Project Promoter: NORCAP/ Norwegian Refugee Council
Outcome: Capacity of key institutions to ensure protection of vulnerable asylum seekers, particularly UAMs, is strengthened
Project grant rate: 100%
Maximum project grant amount: € 3.500.000
Duration: February 2019 – March 2023
The Greece Capacity Building Project aimed to enhance the ability of key government institutions to uphold the rights of refugees and migrants while ensuring dignified reception, particularly for vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children and victims of gender-based violence and human trafficking.
A major focus was strengthening the Reception and Identification Service (RIS), a key institution in asylum seeker reception. Experts were deployed at RIS headquarters and camps across Greece as Site Management Support (SMS) Advisors. Their role encompassed on-the-job training, targeted thematic sessions, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to integrate best practices and protection standards into field operations.
The second component was establishing and operationalizing the Greek National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for trafficking victims. Anti-trafficking experts were deployed at the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA) to refine existing tools and deliver training sessions. A key output was a Practical Guide for first-line professionals to identify and protect trafficking victims.
Key achievements:
Expert deployment: 26 experts supported RIS, EKKA, and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
– 22 seconded to RIS and the Ministry of Migration Policy (MoMP).
– 4 experts assisted EKKA’s anti-trafficking efforts.
– 1 expert redeployed to MoH to address healthcare needs.
– 7 SMS Advisors deployed across mainland Greece and islands.
Capacity building & training:
– 187 RIS staff trained formally, with 228 receiving on-the-job training.
– 989 EKKA professionals trained in anti-trafficking across 53 sessions.
– 12 SOPs and guiding tools implemented in 33 RIS facilities.
Anti-trafficking & NRM:
– Established NRM framework, leading to 925 trafficking case referrals.
– EKKA staff trained to conduct independent NRM sessions, ensuring sustainability.
Health sector support:
The MoH component (third component) addressed asylum seekers’ healthcare needs, particularly unaccompanied minors, by supporting the “Health for All” project and improving municipal coordination.
Guidance & on-site support:
NORCAP experts contributed to high-level policy discussions and operational frameworks, including the General Regulation of mainland hosting facilities, later institutionalized via Ministerial Decision. Additionally, SMS Advisors enhanced site operations and stakeholder coordination, bridging gaps between ministries, NGOs, and public agencies.
Sustainability & institutionalization:
– SOPs and practical guides on trafficking victim identification and refugee care were handed over to RIS, EKKA, and MoH.
– Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) formalized long-term collaboration among key institutions.
– Equipment procured through the project was donated to RIS and EKKA, ensuring resource sustainability.
– Experts provided ongoing mentoring, fostering a humanitarian-oriented work culture and improving operational capacity.
The NORCAP project effectively addressed gaps in Greece’s asylum and migration management systems, providing strategic and operational support to RIS, EKKA, and MoH. By emphasizing on-the-job training, policy development, and inter-agency coordination, the project enhanced institutional frameworks and ensured a dignified, sustainable approach to asylum seeker reception and protection.
