Alternative Social Services for Unaccompanied Refugee Children in Bulgaria №BG65AMPR001-1.003
A project to improve the protection and care of unaccompanied children in Bulgaria,co-funded by the EU through the Asylum,Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and led by the State Agency for Refugees, together with UNICEF, IOM and four municipalities.
- Български
- English
Unaccompanied children arriving in Bulgaria, often in search of protection and a better life, or as a result of violence or conflict in their countries of origin, are particularly vulnerable and need a safe environment, quality care and support to continue their development.
Project Objectives
The project aims to ensure that unaccompanied children receive safe, high-quality and timely care and protection. It supports strengthening the capacity of reception centres and the Safe Zones established within them for unaccompanied children, facilitates a smooth transition to community-based living, and provides for the establishment of six new social services offering a family-like environment for children.
What Does the Project Include?
The project will be implemented across three key components over a period of four years. The European Union's financial contribution amounts to EUR 12,025,252.38, representing 90% of the project's total budget.
The first component focuses on improving care in the Safe Zones within the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) Registration and Reception Centres in Sofia and the Safe Zone established with UNICEF's support at the Registration and Reception Centre in Harmanli. With the support of IOM Bulgaria, unaccompanied children will benefit from a safe environment, round-the-clock care, individualised support, and access to education and healthcare services.
The second component supports children's preparation for the transition from SAR reception centres to community-based residential social services. This includes working with social service professionals, helping children develop adaptation and integration skills, supporting their participation in decisions that affect them, and providing individualised assistance to each child throughout the entire process of leaving the reception centre and being placed in a social service. Activities under this component are carried out by the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers.
The third component provides for the establishment of six new community-based residential care services in the municipalities of Burgas, Malko Tarnovo, Tundzha and Ivaylovgrad. These services aim to provide unaccompanied children with a safe, supportive and family-like environment that promotes their physical, emotional, social and educational development, prepares them for independent living and supports their successful social integration.
UNICEF's Role in the Project
UNICEF supports the implementation of the project by providing technical expertise, methodological guidance and communication support aimed at strengthening the care and protection system for unaccompanied children in Bulgaria. This includes mapping and analyzing existing services for foreign national children, assessing the Safe Zones, and developing and piloting methodological guidelines for working with refugee children in social services. UNICEF will also support capacity-building for professionals working in the newly established services through specialized training and will implement a national communication campaign to raise awareness of and promote foster care, with a particular focus on unaccompanied children.
Expected Results
The project is expected to improve the care and protection of unaccompanied children, strengthen their preparation for independent living and social integration, establish new family-like care services, enhance coordination between institutions, and increase public understanding of the needs of these children.
For more information about the project, read more here.
