Development of Psychological Integrated Services of the Border Police in the Republic of Moldova (SPINS)

Duration: September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019

Donor: IOM Development Fund

Partners: Ministry of the Internal Affairs; Bureau of Migration and Asylum; Customs Service; General Police Inspectorate; Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons, fiscal and phytosanitary services; Human Rights NGOs, UN Agencies.

Beneficiaries: Moldovan citizens, all migrants and foreigners interacting with Moldovan Border authorities, with a particular emphasis on women, unaccompanied children and other vulnerable groups. Border Police staff and students, as well as other MIA divisions.

Estimated budget: 170,000.00 USD

The Border Police (BP) in Moldova ensures border security based on the Moldovan legislation and following the policy recommendations of the EU Schengen Catalog and Border Code. It coordinates the development and implementation of the national Integrated Border Management (IBM) strategy.

As a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIA) subordinated agency, the BP undergoes a substantial restructuring in adopting a unified police structure of command and operations, including psychological services.

IOM supported the BP reform process and contributed extensively to the development of the National IBM Strategy for 2015-2017. The current project follows up IOM’s recent support to the development of the Human Resources component, including organizational and psychological testing and assistance. It also aims to create within the BP a consolidated psychological support system, which would offer relevant assistance for both the BP staff and border crossing population.

The project objective is to contribute to the implementation of the state policy on IBM, through improving access to psychological services for vulnerable migrants and Border Police personnel.

The project consists of four main activities:

Developing and making available the system of Integrated Psychological Services of the Border Police.

• Making a baseline assessment and recommendations for the system of Integrated Psychological Services;
• Development of the standard operating procedures for psychological activities within the BP;
• Development of training curricula for the National Border Police College and the Academy of the MIA on Psychological activities within the BP;
• Editing of the Guidelines of Psychological Support, including Professional Stress Management.

Developing and making operational the database for supporting implementation of the Integrated Psychological Services.

• Conceptualization and setting up the database on psychologic support;
• Training of the BP psychologists on appropriate use of the database.

Renovating and appropriately equipping of seven psychological cabinets of the BP for effective delivery of services.

• Refurbishment and setting up pf seven psychological cabinets at the BP central and territorial levels, including the Chisinau International Airport;
• Delivery of necessary furniture and basic equipment for the psychological cabinets;
• Ensuring adequate conditions for the BP to effectively deliver psychological services to the BP staff and migrants.

Capacity building for BP psychologists for aqcuiring new knwoledge, skills and abilities to provide tailored psychological support to all categories of vulnerable migrants and the BP personnel.

• Assessment of the current situation at the BP on training topics;
• Development of the consistent curriculums and corresponding training methodologies for BP staff on (i) Training of Trainers on psychological assistance within the Border Police authorities and (ii) on psychological assistance during mass influx of migrants and internal displacement of population.
• Conduction of two trainings on the mentioned topics for up to 30 BP psychologists and selected staff aiming at enhancing the capacity of the BP in providing tailored psychological support to all categories of vulnerable migrants and the Border Police personnel;
• Three study visits to EU countries fir the PBD psychologists on the following topics: 
  • Organizing psychological assistance within the Border authorities;
  • Psychological assistance during mass migrants’ influx and internal displacement of population;
  • Psychological assistance for conflict management and resolution.

Please download the project's leaflet here.