Call for proposal - Research Consultant - Cultural Heritage, Peacebuilding & Inclusive Governance - Albania

About the Role

The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites qualified consultants to apply for the position of Research and Fieldwork Consultant within the RE-SPHERE Project, focusing on Albania. The RE-SPHERE project is a Horizon Europe–funded interdisciplinary initiative bringing together academic institutions, civil society organisations, cultural actors, and policymakers to examine and support the governance of Shared Holy Places (SHPs) across Southeastern Europe and Ukraine. The project develops participatory, evidence-based approaches to managing shared religious spaces and is rooted in commitments to peacebuilding, cultural heritage protection, and inclusive dialogue.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultancy aims to support implementation of research and fieldwork activities in North Macedonia and Albania, generating high-quality empirical data on Shared Holy Places (SHPs) and contributing to understanding their social, cultural, religious, and political dynamics through mapping, site visits, qualitative research, stakeholder engagement, and analytical reporting aligned with the project’s comparative and interdisciplinary framework.

Responsibilities

• Mapping and Case Study Report: document identified Shared Holy Places (SHPs), including spatial, historical, and contextual data, and provide selection and justification of case studies.
• Country-Level Analytical Report (Albania): present in-depth analysis of findings, including governance dynamics, patterns of use, challenges, and good practices related to SHPs.
• Comparative Insights Report: contribute to cross-country comparison highlighting similarities, differences, and emerging themes between North Macedonia and Albania within the RE-SPHERE framework.
• Conduct site visits, qualitative fieldwork, stakeholder engagement, documentation, and data management to ensure local perspectives (especially of marginalised communities) are integrated into project outputs.
• All deliverables to be written in English.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of academic and applied research experience in relevant fields (e.g. religious studies, anthropology, cultural heritage).
• Bachelor on Otoman history or Turkish language or related fields, and experience in archives.
• Strong qualitative research and analytical skills; experience with fieldwork, documentation, and data management.
• Familiarity with Balkan regional contexts, especially Albania and North Macedonia.
• Experience working in culturally and religiously diverse environments and ability to engage with stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience in translation/interpretation (asset) and contribution to academic or cultural outputs (asset).
• Fluency in English, Albanian, and Turkish.

Additional Information

• Duration: 6 months, from mid-June 2026 to mid-December 2026.
• Deadline for application: 10 June 2026.
• Selection will consider regional, gender and denominational balance among candidates who meet the nomination criteria.