Experts from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) visited the FAFO Research Center in Oslo, Norway on October 31, 2019 as part of Project BGLD-3.001-0001 ‘Novel Approaches to Generating Data on hard-to-reach populations at risk of violation of their rights’. FAFO is an independent social science research foundation that develops knowledge on the conditions for participation in working life, organisational life, society and politics, the relationship between politics and living conditions, as well as on democracy, development and value creation.

The purpose of the visit was to familiarize Bulgarian statisticians with the experience of Norwegian researchers with regard to the criteria for identifying vulnerable groups, the main factors of vulnerability and the methods and projects used to reach them.

The training was led by Tone Fløtten, PhD – Managing Director of FAFO Research Center, specialist in researching on poverty and social exclusion, economic inequality, comparative social policy and the Nordic model, also leading FAFO Researchers on vulnerable groups participated in the study visit.

NSI experts learned about Norway’s vulnerability research practices and methods, discussed specific cases, and received valuable recommendations and guidance on how to improve their project activities.

The visit of the Bulgarian statisticians establishes good traditions for exchange of experience between the National Statistical Institute and research organizations from the donor countries on the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014 – 2021 (EEA FM).