English   14455 НПО
ИНФОРМАЦИОНЕН ПОРТАЛ ЗА НЕПРАВИТЕЛСТВЕНИТЕ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ В БЪЛГАРИЯ




Кариера в НПО

Call for expression of interest: Fact-finding analysis

Дата на публикуване:
08 ноември 2024 г.
Валидна до:
24 ноември 2024 г.
Тип:
Работа

Fact-finding mission ToR Bulgaria 1/3 Last update 20/09/2024

DOCTORS OF THE WORLD – FRANCE

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: FACT-FINDING ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This is a request from the mission of Médecins du Monde (MdM) in Bulgaria. Based on recent UNHCR reports and information from UNHCR and WHO inter-agency coordination meetings, there are significant unaddressed needs of refugees in the field of health and rights in Bulgaria. “Migration, Exile, Health and Rights” is one of the priority battles of MdM’s strategic plan 2024 – 2027, which allows us to explore this issue in Bulgaria.

Pre-identified public health issues

The consultancy aims at exploring public health challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Bulgaria, particularly in access to health services and mental health. Refugees face significant barriers to accessing healthcare due to language barriers, limited resources, and bureaucratic problems. Many suffer from untreated chronic illnesses, and they struggle to receive consistent medical care. Mental health remains a critical concern, with high rates of trauma, anxiety, and depression caused by the initial situations faced before displacement, experiences during the migration route, and unsatisfactory situation at arrival in Bulgaria. These challenges highlight the need for targeted interventions to ensure refugees receive comprehensive healthcare and mental health support.

CONTEXT 

Migration continues to be a pressing issue for Bulgaria. In 2024, the country has seen a slight increase in emigration, with approximately 35,000 Bulgarians leaving abroad in search of better economic opportunities. Simultaneously, Bulgaria has experienced an influx of migrants from conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa (Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan and Morocco), totaling 22,518 applications in 2023, and 11,189 (in this number 2,392 are unaccompanied minors) as of October 30, 2024. The State Agency for Refugees (SAR) has opened four reception centers in Sofia and three along the border with Turkey with total capacity of 3,225 people. 

Additionally, Bulgarian authorities reported preventing 176,000 illegal border crossings, a 13% rise from 2022. The majority of these attempts originated from Turkey, highlighting Bulgaria’s critical role on this migration route. (1) Many migrants aim to pass through Bulgaria rather than stay, facing challenges as they continue towards countries like Germany, France, and other Western nations. The influx has heightened concerns around human trafficking. Although Bulgaria receives support from the EU to manage migration flows, integration and support for migrants within the country remain limited. (2)

OBJECTIVES OF THE FACT-FINDING ANALYSIS REPORT

The objectives of the fact-finding analysis report aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of migrants’ health needs and guide future MdM initiatives in Bulgaria.
  • Assess Healthcare Access and evaluate health needs: Evaluate the accessibility of healthcare services for asylum seekers and refugees, focusing on both physical and mental health support, with a specific attention to unaccompanied minors.
  • Identify health barriers: Identify the key obstacles that migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees face in accessing necessary healthcare services, including language, administrative (e.g. migration status), and logistical challenges.
  • Propose interventions: Develop tailored interventions and recommend policy changes that would improve healthcare access and mental health support for migrants in Bulgaria, including refugees, aligning with MdM’s priorities and the local context.
1) https://nova.bg/news/view/2023/12/30/439097/18000-migrants-detained-by-bulgarian-authorities-january-to-november/
2) 
https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/country-governance/governance-migrant-integration-bulgaria_en 

TASKS

The consultant will produce a fact-finding analysis report will answer the questions listed below with purpose to define the refugee health needs and barriers to accessing healthcare services in Bulgaria. This information will serve as the basis for proposing recommendations for future activities. The report will include:

CONTEXT ANALYSIS
  • Factors influencing the situation: demographics, political, geographical and environmental, economic, factors relating to health policy and health system, sociocultural.
  • Stakeholders/players and networks.
  • Identifying opportunities, constraints and preconditions.
IDENTIFICATION, PRIORITISATION AND ANALYSE OF COLLECTIVE HEALTH PROBLEMS
  • The analysis of the context will allow to the consultant to propose an identification and analysis of collective health problems.
PROPOSITION OF POSSIBLE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
  • Depending on the above analysis, directions of possible intervention strategies addressing the identified gaps in the access to health and rights for migrants will be proposed.
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

QUANTITATIVE/QUALITATIVE METHODS
The consultant should use existing quantitative data from secondary sources and complete it with a qualitative analysis with individual semi-structured interviews, focus groups, observations.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The expected output of the consultancy is to provide to MdM a documented report including recommendations following the recommended MdM template. The report must be written in English. An oral presentation of the report and main conclusion will be organized to MdM’s team.

REQUIREMENTS

Technical expertise
  • Knowledge about the Bulgarian health system;
  • Knowledge about migrant’s situation in Bulgaria;
  • Experience in data collection and analysis;
  • Experience in impact assessment and sensitivity analyses;
  • Experience liaising with local and national authorities;
  • Strong professional and academic writing skills;
  • Strong research, problem-solving and organizational skills.
Education/Experience
  • An advanced degree in a relevant field to the topic (migrations, public health, ...).
  • Relevant experience in public health and on topics related to migration are desired.
  • Bulgarian and English languages are mandatory (oral and written).
  • Relevant languages to interact directly with the migrant population will be considered as an added value.
Contractor’s responsibilities
  • The incumbent should be or visit Bulgaria, in particular to conduct focus group discussions or individual interviews with the relevant stakeholders for data collection.
  • Duration of consultancy is 4 weeks.
MdM’s responsibilities

Review and approve deliverables and provide feedback to the Contractor in a timely manner.

Completion Criteria: deliverables
  • Fact-Finding analysis report, including suggestions for intervention.
Timeframe

This Contract is expected to be completed within 1 month period, inclusive of the submission of the deliverables defined within.

Other Criteria
  • Tasks are to be performed accurately and within timeframes specified or nearest date.
  • Standards, written policies, and procedures are to be well documented and filed for future reference.
  • Good human relations skills are to be demonstrated in dealing with all internal and external customers/
  • stakeholders.
  • Flexibility is to be demonstrated in meeting the goals and objectives.
  • Confidentiality and integrity are to be maintained at all times.
Special terms and conditions

All rights, including title, copyright, and patent rights of any material(s) produced under the terms of this contract shall be vested in MdM, which shall be entitled to make any changes or eliminate any part of the material(s) it deems advisable.

APPLICATION

Technical and financial proposal

Curriculum vitae

Deadline for application: 24th of November 2024

Email: adminco.bulgaria@medecinsdumonde.net