Protection and emergency care for vulnerable and unaccompanied minors
The number of migrants transiting through Bosnia and Herzegovina remains high with more than 25% of them being unaccompanied minors in need of essential care and special protection due to their vulnerabilities. As the state system is not yet able to fully address their needs, assistance from external actors remains crucial to provide adequate support to this vulnerable group of migrants and to safeguard their rights.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Emergency Relief and Protection Migration and Development
Protection, access & security
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships) |
01.04.2025
- 31.07.2026 |
CHF 500’000
|
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and asylum-seeking children gain stable living conditions, access to education, emotional well-being, and a path to social integration.
- Integration and sustainability of support services: the Sarajevo Reception Cen-ter's services are enhanced, and their integration into local systems is facilitated.
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children live in a household that can cover basic needs (access to sufficient food, water, sanitation, shelter, clothing, protection from violence, essential medical care, counselling and education services).
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are supported to integrate into the local community.
- Strengthened capacities of state authorities to facilitate the integration of services into the Government's Official Referral Mechanism.
- Policy dialogue with the Ministry of Security and cantonal authorities, together with Swiss Embassy, UN agencies, and the EU Delegation, to develop intermediary and long-term solutions for sustainable support of unaccompanied minors.
- Caritas Switzerland
- Sarajevo Canton authorities
- Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina
- UN agencies (IOM, UNICEF, UNHCR)
- EU Delegation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EMERGENCY RESPONSE
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Material relief assistance and services
Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
Cross-cutting topics Human rights
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F11424
| Background | Since 2018, more than 170,000 migrants passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina, while in 2024 the number of migrants transiting the country was more than 25,000. Around 25% of these are unaccompanied minors. The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security estimates that at least 5% of unaccompanied minors are in a situation of vulnerability, meaning they either have been or are at risk of being subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, neglect, or abandonment. |
| Objectives | To enhance the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Target groups | Unaccompanied minors and asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: According to assessments carried out in temporary reception centres for migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on internationally established standards and vulnerability categorizations, unaccompanied minors require relocation from the reception centres where they currently reside, due to inadequate and insufficient accommodation capacities, frequent turnover of other users, and absence of care addressing psychosocial needs. Due to limited state capacity, there was no separate unit for housing these minors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, until Caritas Switzerland and Jesuit Refugee Service opened the Sarajevo Reception Centre (safe house) for vulnerable migrant minors in 2023. SDC has been supporting its functioning since June 2024, enabling vital services to be provided for 54 minors. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Non-profit Organisation Other partners The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) The Centre for Social Work of Sarajevo Canton The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security |
| Coordination with other projects and actors |
|
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 288’381 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 50’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 550’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 2 01.04.2025 - 31.07.2026 (Current phase) Phase 1 01.07.2024 - 31.03.2025 (Active) |
