After two and a half years of its implementation, the USAID and WOCCU Economic Inclusion Project (EIP) has managed to transfer its tools and methodologies to its partners and allies, ensuring the sustainability of migration integration over time.
More than 50 financial entities, institutions that promote livelihoods, different public sector entities, partner companies, international cooperation organizations and the academy, met at events organized in Peru and Ecuador for the eighth quarterly meeting to monitor the EIP. During these meetings, the progress of this Project was shared, which, to date, has generated opportunities for more than 98,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees, as well as vulnerable local communities in both countries.
USAID, promoter of the project, highlighted sustainability and compassion as key elements to continue supporting the vulnerable community that seeks the impulse to become contributors in their host countries, as highlighted in the Peru session by Danielle Spinard, Director of the Regional Migration and Health Office of USAID Peru.
For his part, the Director of the Economic Inclusion Project, Óscar Guzmán, thanked the organizations that have worked with the EIP in Peru and Ecuador, since through these joint efforts more than 98,000 people have been financially included, 90% of the 7,649 participating entrepreneurs have improved their business and 65% of those who participate in the EIP are women.
The panels with partners included the participation of authorities from institutions that coincide with the objective of strengthening local capacities for the sustainability of the actions promoted by the EIP; such as the Ministries of Production of both countries, the Superintendence of Migrations of Peru, the Superintendence of Banking, Insurance and AFP and the Superintendent of Popular and Solidarity Economy of Ecuador.
In the panel of beneficiaries, we had testimonials such as that of Yuriexi Zapata, a Venezuelan communication professional who lives in Lima and received support to obtain local recognition of her degree. She reported that she had suffered from COVID-19 twice, "The first time I did not have health insurance or work formally, I felt like I was dying. It was terrible, thank God I got over it and that was the moment when I told myself that I couldn't continue in that situation. I looked for help to revalidate my degree, to look for work and I got to the USAID and WOCCU program. The 2nd time I tested positive, I was able to receive healthcare with private insurance because I was already working in a company and now I have health insurance and all the legal benefits.”
Likewise, Yelitse Barrios, a Venezuelan who lives in Quito, whose associative venture emerged after the Emprende UNIDAS program, thanked the EIP stating: “Everything they have given us is the pillar to promote our venture. Together as a team we can achieve our dreams, our independence, both for ourselves and for our families.”
At the end of the events, the institutions present signed a symbolic commitment in favor of the economic integration of the vulnerable Venezuelan and local migrant population. In this way, USAID and WOCCU promote the participation of different actors to continue generating greater economic opportunities in Peru and Ecuador.
