admin – Asylum and Migration

Summary Evaluation of the Programmes

“Local Development and Poverty Reduction” and “Asylum and Migration” Programmes

The evaluation of the “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” and “Asylum and Migration” EEA Grants programmes assessed their effectiveness, impact, and sustainability. Conducted through document reviews, stakeholder interviews, and field observations, the assessment aimed to measure programme achievements and extract key lessons for future implementation. The evaluation was implemented by Sarli Kouvaras Consulting.

For Programme I, Local Development and Poverty Reduction, the evaluation examined effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The programme demonstrated strong alignment with beneficiary needs, employing integrated and holistic approaches that facilitated cultural and systemic shifts beyond measurable outputs. Despite systemic and bureaucratic barriers, it effectively responded to emerging challenges. Resource allocation was efficient, maximizing direct impact, while adaptive and resilient implementation allowed for systemic ripple effects. Sustainability was supported through integration into public systems, though challenges in institutionalizing best practices remained. Deeper systemic integration is necessary for long-term impact. Recommendations for future programmes include strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks, expanding holistic service approaches, fostering collaboration with local governance and the private sector, and addressing systemic barriers while leveraging existing frameworks.

For Programme II, Asylum and Migration, the evaluation focused on effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. The programme excelled in high-quality delivery, holistic and multi-sectoral approaches, and capacity-building efforts. Flexibility and adaptability contributed to its success. Sustainability was driven by systemic change, long-term partnerships, and policy advocacy, though financial sustainability remains a concern. The programme had a lasting impact, increasing beneficiaries’ autonomy and integration, strengthening institutional frameworks, and driving systemic legal advocacy. To improve future efforts, recommendations include promoting equitable integration through education, employment, and social inclusion, strengthening institutional ownership and capacity, institutionalizing training and quality assurance mechanisms, enhancing referral systems and inter-agency coordination, and embedding advocacy, legal reforms, and structured transition strategies.

Key recommendations for implementing organisations include advocating for systemic reforms, strengthening holistic service models, investing in staff capacity and retention, enhancing strategic partnerships, engaging beneficiaries and communities at all stages, and prioritizing long-term sustainability. Local authorities and state actors should facilitate rather than directly implement programmes, address systemic barriers, support holistic service models, motivate multi-stakeholder collaboration, and enhance institutional capacity for policy implementation. Donors should fund scalable pilot projects, set realistic objectives, support flexible long-term funding, prioritize capacity-building, and facilitate stakeholder engagement while addressing institutional barriers.

This evaluation underscores the significant impact of the two programmes while identifying areas for improvement. Future initiatives should embrace holistic, collaborative, and adaptable approaches to enhance effectiveness and sustainability. Strengthening partnerships, addressing systemic barriers, and fostering long-term policy integration will be crucial in ensuring lasting change and greater societal impact.

MUSIC EMBRACING CULTURES

Lead Partner: PRAKSIS – PROGRAMS OF DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL SUPPORT AND MEDICAL COOPERATION
Co-Partner: CULTURE BREAK BORDERS / KULTUR BRYTER GRENSER

The “Music Embracing Cultures” project, spearheaded by PRAKSIS in collaboration with Global Girl Media Greece and Culture Break Borders, pursued the integration of youth from refugee, migrant, and Greek backgrounds through music, video production, and social awareness training. Each partner played a distinct role in executing workshops that highlighted cultural diversity, gender equity, and human rights. Through these activities, the project aimed to dismantle prejudice and foster cross-cultural understanding, yet encountered notable challenges that influenced the scope of its output.

Classrooms against Bullying – CAB

Lead Partner: Allileggie SolidarityNow
Co-Partner: The European Wergeland Centre

The proposed initiative, entitled “Classrooms against Bullying – CAB”, is a collaboration between NGO SolidarityNow (SN) and the Norwegian resource center European Wergeland Centre (EWC), aiming to cement a bilateral partnership for the promotion of safe and inclusive schools in Greece. The exchange of knowledge and good practices is at the core of this project, aiming to prevent discrimination, bullying and violence in schools, while enabling the inclusion of all children in the education system. EWC’s expertise on promoting a citizen’s democratic capacity through education also includes the production of materials especially adapted for the Greek context through the Schools for All project; SN has long-standing experience in providing direct education to vulnerable children across Greece, as well as in capacity building for educators.
The project implementation will span 12 months, between July 2023-June 2024, and aims to develop an approach to prevent bullying and violence in Greek schools, and promote the integration of all children, regardless of their background and vulnerability. The approach will be developed through the exchange of practical experiences, facilitated by a study visit to Oslo, and the adaptation of already existing materials and international approaches, capitalizing especially on the resources developed by EWC over 15 years on the holistic school approach and development of democratic competences. They will be distilled into a singular publication, widely disseminated to the Greek school community, and accompanied by a relevant training delivered in Athens twice (in vivo) to 30 Greek members of the public school system, including teachers, school administrators, school social workers and psychologists, regional educational advisors, and refugee education coordinators. Beyond the immediate goals of this collaboration, the project aims to build a strong bilateral partnership for further targeted work on inclusive education.

