In time of pandemic we are celebrating refugees fighting with the pandemic on the front line.

The issue is available online.

On June 9 and 10, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants in partnership with the Multi kulti collective, and the UNHCR Representation in Bulgaria UNHCR organised a Laboratory for Cooperation. The Enhancement of the Capacity of Civil Society Structures for the Integration of Refugees and Migrants. Representatives of non-governmental organizations from all over the country and municipalities took part in the event, expressing interest in cooperating on the topic. The event was attended by NL Narasimha Rao – the new UNHCR Representative in Bulgaria.

The current picture and the development in the field of integration of refugees were presented within the Laboratory for Cooperation. Using the method of an interactive workshop, a map was made of the opportunities, initiatives and needs of the civil sector for the integration of refugees. Good practices of European non-governmental organizations for integration of refugees were presented. In the main part of the Laboratory for Cooperation in the Open Space Method, the representatives of the non-governmental organizations had the opportunity to develop and present ideas on specific issues and topics related to the integration of refugees.

The Cooperation Laboratory is a logical continuation of the program of the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants to support the  development of  the capacity of civil society structures in the field of forced migration, international protection and integration of refugees, thus preparing a network of organizations to be a reliable partner of state bodies, local authorities and all other stakeholders in the process of protection and integration of refugees.

The event was organized within the framework of the implementation of the project “Advocacy for refugee integration in Bulgaria” and project “NIEM – National Integration Evaluation Mechanism”, funded by AMIF of the EU.

On June 8 and 9, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants in partnership with Multi Kulti, UNHCR Representation in Bulgaria, and the Sofia Development Association held an Information Session for Municipal Experts: Integration of Refugees at the Local Level. The meeting was organized in Plovdiv and was attended by experts from municipalities across the country, as well as non-governmental organizations that expressed an  intention for  exchange experience and partnership with municipalities. The event was opened by Kina Sabeva – Chair of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and NL Narasimha Rao – the new UNHCR Representative , who presented the global aspects of refugee issues, the Bulgarian context and the integration as an opportunity for social and economic development at a local level. The meeting provided a forum to present the development and trends in the European Union refugee integration and implementation policy at local level, the role of national and local authorities as an opportunity for cooperation and development.

The program of the meeting included a presentation of the policies of the Sofia Municipality in the field of migration and integration of refugees in partnership with the Sofia Development Association. The program provided an opportunity to present the experience and good practice of the Bulgarian Red Cross for joint implementation of a project for integration of refugees,  with Vitosha and Oborishte Districts of Sofia Municipality. The opportunities for European funding of integration programs, projects and activities for integration were also presented.

The event was organized within the framework of the implementation of the project “Advocacy for refugee integration in Bulgaria” and project “NIEM – National Integration Evaluation Mechanism”, funded by AMIF of the EU.

We present to your attention an open call for proposals under the Erasmus+ programme of the EC: “Sport as a tool for integration and social inclusion of refugees”.

The specific objective of this action is to promote the direct engagement of refugees and host communities within the EU and to promote a Europe-wide approach, increasing the potential for European host communities to successfully engage and integrate refugees through sport.

The implementation of the preparatory action will take due regard to complementarity with the EU Erasmus+ Sport programme, with the actions eligible under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), as well as with those currently funded under the pilot project ‘promoting health-enhancing physical activity across Europe.’

A non-exhaustive list of the main activities eligible under this call for proposals is listed below:

• Sport activities aimed at promoting participation of refugees into EU societies
• Preparation and training of sport coaches and staff who will work on integration and social inclusion of refugees through sport
• Development, of activities and identification of good practices about participation of refugees into sport activities aimed at their integration into host societies.

