Improvement of the quality of asylum procedures

The project in brief

Implemented by

Migration Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Armenia

Country

Armenia

Duration

2018 September - Ongoing

Description

The project consisted of two components: capacity-building and decision-making procedure improvement of asylum procedures.

Project aims 

The goal of the project is to improve the quality of asylum decisions via capacity-building activities of the staff members of the Asylum and Legal Affairs Division of the Migration Service of Armenia.

Resources used 

For the facilitation of the implementation of the project the leading specialists in the field of Country of Origin Information (COI) were invited to hold trainings from the Yerevan State University and other Academic institutions concerned.

For the efficiency of the revision of the cases the time-period for internal procedures were modified.

The decision templates of asylum procedures were revised with the support of UNHCR Armenia and newly designed decision templates were put into place and are now being used.

Partners

• UNHCR Armenia

Challenges and how they were overcome

Challenges

• The challenges were mainly connected with the lack of professionals to deliver the trainings concerned.
• It would be highly advised if COI professionals coming from respective countries were holding the lectures.
• The main challenge in regard with the above mentioned was mainly due to lack of financial resources.  

How were challenges overcome

• With the financial support of UNHCR Armenia, local experts from leading Armenian Universities were invited to deliver speeches in regard with COI, covering countries such as Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, among others.

Results of the Good Practice 

• Status determination processes have become faster and more consistent.
• More justified decisions were delivered. 

Next steps 

We are looking forward to continue this practice to foster capacity-building activities for our staff members with the support of our partners.