BAfF Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Psychosozialen Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer

What BAfF Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Psychosozialen Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer does

BAfF (Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Psychosozialen Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer) is a German registered non-profit federation (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1997, headquartered in Berlin, and operating as the federal umbrella association for 51 psychosocial centers (Psychosoziale Zentren, PSZ) across Germany. The organization's core function is to coordinate, represent, and advocate on behalf of its member centers, which deliver free psychosocial and trauma-focused care to refugees and torture survivors. As of recent data, the central organization itself employs only 8 staff, while the broader member network documented 25,861 clients in 2022 and approximately 33,000 in the most recent Versorgungsbericht (national supply report).

BAfF's product and service portfolio centers on knowledge products and network coordination rather than direct service delivery. Key outputs include the annual Versorgungsbericht (a national supply report used to quantify and publicize service gaps), the Praxisleitfäden (practice guidelines for trauma-focused care), the BAfF Academy (training programs for member staff), the TRAKS multilingual screening questionnaire, regular conferences, and specialized projects such as SAVE, YTC, ExTo, and Sylni Razom. The organization is a member of the European Euronet network and engages in cross-border partnerships, including cooperation with the Ukrainian ROKADA initiative for displaced persons. There is no proprietary technology platform; all outputs are knowledge- and coordination-based.

The business model is grant-funded non-profit: services to refugees and torture survivors are free of charge, and BAfF's central operating revenue is sourced from institutional funders including the BMFSFJ (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth), the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees), UNO Flüchtlingshilfe, membership fees from the 51 member centers, and individual donations. The organization holds a quasi-monopoly position as the recognized federal interlocutor on refugee psychosocial care and exercises influence through formal position papers on EU GEAS reform and the German coalition contract. Its client-facing brand was consolidated in 2019 when it rebranded from BAfF to "Bundesverband Psychosozialer Zentren," sharpening its identity as a federal advocacy body.

Name

BAfF Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Psychosozialen Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer

Legal name

Bundesverband Psychosozialer Zentren. Versorgung nach Folter, Krieg und Flucht e. V.

Website

https://baff-zentren.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BAfF is the German federal federation of 51 psychosocial centers providing free mental health and trauma care to refugees and torture survivors. It coordinates member services, publishes the annual Versorgungsbericht supply report, develops practice guidelines and training, and advocates for refugee mental health policy reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Psychosocial Support Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Psychosocial refugee care
• Trauma therapy services
• Refugee mental health
• Psychosocial counseling
• Torture survivor support

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Institutional Funding (Zuwendungen öffentlicher Förder*innen): The primary revenue stream consists of grants and funding from public institutions including the European Union (via AMIF - Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund), German federal ministries (BMFSFJ), and other governmental bodies. This funding supports the network of psychosocial centers and advocacy activities.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations collected through the organization's website via SozialBank secure payment system and betterplace.org platform. Donations are tax-deductible and used to fund therapeutic and legal expertise, training in trauma and flight topics, and public outreach work.
3. Membership Fees (Mitgliedsbeiträge): Annual membership fees from supporting members (Fördermitglieder). Members receive regular newsletters, current publications, and annual reports as member benefits.
4. Publication Sales: Revenue from sales of publications including the BAfF Versorgungsberichte (care reports), practice guidelines, and other educational materials through the organization's shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BAfF (legally: Bundesverband Psychosozialer Zentren. Versorgung nach Folter, Krieg und Flucht e. V.) is a German non-profit umbrella organization that networks 51 specialized Psychosocial Centers across Germany. These centers deliver free psychosocial counseling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, social work support, legal advice, and medical assistance to refugees and survivors of torture, war, flight, and severe violence — regardless of nationality, documentation status, language, or religion.

