Challenges

Peru (1.61 million arrivals and 249,500 in transit) and Ecuador (416,800 arrivals and 330,000 in transit) are the second and third destination countries for the Venezuelan population in 2024 (according to GTRM Peru and GTRM Ecuador projections as of February 2024). Many Venezuelans are located in northern Peru and southern Ecuador, areas with interconnected dynamics and similar problems regarding refugee and migrant conditions and security, requiring coordinated responses. Host communities often display xenophobia and discrimination towards Venezuelans, sometimes resulting in violence. Lack of economic resources and decent work opportunities has increased domestic violence, vulnerability to exploitation through trafficking and smuggling, school dropouts, exclusion, harassment, and rights violations. Venezuelan migrants and refugees often lack support networks, distrust institutions, or don’t know where to seek help.

Toward a Solution

This project aimed to increase access to education and income generation for Venezuelan refugees and migrants while improving their protection and security. The methodology focused on protection at economic, social, collective, and individual rights levels. By offering entrepreneurship and technical training, the project reduced the pressure to find work, thus lowering the risks of trafficking and smuggling exploitation. It also promoted integrated responses through protection routes and individual case monitoring, ensuring adequate attention from institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs). This solution contributes primarily to the Sustainable Development Goal to reduce inequality (SDG 10), as well as the goals to provide quality education (SDG 4), Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all (SGD 16) and strengthen partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

The project integrated these elements through the Community Protection Approach (CPA) methodology, which analyses sectors with the highest protection risks and generates dialogues promoting integration between migrant and host communities, using an HDP (Humanitarian-Development-Peace) nexus approach. The CPA enables users to create response strategies and plans, encouraging community participation and empowerment. Beyond developing entrepreneurial skills, the project emphasized integrating all participants and inserting entrepreneurs into programmes planned by various state institutions, labor and employment directorates, and the Ministry of Production. This approach aimed at strengthening and consolidating businesses, with additional support from local governments for business fair invitations.

Key outcomes achieved in the two countries and their contributions to SDG targets include:

1. 1,239 service providers and public officials sensitized and trained in target population rights and protection (SDG goals 16.2, 16.a, 16.b, 16.7)
2. 1,434 people affected by displacement of all ages received monitoring and assistance for protection needs through protection routes and the CPA platform (SDG goals 10.2, 10.3, 10.7)
3. 15 civil society organizations in Ecuador and Peru, along with neighborhood councils (Peru), formed and participated in the CPA platform (SDG Goals 17.6, 17.9, 17.12, 17.14)
4. 83,185 people of all nationalities and ages reached by communication campaigns aimed at improving security, rights respect, and peaceful coexistence (SDG targets 10.2 and 10.3)

The initiative facilitated knowledge and good practices exchange between countries, addressing the transnational challenges faced by Venezuelan refugees and migrants. NGOs and universities effectively mobilized authorities in Peru and Ecuador through advocacy and capacity building, better equipping them to support Venezuelans.

This intervention shows high potential for sustainability due to extensive participation from various authorities and its role as a catalyst for inter-institutional connections. The solution is scalable in Ecuador and Peru, with potential for CSOs and the Working Group for Refugees and Migrants (GTRM) to expand coverage and reach in both countries. Additionally, the collection of qualitative data allows information to be returned to the affected population as part of a validation process.

A key lesson learned was the need to adapt the CPA approach to each country’s context, requiring detailed community-level work. Survey tools needed extensive contextualization beyond mere translation, addressing economic, social, and cultural peculiarities of the intervention areas. For instance, initial questions failed to detect land trafficking, a phenomenon typical of northern coastal Peru. Finally, platform documents required adaptation for use by community leaders with low education levels.