SASPAC is searching for possible candidates to be contracted as thematic expert for 4th Pillar of EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region within the EUSAIR project, “EUSAIR FACILITY POINT – Supporting the EUSAIR governance for improved cooperation (FACILITYPOINT)”.
EUSAIR Pillar 4 Sustainable Tourism focuses on promoting sustainable tourism in the Adriatic-Ionian Region, taking into consideration all the key dimensions of economic, environmental, cultural and social sustainability.
The EUSAIR has the vision to promote innovative, resilient, sustainable and universally accessible tourism in the Adriatic-Ionian Region. The activities shall help to support the digital and green transition of the tourism ecosystem considering relevant sectors and different public and private stakeholders. They will contribute to create favourable framework conditions supporting the sustainable management of destinations and to develop new capacities and skills to strengthen resilience and prepare the sector for the future.
Pillar 4 is coordinated by Croatia and Albania.
Thematic Steering Groups (TSGs) drive the Action Plan implementation work under their respective Pillars. Generally, there is one Thematic Steering Group formed per Pillar apart from Pillar 2, where there are two TSGs, Transport and Energy TSG respectively, which work in close coordination while sharing methodologies and procedures.
TSGs are in charge of proposing and consolidating (among participating countries, stakeholders and EC) the priorities and Actions under their Pillar in the Action Plan. In cooperation with the National Coordinators, stakeholders and supported by the EGP, they are also in charge of Action Plan implementation, on all governance levels (macro-regional, national, regional and local). This is done through policy coordination and consolidation processes followed by operational implementation achieved by engagement of relevant managing authorities and stakeholder partnerships/networks.
Members of Thematic Steering Groups in cooperation with the National Coordinators cooperate with responsible authorities (including managing authorities and NIPACs) at the appropriate level (national, regional, local, etc). They also cooperate with members of other Thematic Steering Groups on the operational level to achieve synergies and complementarities.
Thematic expert is hired to work along with the respective Pillar 4 Coordinator; in order to enhance the efficiency of organizational, administrative and operational activities within the Pillar 4, the expert will work exclusively for the functions established under this Strategy and perform tasks under the Action Plan for Pillar 4. The thematic expert engaged by the Albanian FP PP shall address the Action Plan Topics and the tasks below (1-15) from the perspective of EU candidate countries, more specifically: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia and the support of the EUSAIR in the EU enlargement process.
Tasks:
- Thematic support to Pillar Coordinators (PC) and activities of the Thematic Steering Group (TSG) 4, on the Adriatic and Ionian macro-regional level;
- Working in close cooperation with Pillar Coordinators, and with the other Thematic Expert from Croatia, with Facility Point Project Partners (for administrative and organizational support to the Pillar topics and reporting);
- Upon request of the Pillar Coordinators (PC), provide him/her with reports, briefings, researches, data on TSG4 related topics;
- Under the Action Plan of the Pillar 4 Coordinator and in cooperation with the fellow expert in the EU Member State: organise the work and support the activities of the TSG4: drafting programme and agenda, support documents, minutes, keep TSG documentation up to date, communication with TSG members, practical arrangements, liaise with Facility Point Project Partner for administrative and technical support for the organization of TSG meetings, including hoc meetings, seminars, work-shops, events (preparation of draft of all necessary documents and everything needed to hold TSG 4 meetings);
- Supporting Pillar Coordinators thematically in any eventual updates of the Action Plan and in preparation and yearly updates of the Roadmap of Pillar Actions based on the adopted Action Plan and Annual Pillar Progress Reports based on the methodology and requested data provided by the Monitoring Expert;
- Assist Pillar Coordinators in preparation of concepts for thematic events and sessions as well as supporting PCs in the preparatory work with speakers;
- Providing support to Pillar Coordinators when they are approached by governance support project 2, StEP and project 3, SP4EUSAIR.
- Liaise with monitoring and evaluation experts engaged by Facility Point work package leaders (WP4 – Monitoring and Evaluation of EUSAIR) and provide them with relevant information and most updated data on the activities performed and results achieved under the Pillar concerned.
- Cooperating in implementation of Facility Point WP3 and specifically to Activity 3.1 Knowledge management to support evidence-based decision making.
- Interpreting data on Sustainable Tourism in the region from relevant reports, study papers, researches. Proposing themes from interpreted data to better communicate topics to internal and external stakeholders;
- Communication with international relevant bodies and organization from tourism and culture sector (UN Tourism, Cultural Routes of Council of Europe, ECTAA, HOTREC and all other listed in Action Plan);
- Work on the development on Pillar 4 potential strategic projects and/or flagships based on inputs of TSG4;
- Cooperation with communication experts on proposing topics and themes for communicating EUSAIR Pillar 4 Sustainable Tourism for different stakeholders;
- Liaise and cooperate with the expert supporting the fellow PC in the EU Member State Country relevant PC (coordination of obligations with the Pillar 4 thematic expert from Croatia, exchange of information on undertaken and completed activities);
- Participation at TSG4 meetings, EUSAIR thematic and other events, events relevant to topics from adopted Action Plan;
Criteria:
The expert should have:
- A university degree in the fields of economy, public administration, law, communication sciences, political sciences, humanities or social sciences;
- Excellent knowledge of Albanian and English;
- Knowledge of relevant EU policies;
- Computer literacy;
- Communication skills;
- Good analytical and writing skills;
- Proficiency in report drafting;
- At least 7 (seven) years of overall working experience obtained after the university degree;
- At least 2 (two) years of relevant working experience related to management, implementation, supervision or design of EU or other donor-funded programmes and/or projects and work experience related to organizing trainings/information events, will be considered as an asset;
- Knowledge of EU strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian region (EUSAIR) will be considered as an asset.
Location:
Premises of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport in Albania
Timeline:
- This call for interest it is opened from date: 17 – 31 March 2026
- Deadline for submission is:31 March 2026
- Contract duration is until end of 2027
*All possible candidates/experts interested in this call should send in this email address: info@saspac.gov.al the following:
- CV
- Letter of Interest
