Bulgaria country strategy evaluation 2022-2024

The evaluation of UNHCR's country strategy in Bulgaria is part of a series of country strategy evaluations (CSE) designed to contribute to UNHCR’s learning and planning processes. CSEs focus on UNHCR's strategic positioning, comparative advantage and organizational and programming performance. The evaluation concludes that between 2022 and 2024 UNHCR Bulgaria demonstrated strong adaptability in response to the Ukraine refugee influx, shifting from a primarily advocacy-focused role to a more operational and coordination-oriented presence that contributed meaningfully to protection, cash assistance, municipal engagement, and institutional capacity-building. The strategy was broadly relevant and aligned with EU, regional, and national frameworks, however, translation of evidence into strategic prioritization was uneven, with persistent gaps for some population groups. The evaluation finds that UNHCR added clear value during the emergency phase but now needs to refocus on strategic prioritization, system-building, and sustainability within national structures to consolidate gains.