Through the Advisory and Integration Guideline (BIR), the Free State of Bavaria provides funding for refugee and integration counseling. Generally, the counseling is granted in the first three years after arrival in Germany. In line with the principle of “helping people to help themselves”, this is intended to help them take responsibility for themselves and cope with everyday life in Germany.

The Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Integration (StMI) has commissioned the ISG to evaluate the refugee and integration counseling. The evaluation is to include an assessment of experiences to date, possibilities for reducing bureaucracy and an impact analysis. To this end, standardised surveys, focus groups and group discussions will be conducted with, among others, those responsible for offering counselling and support, the counselling specialists, cooperation and network partners as well as the target groups to be advised. The findings will be used to identify and develop recommendations for action for a possible adaptation of the funding guideline.