Product overview

BAfF (Bundesverband Psychosozialer Zentren – Bundesverband Psychosozialer Zentren Versorgung nach Folter, Krieg und Flucht e.V.) is a German non-profit federation offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a single commercial product. Its core offering is a nationwide network of 51 Psychosocial Centers (Psychosoziale Zentren, PSZ) providing free psychosocial counseling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and social work to refugees and torture survivors. This core service is supported by a publications program producing annual supply reports (Versorgungsberichte), specialized practice guides (Praxisleitfäden), policy papers, and research on topics ranging from trauma-informed care, child and youth psychosocial needs, collective accommodation consequences, racism in therapy, and torture rehabilitation (including the Istanbul Protocol-based 'InTo Justice' project). Supplementary offerings include professional training through the BAfF-Akademie, annual and specialized conferences (BAfF-Tagungen, KiJu-Fachtagungen), the European network (Euronet), the TRAKS multilingual screening questionnaire for displaced youth, and thematic project programs such as SAVE (children's mental health), YouthTraumaCare (YTC), ExTo (torture survivor expertise network), and Sylni Razom (Ukraine support). The organization also distributes a newsletter (Rundbrief) and operates a donations and membership program. The products and services collectively form a vertically integrated support ecosystem: centers deliver direct care; publications and conferences disseminate knowledge to professionals; projects and networks build capacity; and the academy trains the workforce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Psychosoziale Zentren (PSZ) — Psychosocial Centers Network Network of 51 Psychosocial Centers (Psychosoziale Zentren) across Germany delivering free psychosocial counseling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, social work support, legal advice, and medical assistance to refugees and survivors of torture, war, and violence — regardless of nationality, documentation status, language, or religion.
• Versorgungsberichte — Annual Psychosocial Supply Reports Annual reports (Versorgungsberichte) documenting the state of psychosocial care for refugees and torture survivors in Germany, including statistics on client numbers, wait times, coverage gaps, and policy recommendations.
• Praxisleitfaden: Traumasensibler und empowernder Umgang mit Geflüchteten — Practice Guide: Trauma-Informed Approach with Refugees A practice guide for professionals providing information and action proposals for trauma and flight, structural conditions of psychotherapy with refugees, symptom management, crisis intervention, self-reflection, and self-care for support workers.
• Leitfaden zur Erkennung besonderer Schutzbedarfe von geflüchteten Menschen — Guideline for Identifying Special Protection Needs Part of the 'Toolbox Schutzbedarfe' (Protection Needs Toolbox), this guide supports facilities in establishing counseling services for residents with special protection needs, providing knowledge and handbooks for counseling vulnerable persons.
• Arbeitshilfe: Therapeutisches Arbeiten mit jungen geflüchteten Menschen — Work Aid: Therapeutic Work with Young Displaced Persons A specialized work aid for professionals in and outside youth welfare working with accompanied and unaccompanied displaced children, youth, and young adults, covering therapy financing, special considerations, and practical approaches.
• Überlebende von Folter und schwerer Gewalt: Wege in die Rehabilitation — Survivors of Torture and Severe Violence: Paths to Rehabilitation Publication from the 'InTo Justice' project documenting signs of torture and rehabilitation pathways for survivors using the Istanbul Protocol standard, systematizing a four-step care pathway.
• BAfF-Akademie — BAfF Academy Professional training and continuing education programs for specialists in the field of flight, trauma, and psychosocial care, offered through the BAfF Academy.
• TRAKS-Fragebogen — TRAKS Questionnaire for Early Detection Multilingual screening questionnaires (Früherkennung, Stabilisierung, Therapie: trauma- und kultursensibel für junge Geflüchtete) developed to provide indicators for further treatment or referral, available in seven languages including Arabic, Farsi, and Ukrainian.
• Europäisches Netzwerk (Euronet) — European Network of Psychosocial Centers European network of psychosocial centers and organizations supporting refugees and torture survivors across Europe, coordinated by BAfF.
• Sylni Razom — Gemeinsam Stark (Ukraine Support Project) A project supporting displaced persons from Ukraine, providing psychosocial assistance and coordination of care.
• SAVE — Sicheres Ankommen, Vernetzen, Mentale Gesundheit von geflüchteten Kindern und Jugendlichen stärken A project dedicated to strengthening the mental health of displaced children and youth, promoting safe arrival and networking.
• YTC — YouthTraumaCare: Ausbau psychosozialer Unterstützungsangebote für schutzsuchende Kinder und Jugendliche Project focused on expanding psychosocial support services for displaced children and youth seeking protection.
