In the rapidly changing world in which we live, every sector of human activity increasingly needs good practices and innovations that provide long-term solutions to existing challenges and opportunities for further development. In this context, the humanitarian sector is no exception. On the contrary, innovation is becoming increasingly important for its effectiveness, and this is where innovation for refugee integration comes in.

In November 2022, the online version of RefuIn – Innovative Toolkit for Inclusion of Refugees was launched, which is the response of Erasmus+ project partner organisations, including the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, CRESCER in Portugal, Programma Integra and ARCI in Italy and Osterund Municipality in Sweden, to develop the capacity for inclusion and integration of refugees. The Refu’In Innovative Toolkit was launched at the International Closing Conference, in which representatives of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and Mariana Tosheva – chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers participated, presenting the Bulgarian experience and challenges for the integration of refugees.

Developed in an unprecedented context – a global pandemic and a refugee crisis in Europe, the project identifies good practices and innovations for integrating refugees through a human-based approach – through feedback from refugees and specialists working in the field. The innovative Refu’In toolkit also emphasises good practices for integrating refugees with the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030 – SDGs).

The innovative Refu’In toolkit is available online and will be updated and upgraded in the coming months as well as after the end of the project.

The integration of refugees is a dynamic and complex two-way process that requires efforts from all parties involved, both from the state authorities and public institutions that are involved in the protection and integration of refugees and the willingness of refugees to adapt to the host society, The integration process is complex and lengthy, with different but related legal, economic, social and cultural components. Each is critical to the ability of refugees to integrate successfully as equal members of the host culture. The integration of refugees brings the potential for social and economic development.  Building a sustainable refugee integration system requires developing the capacity of the institutions and organisations involved in the process, as well as strengthening the partnership between them.

On 30 November, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM), in partnership with the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers (SAR) and the UNHCR, organised an expert session focusing on practical steps to expand and improve integration activities in SAR centres.

SAR Chairperson Mariana Tosheva presented the challenges and needs of the agency and formulated the upcoming priorities. Participants in the forum discussed access to education, employment and Bulgarian language training for asylum seekers accommodated in the Registration and Reception Centres. Keynote presentations on the topics were made by Yanita Manolova, Deputy Chairperson of SAR, Stanislav Georgiev, representative of the Regional Department of Education, Tonka Karaivanova, representative of the Employment Agency and Zahari Stoilkov, SAR. During the discussions, steps and ways to overcome the shared challenges were proposed and discussed. The importance and necessity of better inter-agency cooperation and expanding partnership with NGOs were underlined.

The Forum is part of the efforts of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to develop the capacity and strengthen the cooperation of stakeholders for the integration of refugees, linked to opportunities for social and economic development at the national and local levels.  The event is part of the BCRM project “Advocacy for Refugee Integration in Bulgaria”, funded by UNHCR.

We present to your attention Information Newsletter “Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria: Opportunities for Development” October 2022.

Download in PDF [BG]

In the publication you will find information on the following topics:

▪Statistics on international protection granted in Bulgaria for the period January – October 2022

▪Statistics on the number of persons fleeing the war in Ukraine to Bulgaria

▪Inclusion of refugee children from Ukraine in the Bulgarian education system

▪Encouraging the enrollment of refugee children in education systems in Europe

▪How poorly developed refugee integration policies will hinder the integration of people displaced by the war in Ukraine

▪A sociological study on the attitudes of Bulgarian society towards refugees

▪REACT-EU: €111.5 million for Germany, Slovakia and Bulgaria to achieve sustainable socio-economic recovery

▪Cash Assistance Program of the United Nations Refugee Agency

Learning the language of the host countries enables refugees to become active members of society, to integrate as quickly as possible, to start work or to continue their education.  Providing refugees with an inclusive education that includes learning the language of the host country is a complex and complicated process.

Teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language is one of the main components for successfully integrating refugees. Therefore, part of the strategic efforts of UNHCR, UNICEF and the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants, as an advocacy organization for refugee integration, are aimed at providing real opportunities for learning Bulgarian to those seeking and receiving international or temporary protection in Bulgaria. In this context, a forum was held on 8 November 2022 on:  Teaching Bulgarian as a Foreign Language: the Role of Institutions and Challenges for Practitioners. During the forum, the legal framework, the role of the state, institutional support and practical dimensions in teaching Bulgarian as a foreign language were discussed. Civil sector initiatives for language training of refugees and the challenges faced were shared.

Representatives of the British Council, the French Institute in Bulgaria and the Czech Cultural Institute shared their experiences on the role of cultural institutes as guarantors of quality language learning. Good practices and free resources for teaching the Bulgarian language to refugees were shared from the civil society sector, as well as community initiatives for organising Bulgarian language courses.

The event also focused on Vice President Iliana Iotova’s initiative to establish a Bulgarian National Cultural Institute with a specific role for learning Bulgarian as a foreign language. The shared experience, practice and recommendations are a starting point for the next actions to build a sustainable system for learning Bulgarian as a foreign language.

The second issue of the 2022 Academic Bulletin is implemented within the framework of the project “Students Support the Social Inclusion of Refugees in Sofia” with the lead organization Multi Kulti Collective in UNHCR, Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and the Academic  Council on Refugee Issues, and is funded by Sofia Municipality under the Social Innovation Programme. Within the project, internships were carried out, in which students from Sofia University, New Bulgarian University, University of National and World Economy had the opportunity to gain experience for two months in three organizations in Sofia – the Bureau for Information and Services for Third Country Nationals (coordinated by the Bulgarian Red Cross and The issue is dedicated to social work with refugees and migrants and consists of three sections.

The first section contains articles by key academics on this topic in Bulgaria who are also guest editors of this issue of bulletin. They analyse the training of students in the field of social work with refugees and the impact of refugee flows from Ukraine, including to Bulgaria, as well as the code of ethics in social services. The student section begins with a highly innovative paper on Islamic social finance in refugee integration, reviewing and
synthesizing the normative framework and practice with examples from around the world, as well as possible application in Bulgaria. Other important themes developed by the students are on translation and its role in the provision of social services; access to social support for unaccompanied minor children and access to health services, as well as the topic of forced refugee pushbacks at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. The third section in the issue includes an interesting interview with the Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers; the results of the international NIEM project, which provide comparative data and clarity on Bulgaria’s place in relation to 13 other countries in refugee integration, as well as the topic of NGO funding with a focus on the developments surrounding the refugee situation from Ukraine. Last but not least, refugee children as artists are in focus, we draw attention to a beautiful exhibition that happened in early July 2022.

Download in PDF [BG]  Summary in English  Feedback [BG]  Other issues [BG]

Explore our academic portal on the topic of  displacement and refugees

Europe faces an unprecedented refugee crisis linked to people fleeing Ukraine and increased migration pressure. In this context, the academic community in Europe and Bulgaria is exploring the aspects and challenges of refugee protection and integration, regardless of where they come from.

Academic collaboration with refugee protection and integration stakeholders broadens research expertise and can lead to more effective practical approaches. Such collaborations contribute to innovative solutions for the social inclusion and integration of refugees. They encourage research on both the opportunities that refugee integration brings and the challenges faced by host countries.

The Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM) is an association founded by the Bulgarian Red Cross, Caritas Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee as a platform for advocacy to build an effective refugee protection system with the active role of civil society. The mission of the BCRM is to build partnerships with like-minded institutions, local authorities, civil society and academia to integrate refugees and build a supportive environment.

On 24 October – International UN Day, BCRM, in partnership with UNHCR Representation in Bulgaria and Sofia University – Faculty of Pedagogy and Faculty of History, organised a forum on “The Academic Community and the System for Integration and Social Inclusion of Refugees in Bulgaria”. The forum was opened by Dr Kina Sabeva, President of the BCRM. Welcoming speeches were given by Petya Karayaneva, Protection Officer at the UNHCR Representation, and Prof. Dr Lilyana Strakova, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Assoc. Prof. Dr Mira Markova, Dean of the Faculty of History.

Research papers on the protection, integration and social inclusion of refugees in Bulgaria were presented at the forum:

▪ Current highlights of the academic training of specialists in the field of integration and social inclusion of refugees in Bulgaria

Prof. Dr Siyka Chavdarova – Kostova, Faculty of Pedagogy, head of the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”, member of the Academic Council for Refugee Affairs at the UNHCR Representation in Bulgaria

▪Academic projections of cultural ideas regarding the refugee issue

Assoc. PhD. Maya Cholakova, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts, member of the Academic Council for Refugee Affairs at the UNHCR representation in Bulgaria

▪Factors and mechanisms of therapeutic assistance in group work with refugees

Prof. Dr Ginka Mekhanjiyska, Faculty of Pedagogy, lecturer in the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”

▪Quality management in organizations working with refugees – current challenges

Assoc. Dr Rositsa Simeonova, Faculty of Pedagogy, a lecturer in the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”

▪Cultural mediation – to understand and support the work with refugees and migrants

Ch. Assistant Professor Teodorina Milusheva, PhD, Faculty of Pedagogy

▪Social and pedagogical challenges to the social inclusion of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children in Bulgaria

Ch. Assistant Professor Daniela Racheva, Faculty of Pedagogy, a lecturer in the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”

▪The war in Ukraine and the fate of refugees

Prof. Mihail Stanchev, Kharkiv University “Karazin”, visiting professor at the Faculty of History and Assoc. Prof. Mira Markova, Faculty of History

▪Providing temporary protection – Bulgaria’s experience with Ukrainian refugees

Mariana Tosheva, Faculty of Pedagogy, PhD student, President of the State Agency for Refugees

▪The extracurricular work of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology students with refugees

Ch. assistant Dr Violeta Kotseva – Popova and head Kremena Yordanova, assistant professor, Faculty of History

▪How to raise awareness about refugees – student ideas

Assistant Professor Ekaterina Tomova, Faculty of Pedagogy

▪Possibilities and limitations in the use of photography to preserve the cultural identity of refugees

Prof. Dr Vladislav Gospodinov, Faculty of Pedagogy, a lecturer in the master’s program “Social Work with Refugees and Migrants”

▪Confirmation and expansion of research in the field of integration of refugees in Bulgaria: the example of the academic bulletin “Refugees: Today and Tomorrow”

Ch. asst. Dr Vanya Ivanova, Bulgarian Academy of Science

BCRM’s initiatives to collaborate and partner with academic institutions and the academic community are part of the response to the stated objective in Article 43 of the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees: ‘To establish a global academic network on refugees, other forced migration and statelessness that will involve universities, academic communities, research institutes, together with UNHCR and other stakeholders, to foster research, training and scholarship opportunities that will lead to concrete outcomes.

Learn more about the academic opportunities here

Civil society organisations working at the local level play a significant role in supporting refugees in emergency situations, as well as their long-term integration into Bulgarian society. The capacity of these organisations, the extent to which they are involved in advocacy and policymaking, and their funding mechanisms vary considerably.  Due to the important role of local and Ukrainian community organisations in supporting refugees from Ukraine, the prospects for developing and expanding constructive dialogue, cooperation, partnership, and advocacy in the integration field are increasing.

Support to strengthen the professionalism of organisations in this field is important for their development and sustainability. To this end, on October 13 and 14, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (BCRM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and Multi Kulti organized the “Academy for a Professional Civil Sector: Governance, Financial Sustainability and Participation in NGO Advocacy”. The Academy is part of the strategic efforts of BCRM and UNHCR to decentralize capacity development of local and refugee-led organizations on refugee integration and the opportunities that integration generates for social and economic development at the local level.

More than 20 representatives of local organizations participated in the Academy for the Professional Civil Sector and were introduced in detail to goal setting, the legal requirements for NGO management and the creation of a development and sustainability plan. During the academy, issues related to project development and implementation, as well as aspects of funding, financial sustainability, and working with donors and funders, were addressed. The academy focused on tools for civic participation and advocacy, as well as the development of coalitions and partnerships with other civil society organisations.

A positive change in the attitude of Bulgarian citizens towards refugees is reported by a sociological survey by the BluePo!nt agency, conducted in the period 10-22 August 2022 among 800 men and women aged between 18 and 70. It was carried out in implementation of a joint project of The Bulgarian Red Cross in partnership with the State Agency for Child Protection “Let’s get to know the other”, with the financial support of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, co-financed by the European Union, targeting citizens of third countries legally residing in Bulgaria or individuals , seeking and receiving international protection.

