IOM Egypt this week organized a soft launch of the revamped version of “http://www.bosla-egypt.infoBosla” – a migrant information-sharing website that provides information on services available to migrants in Egypt.
Meaning “compass” in Arabic, Bosla was developed, featuring partner agencies throughout Egypt, to serve as a repository for information regarding critical, essential and basic services available to non-Egyptian migrants in Egypt. The website includes an online directory of local organizations that provide services, allows forum discussion and promotes activities for the benefit of migrant communities in Egypt.
The revamped website has a more user-friendly interface, including an interactive functioning directory of services available to migrants, where they can provide feedback and inputs to service providers. They can also comment on conditions and any assistance available in their community of origin. The platform also functions as a mobile application for smart phones, including Android, Windows and Apple.
Consolidating relevant and up-to-date information on service availability and providing critical guidance to migrants in accessing these, the Bosla platform bridges the efforts of partner agencies in informing migrants, refugees and asylum seekers of appropriate channels of support.
Bosla was initially launched within the framework of the European Union (EU)-funded programme, “Stabilizing at-risk communities and enhancing migration management to enable smooth transitions in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya – START” and its revamp was concluded in June this year. Ongoing support has been provided by another EU-funded project: “Community Resilience Initiative to Support the Regional Development and Protection Programme in North Africa – RDPP.”
