IOM Diaspora Fellowships 2026: EU Accession and Knowledge Transfer Opportunity
Overview
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is building a database of experts from the North Macedonian diaspora through its Diaspora Fellowships. The initiative sits under the project Leveraging the Potential of Diaspora to Advance EU Accession and Labour Mobility in the Western Balkans (2025-2027). It is structured as a consultancy and expression of interest, with the duty station listed as Skopje, North Macedonia (Job Identification 18709). Selected experts share professional knowledge, technical expertise and international experience with institutions supporting North Macedonia's European Union accession process, including institutional reform, legislative alignment, policy development and capacity building.
Who can apply
The opportunity is for people of North Macedonian origin who have temporary or permanent residence outside North Macedonia, regardless of citizenship. Applicants should have relevant professional experience, academic qualifications or practical experience connected with EU accession, for example from EU institutions and agencies, EU Member State administrations, universities, research centres, think tanks, policy institutes or civil society organizations. Accession-related experience can include preparing analyses, drafting policies and strategies, developing reform roadmaps, contributing to progress reports, taking part in screening or supporting alignment with EU legislation.
What you get
Expertise areas include rule of law, public administration reform, environment, justice and home affairs, internal market, social policy, human rights, gender equality, migration management, labour mobility, diaspora engagement, digitalization of public administration, institutional coordination and strategic planning.
Selected experts may contribute through short-term visits, advisory support or remote engagement, such as lectures, seminars and presentations, study visits, on-the-job training and mentoring, and advice on EU integration, as well as online consultations, working groups and expert panels. Being in the database does not guarantee an assignment, since institutions engage experts according to their needs, priorities and funding, and any offer depends on funding confirmation.
IOM covers consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under its Compensation Plan, but consultants arrange their own medical insurance for other conditions and must show proof of coverage before starting.
How to apply
Applications go through IOM's online recruitment system, where status can be tracked. A profile should highlight specific EU acquis areas, institutional reform experience, legislative alignment, policy analysis, research, training, mentoring and knowledge-transfer experience. IOM states that it charges no fees at any stage and does not request bank-account information.