March 2016 Update from the Sweden Profiling of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children from Afghanistan

In 2015, Sweden received a record-breaking 162,877 asylum applications. More than 30,000 of these applicants were unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) from Afghanistan. Given the large number, UNHCR have embarked on a profiling exercise to better understand their plight and current situation to inform an adequate response.

This exercise aims:

• To provide insight into the background of the Afghan UASC,
• To better understand their reasons for leaving Afghanistan (or their first countries of asylum – Iran, Pakistan or Turkey), and to come to Sweden, and
• To provide information on the challenges and protection concerns they faced during their journey.

Following a request from UNHCR in February 2016, JIPS’ support to the process included an initial mission to secure stakeholder engagement, obtain relevant baseline data for the process, and finalise the profiling methodology and tools. A second short mission was undertaken in March 2016 to support the profiling team to finalise the methodology and train key individuals before the implementation phase of the exercise could be launched.

Led by UNHCR, the profiling is being conducted in collaboration with the Swedish Migration Agency (SMA) and Save the Children Sweden (SCS) through the provision of baseline data, psychosocial expertise and resources for conducting interviews and focus group discussions with children, and facilitating communication with legal guardians for access and permission to conduct the field work.

Two data collection methods that will be used:

• Individual surveys conducted in Malmö, Goteborg and Stockholm with children in both foster families and group homes, and
• Focus group discussions that will take place primarily in Stockholm. Data collection is on-going and results are expected in April 2016.

Read more about JIPS’ support in Sweden.