Patricia left Venezuela unaware that she would never return. As a microbiologist, her work took her to a Conference in Costa Rica, where she was forced to stay after her husband warned her that her safety back home was at risk. 

Left alone for nine months while she worked to bring her family over, she had to start from scratch. She first found an empty house to live in, where she cried herself to sleep every night, but a network of Costa Rican friends helped her rebuild her life. “They came with beds, a fridge, a coffee maker, a blender, sheets, towels, clothes…” Patricia recalls. “I had no way to thank them enough.”

When her family arrived, their adaptation was far from easy. Her children faced discrimination at school. Her husband had to learn how to bake since his accounting degree still hasn’t been recognized. Patricia, with determination, perseverance, and the support of organizations, including R4V partners, that helped her structure her business and secure seed capital, has opened her own practice, offering everything from acupuncture to reiki to restore her patients’ health.

Today, after overcoming the immense emotional challenge of starting over, they feel grateful. In Costa Rica they’ve found warmth, stability, security, and freedom: “While we were waiting for our residency, we couldn’t travel. Now, I dream of traveling the world and sharing what I know.”

Situation

In 2024, refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean faced significant challenges in meeting their basic needs such as sufficient and nutritious food intake. These challenges mostly derived from economic difficulties related to lack of access to formal employment. Some 42% of the 2.79M Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the region and 78% of other nationalities trying to reach one of the 17 R4V countries experienced food insecurity. In Curaçao, over 85% of Venezuelan households faced severe or moderate food insecurity, followed by Peru and Colombia with over 50% of households in the same situation.  

The most vulnerable populations included those in an irregular situation, recent arrivals, and people on the move. Among the most affected groups were pregnant and lactating women, children under five, older adults, indigenous populations, and individuals with chronic illnesses. 

External factors, such as dependence on imported goods and climate-related events, also impacted food security. In Ecuador and Colombia, the El Niño Phenomenon severely affected key sectors like agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, increasing food prices and limiting access to food intake. Additionally, over two million Venezuelans remained in an irregular situation, with high rates of informal employment, often associated with lower wages and other protection risks.  

Economic instability, climate-related events and other challenges forced many refugees and migrants to adopt negative coping mechanisms, including, among others, reducing food intake, prioritizing their children’s nutrition at their own expense, or resorting to begging for survival. 

Response 

In 2024, the Food Security Sector provided support, through 84 organizations, to 694.2K vulnerable people, including refugees, migrants, and affected members of host communities across 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A majority of the activities included direct food assistance, in-kind support (including distribution of food kits and hot meals), and or through cash and voucher assistance (CVA) such as food vouchers. Other activities undertaken by Food Security partners included capacity building and targeted improvement of essential infrastructure, such as donation of kitchen equipment in Chile and support to community kitchens in Peru. 

Key best practices included developing and disseminating strategic information, establishing monitoring tools, and optimizing interventions. In Colombia, the coordination between the Nutrition and Food Security working groups enabled targeted assistance, which helped strengthen the response and advance the development of minimum standards for emergency care. In the Caribbean, food vouchers were distributed, while in Guyana, in-kind food assistance was delivered to remote communities. 

Lessons Learned 

For a more effective intersectoral and comprehensive approach for refugees and migrants, the Food Security Sector will enhance coordination with the Integration, Protection, and Health Sectors in 2025. It will also strengthen its coordination with host country governments to advance the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national social protection systems and ensure sustained access to food assistance. 

Providing clear, multilingual information on available food assistance programmes and eligibility remains essential. These efforts will ensure a more tailored response that aims to more effectively meet the needs of refugees and migrants.  

Finally, provide direct food assistance to refugees and migrants (in-destination, in-transit and stranded) with high level of food insecurity and facing protection risks. This includes distribution of basic food baskets, hot meals, and cash-based transfers. 

