Opportunities Without Borders

OVERVIEW 

Opportunities without Borders (Oportunidades Sin Fronteras (OSF)), works with public and  private sector actors to address social and economic challenges resulting from sustained mass migration from Venezuela. As of August 2023, the latest data update from the Colombian Migration Authority, over 2.8 million people had fled from Venezuela to Colombia. Most  of these migrants have settled in Colombia’s urban areas and border towns in search of employment and  access to public services, like education and healthcare. OSF helps integrate migrants into Colombian  communities by increasing migrants and receptor community members’ access to licit economic  opportunities, and by increasing private sector investment in communities with large migrant populations.  Through this work, OSF hopes to enhance trust, social cohesion, and sustainable development in receptor  communities. OSF is implemented in urban areas with high concentrations of migrants, including  Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Medellín, Santa Marta, and Riohacha, and it runs from  March 2022 to March 2027.

GOALS 

IMPROVE ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION  

OSF improves Venezuelan migrants and Colombian citizens’ access to licit and formal employment  opportunities. The activity also strengthens the technical and soft skills of migrant, Colombian returnee,  and receptor community members to start and grow businesses. 

DEVELOP INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES 

OSF fosters private sector investment and commercial linkages in receptor and migrant communities. It  does this to create greater employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for migrants and Colombian  citizens. 

ENHANCE THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK  

OSF raises awareness about, and enhances the implementation of, the Colombian economic integration  regulatory framework on employment, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. The activity engages  community, public, and private sector actors in these efforts, and works at the regional and national level. 

KEY RESULTS 

● Improved Migrants’ access to capital; 

● Strengthened migrants’ entrepreneurial skills; 

● Improved community awareness of new immigration policies; 

● Facilitated workforce development in migrant and receptor communities; 

● Strengthened businesses through the adoption of inclusive, migrant-centered human resource practices; 

● Increased public and private investment in migrant and receptor community businesses; 

● Strengthened migrant and receptor communities’ access to financial services and education; and 

● Supported business accelerators and mentorship networks for migrant and receptor community  entrepreneurs.