• ExTo — Expertise Transfair Netzwerk für Folterüberlebende Expert network for torture survivors facilitating knowledge transfer and quality assurance across psychosocial centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,861 clients served annually across 51 centers (2022 data)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ROKADA (Ukraine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner organization in Ukraine providing psychotherapy services. BAfF supports ROKADA's work delivering mental health support to civilians affected by the ongoing war. The partnership addresses the growing need for psychosocial care as international attention on the Ukraine conflict diminishes after more than four years of war.
• XENION Psychosoziale Beratung + Therapie (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the Berlin-based Psychosocial Centers that co-organized the online conference 'Besondere Schutzbedürftigkeit – Zwischen Rechtsanspruch und Umsetzung' with BAfF, Schwulenberatung Berlin, and ZENTRUM ÜBERLEBEN.
• ZENTRUM ÜBERLEBEN (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based Psychosocial Center that co-organized the conference on special protection needs with BAfF and other partners, addressing the gap between legal rights and implementation.
• REFUGIO ThüringencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the TRAKS questionnaire (Früherkennung, Stabilisierung, Therapie - early detection, stabilization, therapy) for trauma and culturally sensitive screening of young refugees. BAfF publishes and distributes these multilingual questionnaires.
• Euronet (European Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of organizations working with torture survivors and refugees. BAfF participates in Euronet to share expertise and coordinate cross-border psychosocial support initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ProAsyl: Germany's leading independent refugee rights advocacy organization. Highly comparable as a Berlin-based nonprofit focused on refugee protection, policy advocacy, and member/donor mobilization, though its mission is legal/political rather than clinical-psychosocial.
• ECRE (European Council on Refugees and Exiles): European-wide umbrella of 100+ NGOs working on refugee rights and integration. Directly comparable to BAfF as a federation model operating at a larger (European) geographic scope, with overlapping policy-advocacy function.
• IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims): Global umbrella network headquartered in Copenhagen that coordinates torture survivor rehabilitation centers across more than 70 countries. Closest international analog to BAfF: same mission (psychosocial rehabilitation of torture survivors), same federation-of-centers model, and active collaboration through the Euronet European network.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization providing psychosocial support, refugee resettlement, and emergency response. Comparable as a larger-scale international peer running refugee mental-health programs in multiple countries, including Germany.
• Caritas Germany: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization, providing refugee counseling, migration services, and psychosocial support. Operates a broader social-services portfolio than BAfF but competes for the same public grants and serves overlapping client populations.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Germany's largest Protestant social welfare federation, operating hundreds of social and psychosocial service facilities nationwide. Comparable as a much larger incumbent federation offering overlapping refugee psychosocial services but as part of a far broader welfare portfolio.
• German Red Cross (DRK): National humanitarian aid society running refugee accommodation, basic care, and psychosocial support. Comparable incumbent federation model with substantially larger scale and broader mandate.
• UNHCR Germany (via UNO Flüchtlingshilfe): German national partner of UNHCR. Already a BAfF funder, but also a strategic stakeholder whose priorities shape BAfF's funding environment; comparable as a refugee-focused umbrella operating at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Refugio München: One of Germany's most established Psychosocial Centers for refugees, based in Munich. Comparable as a peer member center rather than an umbrella; illustrates the operational model that BAfF networks at national level.
• ZENTRUM ÜBERLEBEN: Berlin-based Psychosocial Center specializing in treatment of torture survivors. Direct operational peer as a BAfF member center, and a co-organizer of BAfF conferences on special protection needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/baffev
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/baffev
• Facebookfacebook.com/baffev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baffev
• Instagraminstagram.com/baffev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BAfF Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Psychosozialen Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer