adapted
• Cultural sensitivity
  • Understanding both the EU institutional culture and local realities in North Macedonia
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Professional integrity and independence
• Ability to work remotely if needed, and in short-term missions

They need to be technically strong EU professionals who understand the mechanics of accession, can translate EU rules into workable national reforms, and can mentor institutions in a practical, culturally aware way.