Support displaced people, especially vulnerable women, and children

Lead Partner: Allileggie SolidarityNow
Co-Partner: Dråpen i Havet / Drop in the Ocean

This initiative aimed to strengthen the partnership between SolidarityNow and Dråpen i Havet / Drop in the Ocean (DiH) and enhance support for displaced women and children. Its primary focus was sustaining the Female Friendly Space (FFS) in Nea Kavala/Polykastro camp, a safe environment where refugee women access essential information on their rights and benefit from several services. To ensure this goal, SN and DiH reinforced their collaboration through weekly planning meetings, monthly strategic sessions and regular engagement with site management.

Enhancing the orderly and humane voluntary return of migrants, including vulnerable groups, to their Countries of Origin through enhanced cooperation and knowledge-sharing between Greece and Norway.

Lead Partner: IOM Greece – International Organization for Migration
Co-Partner: Hero Norge AS

This project aimed to enhance Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) through knowledge-sharing between Greece and Norway. Key activities included a study visit by HERO Norge to Athens, the development of a joint recommendations paper, and a closing workshop. By facilitating structured knowledge exchange and collaboration, the project contributed to refining AVRR strategies, strengthening bilateral cooperation, and enhancing voluntary return processes in Norway.

School as an institution for Protection and Inclusion of Refugee children and families

Lead Partner: School Committee of Primary Education 1st Municipal Community of the Municipality of Athens/82nd Kindergarten of Athens
Co-Partner: 1) District Søndre Nordstrand, Oslo Municipality, 2) CITYKIDS – Faculty of Education and International studies, Oslo Metropolitan University

The SPIRAL initiative aimed at fostering bilateral relations between Greece and Norway through collaboration among municipalities, academia, and early childhood educators. Its primary goal was to improve and expand services for refugee children and families. The SPIRAL expanded its network, fostering knowledge-sharing and best practices in refugee integration within urban preschools.

Enhancing Capacity and Ensuring Protection for Vulnerable Migrants, Asylum Seekers, and Refugees

Lead Partner: INTERSOS HELLAS
Co-Partner: University of Bergen

The project aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Athens and Bergen. The partners analyzed the target population’s context, identifying gaps and fostering new operational methodologies, with a focus on food insecurity, mental health, and pandemic-related consequences. Through knowledge exchange, they shared country-specific experiences and best practices.

Psychosocial Support and the provision of quality reception conditions for refugee populations in Greece and Norway, respectively

Lead Partner: MdM-Greece
Co-Partner: HERO Norge

The exchange project facilitated knowledge-sharing and networking between MdM-GR and Hero Norge, fostering future collaboration. It included two intensive working visits, where teams from both organizations engaged in thematic workshops, field visits, and stakeholder meetings in Oslo and Athens. Both visits culminated in drafting a Lessons Learned Report, incorporating feedback, insights, and best practices exchanged throughout the project.

One Centre One Voice

Lead Partner: Dråpen i Havet/ Drop in the Ocean
Co-Partner: One Happy Family

This bilateral project aimed to enhance collaboration between the Greek organization One Happy Family (OHF) and the Norwegian organization Dråpen i Havet / A Drop in the Ocean (DiH). The two organizations, already working at the Victoria Community Center (VCC) in Athens, seized this opportunity to strengthen their cooperation through joint communication initiatives, workshops, online meetings and collaborative actions.

23.Regarding the last point of the specific criteria: “Tax declarations of the last two years; Balance sheets of the last two years if the organization is audited by Chartered Accountants, the last reference & budgets and accounts of the last two years Fund Operator reserves the right to ask additional documents during the contracting phase with the project promoters pre-selected.” (page 3 Guidelines for applicants) Does this mean that we need to submit the financial statement of the last two years?

We are providing you a Greek translation of the required documents mentioned in this point, for your convenience and clarification: Φορολογική δήλωση δύο τελευταίων ετών/ ισολογισμοί – οικονομικές καταστάσεις δύο τελευταίων ετών σε περίπτωση ελέγχου από ορκωτούς ελεγκτές.