Nearly 71% expect that refugees should be integrated in our country, while in 2017 about 20% of people were of this opinion. According to 86.6 percent of respondents, this can be done mostly by finding a job and learning the local language. The positives that the Bulgarian population sees from the reception of refugees in our country are related to the availability of labor (38.8%) and qualified employees (8.5%), development of a sense of empathy and tolerance (28.2%), reduction of the demographic crisis (4.8 %), aid from the EU (2.1%), etc.

“In 2017, the environment for working with refugees coming to Bulgaria was extremely difficult. Now, despite the Ukrainian crisis, there are better conditions for these people to integrate and realize their potential in our country. Today, empathy and charity towards refugees are leading in the value system of Bulgarians.” This was stated by the Deputy Director General of the Bulgarian Red Cross, Dr. Nadezhda Todorovska, when presenting the results of the project and the sociological survey.

Over 62% of the respondents have a completely or rather positive attitude towards the refugees who arrived in Bulgaria. More than 37% of Bulgarian citizens share a rather negative or completely negative attitude towards this group.

About 31% is the share of people who believe that refugees weigh on our economy, while in 2017 about 50% of those polled were of this opinion. This applies to the greatest extent to the residents of the capital.

The survey shows that the share of people willing to host a child/refugee in their home for a certain period of time and would accept their child to attend a children’s institution where there are also refugee children is increasing. According to this indicator, people living in the capital and in cities with over 100,000 people, aged between 31 and 40, have a more positive attitude.

89.5 percent of Bulgarian citizens have never had a problem with refugees before, according to the survey data. In 2022, the feeling of sympathy for refugees increased to 49%, while in 2017 only 3% expressed sympathy for them. Dissatisfaction with the refugees was stated by 25 percent of the respondents, and open hatred – 3.6%. A feeling of fear is experienced by 13.6 percent of the people asked. The youngest Bulgarian citizens, in the 18-30 age group, demonstrate the highest degree of indifference towards refugees.

The share of people who believe that persons seeking international protection should NOT be accepted in Bulgaria is significantly decreasing – from 87.6% in 2017 to 59.9% in 2022.

The concerns of Bulgarian citizens regarding refugees are mainly related to the fact that they abuse their situation – 18.9% and their weak integration – 15.8%.

Interest in the topic related to refugees has grown significantly in 2022. The survey shows that if in 2017, every second person shared that they were not interested in this issue, now only 5.3% of respondents give such an answer .

PRESENTATION OF THE SURVEY (in Bulgarian language)

The BCRM as a project partner National Integration Evaluation Mechanism (NIEM) presents a short analysis entitled “Surprised? How underdeveloped refugee integration policies will hinder the integration of people displaced by the war in Ukraine”. The document examines the readiness of the member states participating in the project, including Bulgaria, to accept people with temporary protection from Ukraine. Authored by Alexander Wolfhard of the Migration Policy Group. The analysis examines the implications of EU Member States’ integration policy frameworks on the long-term integration prospects of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, using data from the NIEM project. The analysis notes that the newly introduced provisions under the EU Temporary Protection Directive differ from the legal framework in place for international protection seekers who are granted protection as a result of a positive asylum procedure. The author points out that the state of the countries’ overall framework for refugee integration clearly has an impact on the member states’ ability to adapt to the new circumstances of a mass movement of refugees from Ukraine.

LEARN MORE (in Bulgaria language – NIEM Bulgaria Website)

LEARN MORE (in English NIEM Website)

In the end of June, the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants and the United Nations High Commissioner organized a seminar – laboratory for cooperation: The civil sector in support of refugees from Ukraine. The seminar is a one-day meeting of representatives of various non-governmental organizations from the Black Sea region.

At the event, representatives of non-governmental organizations examined the possibilities for social inclusion and the prospects for integration of refugees from Ukraine, the role of non-governmental organizations and the opportunities for cooperation and partnership between civil society structures and other interested parties. At the seminar were policies at the national level, as well as funding opportunities for non-governmental organizations for the integration of refugees from Ukraine. The event was open both to organizations with experience in working with refugees, to volunteers, to organizations that can include refugees as a target group in existing projects or plan to include these groups in their future initiatives.

The event is part of the strategic efforts of the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants to develop the capacity for integration of refugees at the local level, focusing on cooperation between non-governmental organizations to be a reliable and reliable partner for municipalities and state institutions in the process of refugee integration.