Displacement, arrival, future
Millions of people have fled Venezuela, many of them to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. How GIZ works to strengthen both refugees and host countries.
Lima, Peru, 6:45 am. Félix Álvarez puts on his surgical gloves. Two years ago, the surgeon stood at the Peruvian border, holding only a suitcase of his belongings. Today he saves lives in a clinic in Lima – thanks to a GIZ project.
For years now, the people of Venezuela have been living through one of the worst political, economic and humanitarian crises in the world. Violence, state repression, a collapsing health system and high crime rates are forcing many of them to flee. An estimated 7.9 million people, more than a quarter of the population, have already left the country. Venezuelans are currently the largest group of asylum seekers in the European Union. But most of them arrive and settle in Latin American countries. There, migration is pushing social systems to their limits.
From street vendor to surgeon: Make qualifications count again
Starting over in a host country is difficult for many refugees. As it was for Félix Álvarez: ‘I was a surgeon in Venezuela. In Peru, I started out selling cake on the street,’ he recalls. His medical degree was not recognised. This changed when GIZ and its partners supported his efforts to obtain recognition for his qualifications as a doctor in Peru. Today, he is operating again and also supports other refugees on a voluntary basis when they need medical treatment.
Since 2018, GIZ has been providing important assistance in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador not only to Venezuelan refugees like Félix Álvarez, but also to the host communities: It has placed around 12,000 people in jobs, supported 520,000 in sorting out their residence status and enabled 600,000 to access health care. This strengthens both the new arrivals and the local infrastructure.
Comprehensive, coordinated measures for integration
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, GIZ is supporting the three countries in equipping their institutions to meet the challenges of migration. Colombia is a prime example of how urgent this change is: Within just a few years, the traditional country of emigration has developed into one of the most important host countries for refugees. It has had to rapidly adapt its structures.
For this purpose, GIZ networks authorities, companies and civil society actors. Together, they are shaping integration in a sustainable manner and working to be better prepared for future crises. GIZ provides support in a variety of ways: It promotes cultural projects for greater cohesion. It provides refugees with psychological support to help them cope with trauma. And it supports skilled workers like surgeon Félix Álvarez to have their professional qualifications recognised.
The decisive lever, however, lies in the economy. GIZ has been cooperating with 20 Colombian companies from various sectors since 2019. They not only create jobs, but also remove structural barriers. This enables people who have difficulty accessing the market, especially women, to gain a long-term foothold in the labor market. ‘It's not about short-term help,’ emphasises project manager Elke Winter. ‘We develop systems that bring refugees, companies and society together in a sustainable way.’
Tea, trust, future: How companies and migrants benefit
People in the Colombian city of Antioquia, for example, are benefiting from this approach. There, it smells of lemon balm and peppermint. The Hiplantro tea factory has been specifically hiring Venezuelan migrants since 2021, thanks to a partnership with GIZ. ‘We weren't just looking for workers, but for people who would enrich our team,’ says Managing Director Gabriel Jaramillo. GIZ advised the company on export standards and trained managers in intercultural communication. 16 formal jobs were created.
Adelys Benítez now operates a packaging machine. ‘Here, for the first time in my life, I have a permanent contract,’ says the Venezuelan. For Hiplantro, the newcomers are more than just workers: They bring with them resilience and experience. ‘Their stories inspire us,’ says Head of HR Janine Medina.
Contributing skills, seizing opportunities
Stories like those of Félix Álvarez and Adelys Benítez show: Migration does not have to be a burden, but can be a driver for development. Refugees bring skills and experience with them that they can contribute in the host countries. GIZ ensures that they can take advantage of this opportunity. And sometimes this even creates business opportunities for European companies: Hiplantro could soon be supplying European supermarkets. With tea produced by integrated refugees.
