Context: By December 2024, more than 7.89 million people had left Venezuela due to the economic and security situation. The majority are living in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main destination countries are Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
The high number of displaced people, constantly changing migration flows, the economic conditions, and the situation in the host communities are significant challenges for the three countries. They are committed to providing refugees with education and health care services, handling their residence status, integrating them into the economy and protecting them from human trafficking, violence and exploitation. Many communities that take in displaced people are located in capital cities and border regions where conditions are difficult. Some of the population live under precarious circumstances.
Objective: State and civil society actors in the border regions and along the migration routes of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are in a better position to integrate the high numbers of people from Venezuela and Colombia in a socially responsible manner and into work.
Approach: The programme works internationally, regionally and locally with public partners, the private sector and civil society in the three countries. It is committed to pursuing regulated residence status, socio-economic integration, peaceful coexistence and protection through counselling, financing and technology transfer, among other things. The programme promotes job creation in coordination with state partners and private companies. It also supports start-ups and micro-enterprises, for example by providing access to financial services such as microloans. In addition, the programme works with state and private organisations to implement vocational training programmes aimed at displaced people and the local population in need of protection.