The bilateral project “MdM-Greece – Hero Norge AS Exchange” consists of a partnership between MdM-Greece and Hero Norge AS, and is based on their relevant and joint work on Psychosocial Support and the provision of quality reception conditions for refugee populations in Greece and Norway, respectively.
The project involves the exchange of best practices and know-how between employees and volunteers of the two organisations. In this way it aims to deepen their networking and possible future partnerships.
Greece, as the first country of reception, has seen an increase in its migrant population in 2023, with 100 new arrivals per day between June and November 2023. Therefore, the number of people forced to move to other countries has not decreased.
Médecins du Monde remains on the side of the displaced populations, offering the necessary support both during their first arrival on the islands and at the Reception and Identification Centers, as well as during their subsequent accommodation – temporary or not – in the country’s urban centers. At the same time, Norway has faced an unprecedented number of refugees recently, due to the conflicts in the east of Ukraine with Russia. Even before that, Norway receives asylum seekers from third countries who have already travelled a long way from their country of origin and have arrived in Norway via other countries. Similarly, the country has established its own legal and operational framework for the reception of refugees.
Despite the differences in the environments and conditions of the two countries, there are commonalities that remain fundamental to properly frame and support the needs of populations on the move. Within the different working contexts and services provided, common values, objectives and practices are identified. This opens a window of opportunity for improvement and organisational development, in the context of an international collaboration between the two organisations, Médecins du Monde – Greece and Hero Norge AS.
MdM-GREECE – HERO NORGE AS Exchange
Through the project, MdM-Greece will carry out a four-day working visit to Oslo. During the visit, they will participate in workshops, institutional meetings and thematic discussions organised by Hero Norge AS, with the participation of relevant professionals and partners. Subsequently, a similar working visit, similar in structure and duration, will take place in Athens organised by MdM-Greece.
As a result, two teams composed of employees and/or volunteers of different positions and specialisations will participate in two in-depth working visits including thematic workshops at the host organisation’s facilities, meetings with key stakeholders (public authorities, institutions and other NGOs cooperating at field level). At the end of the “exchange”, the two organisations will draft a joint “Sharing and Learning” report and will openly share it with proposals for improving and strengthening the actions and operational capacities of Civil Society Organisations working in both countries.