Situation

In Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, the three countries hosting the largest Venezuelan migrant and refugee population, the school enrolment process remains an obstacle for many families. In Trinidad and Tobago, access to formal education is even more restricted, leading to the implementation of non-formal educational services to ensure children’s learning. According to the RMNA 2024, in Ecuador, 36% of refugee and migrant children do not attend school due to the inability to pay school fees, while in Peru, 45% face economic barriers related to transportation costs. In 2024, migrant and refugee children and adolescents continued to face significant challenges in accessing to education services, limiting their full exercise of the right to education. Among some of the barriers identified are the lack of documentation, administrative requirements and inability to meet school costs. Also according to the RMNA 2024, at least 32% of Venezuelan children in host countries require educational services, with the figure reaching 42% among in-transit migrant and refugee children. Children in-transit, such as in Central America and Mexico, faced even more severe barriers to accessing education.  

Response 

During 2024, R4V focused its educational response on three key priorities, benefiting 107K migrants, refugees and host community members. These actions strengthened access, retention, and the quality of education for these populations. 

The first key priority was to ensure access to – and retention – in education systems. Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay provided financial support, distribution of school kits, and academic reinforcement activities to facilitate the integration of refugee and migrant children and adolescents. In Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and other countries in the Caribbean and Central America, efforts focused on providing guidance on enrolment processes through campaigns and communication channels. In Curaçao, the Education and Protection sectors worked together through national Refugee and Migrant Working Groups. These groups facilitate cross-sectoral planning and implementation, ensuring that protection concerns—such as child safeguarding and regular status—are integrated into education programming. 

To support and broaden educational access for children and adolescents engaged in prolonged periods in-transit, the Regional Learning Passport initiative was developed, featuring content adapted to their educational needs. The Educational Route (Ruta Educativa, for its Spanish title) project, implemented in Central American countries, has provided suitable spaces for children in-transit and their families, collected information on their educational needs, and recorded their competency levels through assessments to measure progress along the route. 

The second key priority was to promote the recognition, validation, and accreditation of prior learning for children and adolescents. In countries within the Central American Integration System (SICA) and Mexico, the implementation of the PRVA (Regional Policy for  Recognition, Validation, and Accreditation) was promoted to reduce access gaps and improve school retention in member countries. The policy improves refugee and migrant children’s access to and continuity in education by recognizing prior learning, even without documentation, and offering inclusive, flexible support. This enables smoother integration into national systems and reduces dropout risks, ensuring children can continue their education without unnecessary repetition or exclusion.  

Finally, partners also prioritized strengthening intersectoral coordination. Integration with other sectors, such as protection, humanitarian transportation, and food security, facilitated access to documentation, school transportation, and food to improve school attendance and retention at the national level. Regionally, the GRE-LAC partners supported Ministries of Education in the humanitarian education coordination and response, with 20 active members, ensuring an educational response during emergencies, disasters, and mobility. It also collaborated with regional and global organizations and platforms like REDLAC and others. 

Lessons Learned 

Challenges persisted throughout 2024. Although several countries made progress in facilitating enrolment, regulatory frameworks remain an obstacle, and documentation requirements in some countries still limited access to and permanence in the education system. The collective strategy adopted by GRE-LAC partners to support countries has shown that effective coordination among NGOs, governments, and education stakeholders is essential for ensuring inclusive education during emergencies. This collaboration enabled a more unified response, maximizes resources, and ensures that no group is left behind  

In 2025, the Education Sector will prioritize inclusive capacity-building efforts that actively integrate the voices and needs of the most vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and girls. Empowering local communities will be key to ensuring the sustainability and relevance of educational interventions. Additionally, advancing technology and digital tools will be critical for strengthening information management systems, enabling better tracking of learners’ educational journeys, and supporting data-driven decision-making for more effective and equitable responses. 

Situation

In 2024, migrants and refugees in the region faced multiple challenges in accessing health care. Rising violence, political instability, and the search for better opportunities fuelled new migratory flows, pushing many to take dangerous routes. These routes exposed people to extreme conditions and increasing health risks, including mental health issues, diseases and injuries. Sexual violence also remained a serious concern, with reported cases rising among those traversing the Darien jungle in the early months of the year.  

