"Increasing the administrative capacity of the national authorities in the asylum and migration area"

About this project

<p>The project strengthens the administrative capacity of the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) for the effective fulfilment of its obligations, enhancing the specific skills related to reception, accommodation, proceedings for granting international protection, and social and cultural adaptation, including individual assessment of the needs of applicants for international protection, through improvement of the professional skills of the experts of SAR and obtaining key and upgraded competencies. The project includes the following activities:<br> - Preparing of functional analysis of SAR;<br> - Renovation of minimum 4 halls and repair/purchase of equipment;<br> - Trainings for experts of SAR regarding the assessment of gender-based violence and updating of standard operational procedures; for inter-institutional teamwork for better practical interaction; for exchange of good practices and experience (abroad) for teams including representatives of local authorities, the State Agency for Child Protection, the Social Assistance Agency and other institutions competent to work with unaccompanied minors and also to analyse the current legislation;<br> - Trainings for designated representatives of unaccompanied minors &nbsp;and juveniles ((UAMs). Preparation of a manual for the work of the appointed legal guardians; on the topic of representation of unaccompanied children under Art. 25 of the Law on Asylum and Refugees.<br> - Training of case workers and registration officers on additional methods and approaches to conduct interviews based on/in accordance with the ethnic affiliation, as well as preparation of tools for work with different groups of persons seeking international protection;<br> - Capacity building for the General Directorate Border Police of the Ministry of Interior for working with UAMs, counteracting trafficking in UAMs;<br> - Capacity building for the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, including. exchange of experience and best practices with Norwegian partners.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The collaboration with the Norwegian National Immigration Police Service (NPIS) facilitated knowledge transfer and improved coordination in migration management practices. The exchange of experience and good practices with the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Norway brought up valuable good practices and strengthened the administrative abilities of the participants.

Project partners

• Norwegian National Police Immigration Service (PU) Donor project partner· Norway
• Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior - Bulgaria Project partner· Bulgaria
• General Directorate Border Police, Ministry of Interior – Bulgaria Project partner· Bulgaria
• National Legal Aid Bureau (NLAB) Project partner· Bulgaria