Deadline for applications: 16 June 2021

More information and application >>>

We present to your attention the sixth issue of the Academic Bulletin “Refugees: Today and Tomorrow”.  The first issue of the academic bulletin “Refugees: Today and Tomorrow” for 2021 was prepared jointly by the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants (BCRM) and Multi Kulti Collective (МKC) under the project “Capital of Tolerance in an Era of Pandemic: Students Connecting Academic Community and NGOs for the Benefit of Refugees and Migrants”, funded by Sofia Municipality under the “Crisis as an Opportunity” program, and in partnership with UNHCR. The project offers student internships to 14 students to gain real experience in working with refugees and migrants through two-month or three-month internships, on the basis of which they publish short analyses, interviews or in-depth research in the first and second issues of the bulletin. First impressions of some of the students are collected and can be read in a special section. The issue publishes for the first time the results of a survey revealing myths about and among refugees, conducted by the UNHCR founded Refugee Advisory Board (RAB). The issue also contains results from the survey “Access to the Labour Market in Bulgaria for Third Country Nationals” of CITUB. The futher tells the story of Freddie and Linda, who come to Bulgaria from Iraq, and the campaign of Multi Kulti Collective about their burned house just before Christmas. The traditional feature “Countries of Origin” reveals the history of ancient Iraq. The feature “The Voice have the Practitioners ”shares the expertise of the colleagues from the “Mission Wings” Foundation working in Harmanli and the region. This time, the “Legal Expert” section focuses on alternatives to immigration detention, analyzing the relevant measures provided by law and the possibility of their actual implementation. The good practice from Europe in the academic field this time comes from Dublin and tells about the Master’s program “Integration of Refugees” at the Dublin City University. As a transition to the student section is the story made by intern who was part of the UNHCR practicum, organized for the second year for Arabic Studies students. The Student section includes two interviews with experts, one with a lecturer and one reveals the personal story and struggles of a refugee.

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On April 16, 2021, a webinar was held on the topic of The role of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM) for the protection and integration of refugees.

The meeting was opened by Assist. Professor Dr.Kremena Yordanova, Lecturer, Department of Ethnology, Sofia University.

Mr. Narasimha Rao, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Bulgaria, addressed the participants of the event.

The webinar was attended by Professor Dr. Irina Koleva, lecturer at the Department of Ethnology, Sofia University.

Dr. Kina Sabeva, Chairperson of the BCRM, was the keynote speaker of the event. Dr. Sabeva presented the BCRM founded in 2005 by the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, and Caritas Bulgaria as a platform for their activities related to the refugee and migration policy, protection and integration of refugees and migrants. She stated that the BCRM, as an association of organisations of longstanding experience and professional competency can influence and support the social transformation towards efficient protection and integration of refugees and migrants. The implemented activities of the BCRM include advocacy, capacity development, coalition building and partnerships, awareness-raising, and creating a supportive environment for the protection and integration of refugees.

The BCRM team presented information infrastructure for the integration of refugees in Bulgaria as a key element of advocacy and to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions for the development of a fair and effective system for integration of beneficiaries of international protection.

The presented topics provoked a lively discussion. The webinar was held within the framework of the European Project National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM), in which the BCRM and the Multi Kulti Collective are national partners.

Future cooperation and the possible signing of a memorandum of partnership and joint activities were discussed.

Within the NIEM Project, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants present to your attention e-Learning Course on Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees 19 April 2021 – 20 June 2021.

The course – prepared by UNITAR in collaboration with UNCTAD, IOM and UNHCR – is based on the joint “Policy Guide on Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees”, presented at the Global Compact for Migration in Marrakech in December 2018.

Each module includes readings, self-assessment activities and quizzes. The learning activities are distributed in such a way to ensure the achievement of the learning objectives in a flexible manner. It has been designed for supporting policymakers and practitioners from both developed and developing countries. Therefore, the five modules and concluding remarks of the course are based on the benefits of promoting entrepreneurship of migrants to achieve more inclusive and cohesive societies linked to sustainable development and economic growth. It includes policy objectives and policy options intended to identify different means to support entrepreneurship among migrants and refugees; identifies case studies and good practices from policies, programs and initiatives, in both developed and developing countries, and; raises awareness through capacity building in order to enhance opportunities to move towards a more inclusive society where no-one is left behind.

More information and registration >>>

On March 29, a strategic meeting took place between the new UNHCR Representative, Narasimha Rao, and the chairperson of the BCRM – Kina Sabeva.

The Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and UNHCR will continue their partnership for advocacy and capacity building for the integration of refugees in Bulgaria. During the meeting, the upcoming activities in 2021 were discussed, as well as the priorities and activities for 2022 were planned.