Project Overview
Although the number of Venezuelan migrants returning to their country increased in 2023, initial hope for new opportunities faded following the presidential elections in late July 2024, which saw Nicolas Maduro reelected in a widely condemned and undemocratic process. The outcome has since resulted in greater repression and a renewed risk for another mass exodus. While current statistics from the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V) platform reflect a relative stability in entries to Peru and Ecuador post-election,i one poll taken since the election found that 43% of respondents are considering leaving the country following the results.ii If extrapolated to the current population in Venezuela, this could imply that as many as nearly seven million Venezuelans are considering migrating. These numbers would be a near doubling of the currently displaced population.
According to the most recent data from R4V, as of May 2024, there are 7.77 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants globally, and 6.59 million of these individuals have migrated from Venezuela to Latin American countries.iii With an estimated 1.54 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru and 444,800 in Ecuador as of May 2024,iv both countries continue to face several challenges related to the Venezuelan migration crisis, worsened by political instability, inequality, social upheaval, and a surge in violence and crime, limiting migrants and refugees’ access to decent work and livelihoods and exposing them to heightened GBV and xenophobia.
WOCCU is committed to supporting this ongoing collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for implementation of the Economic Inclusion Project (EIP), to improve the socioeconomic security for Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Peru and Ecuador as well as for the members of the local communities they inhabit in the target cities of Lima, Trujillo, Arequipa, Ica, Piura, and Callao in Peru and Quito, Guayaquil, Manta, Ibarra, and Cuenca in Ecuador.
Given EIP's success, in May 2023, USAID awarded a three-year extension through May 2026. During phase one of EIP, from June 2020 through March 2023,
109,679 individuals obtained formal financial services,
15,120 individuals received financial education and literacy training,
12,278 Venezuelan migrants and locals accessed entrepreneurship or employment opportunities, and
2,037 Venezuelans recognized their diplomas or professional or technical degree certifications. Some key targets for phase two include providing an additional:
- 140,000 Venezuelan migrants and locals with access to formal financial services.
- 17,000 individuals with entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
- 6,000 Venezuelan migrants with support to revalidate their professional or technical degrees and certifications.
To reach its goal, EIP has adapted and implemented entrepreneurship (Objective 1) and employment (Objective 2) training programs targeted at migrants and refugees as well as traditionally excluded local populations. WOCCU also works with its trusted network of financial entity partners, including credit unions, to extend new or adapted financial products and services to Venezuelans and local populations (Objective 3). In response to the significant impact that gender disparities have on economic independence and stability, EIP has integrated gender inclusion throughout the three objectives outlined above. Additionally, EIP delivers critical GBV prevention and accompaniment services. In addition to these objectives and cross-cutting theme, phase two of EIP will also prioritize:
- Programs and strategies that promote the inclusion of youth and LGBTQI+ communities.
- Capacity-building for local partner organizations.
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation through the promotion of green entrepreneurial businesses, jobs and financial products.
[4] Ibid.
EIP’s employment methodology is centered around connecting well-trained job seekers with engaged private businesses recruiting to fill vacancies, providing resources and support to both labor supply and labor demand. EIP provides job seekers with training on technical and soft skills, offers support for the recognition of Venezuelan professional or technical certificates or degrees, and connects job seekers with employers through virtual or in-person job fairs, job boards, and EIP networks while working to strengthen alliances with private sector partners to enhance inclusive hiring practices.
By May 2026, EIP will support 6,750 individuals to access new or better employment opportunities or businesses leading to more stable incomes.
Figure 2: WOCCU's Employability Methodology
Results to Date*
- 8,281 individuals reached through employment training programs
- 4,038 individuals recognized and/or revalidated diplomas or professional or technical certifications
- Primary sectors are humanities and education (33.0%), administration (22.4%), and health (20.5%)
- 848 businesses and 18,671 individuals reached through employment events including job fairs and employment clubs
*Data as of September 30, 2024
Annabely Brito
“The recognition of my degree will open a window of real and effective opportunities to perform functions in accordance with my area of study, which will translate into improvements in my quality of life, as well as that of my family, whom I currently support financially in Venezuela. In short, it will allow me to achieve the physical, spiritual, emotional, social, and familial wellbeing that everyone longs for.”
Annabely Brito is a Venezuelan migrant who holds a degree in aquaculture and also has a master’s degree in rural development. She has been living in Lima, Peru, since 2018. She received financial support from EIP and assistance from Veneactiva during the process to apply for the recognition of her professional degree.
