UK Home Office: Tackling Modern Slavery in and From Romania

Overview

The UK Home Office and British Embassy Bucharest are working together to tackle all forms of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT), as set out in the 2023 Romanian-British Strategic Partnership.

As part of this partnership, funding is available to civil society organisations working in Romania or with Romanian communities in the UK, to meet the following outcomes:

• Prevent: reduce vulnerability in Romania and/or of Romanian nationals to exploitation through better understanding of risks and addressing drivers.
• Pursue: strengthen the capability of professionals in the UK and Romania to disrupt MSHT from Romania and implement relevant victim-centred responses.
• Support: improve existing state and community support systems for MSHT survivors in Romania throughout identification, repatriation, and reintegration.

Between £50,000 and £120,000 is available for proposals that work towards reducing the number of Romanians trafficked to the UK.

Who Can Apply

Civil society organisations based in Romania or the UK can apply.

Cooperation and joint proposals between UK and Romanian groups will be favoured.

Organisations and staff must have relevant experience in working on MSHT or related subjects in Romania, as well as detailed knowledge of the Romanian context. They should also have a demonstrable track record of working on MSHT in Romania or with Romanian communities in the UK.

Eligible Expenditure

Projects must contribute towards reducing the number of Romanians trafficked to the UK.

Example activities may include:

• Targeted and evidence-based behaviour change communication campaigns.
• Research to understand drivers and enablers and what works to address modern slavery in and from Romania.
• Pilot projects to mobilise action on drivers or improve access to safe employment.
• Projects linked to addressing or better understanding socio-economic drivers and vulnerabilities.
• Capacity building for public authorities or law enforcement to improve effectiveness of investigations and prosecution and understanding and building trust in law enforcement and government authorities.
• Pilot improved mechanisms at local/country level to provide community based, holistic support.
• Pilot mechanisms to improve access to safe employment.
• Campaigns or training designed at reducing stigma and prejudice in public narratives, involving survivors/people with lived experience of MSHT.

Activity must take place in Romania and/or with Romanian communities in the UK. Activity should generally have a national scope; projects with a smaller geographic focus (eg. focusing on specific regions) are accepted but will need to demonstrate an evidence-based rationale for the focus.

Funded work should take place between July 2023 and February 2025 (20 months).