Consultancy- Crisis Analysis Roster – Open Call for Research/ Analysis Experts in EU Adhesion/ Eastern-Southern European Countries

Description

Project/Consultancy Title: Crisis Analysis Consultant Roster – Call for Experts in EU Adhesion/Eastern-Southern European Countries

Project Location(s): Remote

Deadline: October 26, 2025

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.

Mercy Corps has developed a Crisis Analysis (CA) function to support our programming in the most complex contexts, including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine, and others. The Crisis Analysis supports Mercy Corps’ in-country programming as well as the wider humanitarian and development response in the region through the provision of quality, timely and relevant analytical products. This analysis is grounded in Mercy Corps’ position as an operational NGO, keeping our products constructive and relevant for humanitarian, early recovery, and development responders and donors within a given crisis. The work leverages Mercy Corps’ Crisis Analysis to support ongoing and emerging policy and advocacy efforts underpinned by a bespoke body of evidence and grounded in contextual realities.

Purpose / Project Description:

Mercy Corps is looking at expanding its analytical capacity in Eastern and Southern Europe, with a focus on countries seeking EU Adhesion. Each country is going through its unique processes and progressing in different stages. While the scope and scale of possible challenges and opportunities will vary, parallels may emerge between aspiring countries’ processes. Country seeking EU accession should have:

• Stable institutions that can guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities.
• A functioning market economy and the ability to cope with the competitive pressure of the EU market.
• The ability to take on the obligations of EU membership, including the capacity to implement all EU law and adhere to the aims of the Union.

This call for experts is in preparation of anticipated research and analysis work on countries being part of or prospecting to be part of the EU enlargement process. Applicants will join our Regional Crisis Analysis consultants’ roster and broadly, consultant activities will be determined based on the needs of each assignment focusing on the below objectives.

Consultant Objectives:

• Provide expert analysis on the status and challenges/opportunities in the EU enlargement process, specific to next group of eligible countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with a focus on one of the six thematic areas that underpin EU accession (Fundamentals, Internal market, Competitiveness & inclusive growth, Green agenda & sustainable connectivity, Resources, agriculture & cohesion, and external relations), and overall, on political, security and economic challenges facing EU enlargement countries. Consult here for details on each thematic areas,
• Lead the production of analytical and forecasting outputs, leveraging thematic expertise and networks to focus on themes such as:
  • Political, security and foreign policy contexts;
• Local socio-economic dynamics;
• Policy, governance, and service provision;
• Media and information environment monitoring;
  • Collaborate closely with other analysts and technical specialists to ensure integrated, context-sensitive insights feed into adaptive planning and convening efforts related to EU enlargement-oriented policy and advocacy efforts.
• Where relevant, provide external presentations, briefings, and participate in workshops/roundtables focused on challenges and opportunities in the EU enlargement processes response, policy/advocacy, and strategic planning

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Based on a pre-determined terms of reference (ToR), expand on technical specifications, data collection/management, analytical framework, and workplan.
• Collaborate with existing Crisis Analysis personnel for support and to enrich research design and analysis, in coordination with Regional CA Senior Manager, Ukraine Crisis Analysis Team Lead, Georgia Country Director and Moldova Team Lead.
• Liaise with Mercy Corps for external stakeholder engagement, to conduct key informant interviews, and to validate analytical findings.
• Leverage personal/professional network to collect granular insights and data points (qualitative or quantitative).
• Compose, either collaboratively with CA personnel or other consultants, or individually, high-quality analytical products (such as reports, white papers, policy briefs, etc).
• Present initial findings internally to Mercy Corps and funding agency as applicable.
• Ensure complementarity with already existing tools and datasets while maintaining close coordination with stakeholders leading the efforts.
• Lead on review and revision process with multiple iterations of feedback, ultimately leading to a high-quality, error-free final product.
• As relevant, present findings within external events (briefings, workshops, panels, roundtables, etc).

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will deliver:

• ToR/research design, including data collection/analysis framework and workplan
• Full, high-quality, and well-evidenced written analysis with data visualizations (where appropriate)
• Slide decks and, if requested, presentations and briefs on content

Timeframe / Schedule:

Variable based on scope of individual research products assigned. Turn-around times may at times be tight.

The Consultant will report to:

Regional Crisis Analysis Senior Manager

The Consultant will work closely with:

Regional Crisis Analysis team, Ukraine Crisis Analysis Team, Georgia Country Director and Moldova Team Lead

Required Experience & Skills:

• 5-10 years of analytical experience within a think-tank, research institution, consulting firm, UN, or NGO.
• Masters’ Degree or equivalent experience in political science, or public policy studies, international relations, sociology, economics, or a related field is an asset.
• Demonstrated track record of producing written analytical products preferably within the geographic context of EU enlargement countries.
  • A distinct advantage if related to work by the European Commission, governance processes, or law and policy amendments, and preferably Expert focus on one or more of the six thematic areas which make up the negotiating chapters for EU accession: Fundamentals, Internal market, Competitiveness & inclusive growth, Green agenda & sustainable connectivity, Resources, agriculture & cohesion, and external relations).
  • Strong quantitative and qualitative skills, with demonstrated experience analyzing mixed-methods data to support context- or thematic-specific analysis.
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and managing research processes, including open-source desk research, creating data collection tools, data processing skills, analyzing mixed-methods data, and report production.
  • Exceptional English-language analytical writing capabilities. Experience in collaborating with team members with diverse backgrounds, experience, and capacities; experience managing researchers and coordinating with multiple teams/units.

Strongly preferred/advantage:

• Experience analyzing EU enlargement processes
• Experience in context analysis
• Knowledge of the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) and/or the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is considered an advantage
• Demonstrated ability to leverage and/or expand professional network to conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) relevant to this SoW and the analytical themes and geographic areas therewithin
• Language skills in focus countries
• Data visualization expertise

Application:

To be considered for this roster, please provide the following documents and information by the application deadline:

Up-to-date C.V. with an emphasis on relevant experience and skillset to this scope of work

Cover sheet indicating

• • Thematic expertise on political, security and economic dynamics on EU accession countries, with a specific expertise on one or more of the six negotiating chapters for EU accession (as listed in the Consultant Objectives section below) considered an advantage
  • Geographic Expertise
    • Indicate country specific expertise, notably Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, as well as Ukraine, Turkey and Kosovo
    • Indicate research and analysis experience on EU enlargement processes for countries which previously went through the accession process (eg. Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland and others).
  • Proposed day rate
  • Relevant language skills
• Note: Expertise in a single thematic area and/or a single focus country is acceptable.
  • Recent and relevant writing sample (in lieu of a cover letter)

Inclusion in the roster will ensure priority consideration for future assignment(s) within this Scope of Work (SoW).

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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