EIP’s financial inclusion methodology is founded on the premise of enabling access to and use of financial products and services, particularly those that respond to the needs of EIP’s target population. Working with project partners, EIP works not only to increase access to financial services but also to ensure that recipients of financial services are educated and empowered. Through this objective, EIP works to support credit unions and other financial institutions to develop new or adapt existing products and services that meet the needs of Venezuelan migrants and local nationals.
To implement this objective, EIP works closely with a strong network of financial institutions, working side-by-side with each institution to reduce barriers to access and inclusion, develop new and responsive tools, improve processes, revise policies and procedures, implement new or adapted methodologies, and strengthen staff skills and knowledge. Through EIP’s financial education training, EIP participants learn the fundamentals of personal and business financial management before being connected to the financial services sector. This approach ensures that when participants and institutions are linked, both are well prepared and educated on the other’s needs and requirements. Through the following approach, EIP will support 140,000 individuals to access financial services by the end of the project.
Figure 3: WOCCU's Financial Inclusion Methodology
Results to Date*
- 181,117 individuals connected with financial services
- 18,280 loans issued, amounting to $19,243,543
- 24,849 individuals trained in financial education, 67% of whom are women and 63% of whom are Venezuelan
*Data as of September 30, 2024
Víctor Solano
“Thanks to the project, I was able to open my account at Financiera Confianza, access a loan, and set goals that have improved my life and my family’s life. Today, I have my own business and continue working to expand it.”
Víctor Solano is a Venezuelan migrant who arrived in Peru in June 2018. After the pandemic, he opened his own restaurant, and thanks to his participation in an EIP financial jornada, he was able to open a savings account and obtain a loan, which allowed him to grow his business. He also attended a financial education workshop that reinforced his understanding of the importance of saving, a habit that has been key to his success. One of his most important achievements was buying his first car, and his future vision is to expand his restaurant to create jobs and offer opportunities to other migrants in Peru.
EIP’s GBV interventions prioritize supporting survivors and individuals at risk of GBV to achieve economic autonomy. EIP’s approach focuses on a core principle – that with both psychological/social support and access to income/financial autonomy, people who have experienced GBV will transition to survivors with access to sustainable and quality livelihoods, income, and financial independence, contributing to their ability to break from the cycle of violence. EIP has established partnerships with institutions and organizations providing continual psychosocial support for GBV survivors. Through the development of life plans, individuals identify their strengths, skills, professional and personal interests, and opportunities as well as outline practical steps to reach their goals. EIP connects survivors and individuals at risk of GBV with a means of livelihood, through employment or entrepreneurship programming, financial education, and linkages with financial services, empowering them to earn an income to support their families, gain economic independence, and break the cycle of violence. And EIP’s GBV prevention strategy centers on contributing to the overall ecosystem of gender equity and inclusion through partnerships and advocacy. EIP consistently strives to promote gender equity in economic inclusion, ensuring equitable access to opportunities for achieving economic autonomy regardless of gender, identity, or gender expression.
Figure 4: WOCCU's GBV Response and Prevention Methodology
Results to Date*
- 958 individuals received GBV services
- 533 staff from 19 partners trained on GBV prevention
- 150 participants in GBV programming received seed capital to begin their businesses
*Data as of September 30, 2024
Xiomara Ledezma
“In the future, I want to leave this business to my little girl. My daughter was born with down syndrome, and I want her to be able to manage independently through this business later on.”
Xiomara Ledezma arrived in Ecuador seven years ago and has been an example of resilience, seeking training to build a business that allows her to support herself and her daughter. She was part of the Aprendamos y Emprendamos program implemented by EIP in coordination with FUNDASOF, and she was able to not only build her confidence but also to take her business to new heights thanks to EIP’s digital tools.
Supporting Capacity Building/Localization
With the project extension, EIP has integrated capacity building/localization as a main EIP component, embracing USAID’s commitment to localization to strengthen local organizations by transferring methodologies and improving capacity.
The institutional strengthening activities aim to have a comprehensive impact on local organizations, improving organizational performance in priority areas by providing tools and strategies to improve quality of services, strengthen business models, and encourage new initiatives that will allow the organizations to expand their reach. EIP will work with a total of five local organizations, three in Peru and two in Ecuador, to provide capacity building support to encourage improved organizational performance.
During Year Four of project implementation, 100% of the local organizations receiving capacity building support showed a measurable improvement in organizational performance.
Objective 1: Assisting New and Existing Entrepreneurs
Objective 2: Facilitating Access to Employment
Objective 3: Increasing Access to Financial Services