The RMNA 2024 highlighted that 79% of refugees and migrants in Colombia, 32% in Ecuador and 39% in Panama needed health care while trying to reach another country. For example, access to  maternal health care was severely limited for pregnant women. 

Access to comprehensive health care also remained limited for migrants and refugees in-destination, due to barriers like limited financial resources, administrative obstacles, irregular status, and fear of discrimination. According to RMNA 2024, 58% of Venezuelan refugees and migrants needed some form health care.  In several host countries, health systems faced significant challenges in ensuring timely clinical management, often due to constrained capacity, resource limitations, and competing demands on national services. 

 
Response 

In 2024, Health Sector partners coordinated efforts to support migrants, refugees, and host communities, reaching 454.9K people (28% of the target population). A total of 8.5K activities were implemented by 135 organizations, 85% in the form of direct assistance.  

Partners prioritized access to health care, capacity building and health promotion, with emphasis on primary health care, SRH, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Capacity building sessions targeted health personnel and community actors, covering topics such as mental health first aid, prevention and response to gender-based violence, and maternal care. Most activities focused on facilitating the inclusion of refugees and migrants into national health systems through social security affiliation or other enrolment mechanisms mainly in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. In Brazil, Chile, and Trinidad and Tobago, thematic campaigns addressed mental health, disease prevention, and access to health care.  

R4V partners continued to improve access to health services. In Peru, partners worked with national authorities to promote temporary coverage under the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS, for its acronym in Spanish) for migrants and refugees with specific conditions, such as those living with HIV. In Panama, partners supported the formulation of a plan to strengthen health care for refugees and migrants by identifying challenges, opportunities and strategies, ensuring an inclusive and sustainable approach. 

Lessons Learned 

During 2024, progress was made in delivering health services for refugees, migrants and host communities. However, challenges in coverage and access persisted, especially the continuity of health services in remote areas and high-mobility contexts. Limited infrastructure and national policies further hindered a comprehensive health response. In 2025, efforts will focus on improving coordination, continuity of care for those on the move, and continue advocating for the integration of refugees and migrants into national health systems. 

Situation

In 2024, migrants and refugees faced significant challenges in accessing humanitarian transportation to life-saving and essential services, such as legal assistance, education, employment and healthcare. According to the RMNA 2024, protection risks posed threats to their security and health, exposing them to human trafficking, smuggling, and gender-based violence, particularly for women and girls. Rising transportation costs, especially in urban areas like Lima in Peru, limited access to services like work and education. The lack of valid documentation and regular status compounds these issues, leading to denial of transportation service and charged higher prices in places like Mexico and Curaçao. Additionally, limited resources and information related to safe routes, climatic conditions, potential dangers, schedules, and humanitarian services hindered safe and essential travel. 

Response 

In 2024, 18 R4V partners carried out in-country humanitarian transportation activities, compliant with national laws, across 11 countries. Over 70% of these activities were led by organizations led by refugees and migrants, highlighting the critical importance of these efforts for Venezuelan migrants and refugees. These in-country and short-distance key humanitarian transportation initiatives provided access to essential services such education for children, humanitarian assistance, shelter, protection services, family reunification, as well as support for regularization and integration programmes.  

The response in 2024 underscored the collaboration among partner organizations, with over 95% of the total activities being implemented by local NGOs and faith-based local organizations. This also included providing technical support to local authorities. Furthermore, in order to mitigate the risks associated with irregular movements and the availability of humanitarian and protection services, the sector developed strategies to disseminate essential information. The regional sector also focused on short-distance humanitarian transportation and aims to publish a guidance note on this subject in 2025. 

Lessons Learned 

Stringent regulations in many R4V countries meant that access to regular transportation options within the countries remained contingent upon having a regular status, thereby increasing the vulnerability of refugees and migrants to criminal groups, including human trafficking and smuggling, robbery, exploitation, fraud, and violence. 

Efforts in 2024 focused on disseminating information about the protection risks associated with irregular travel. This was done in coordination with other sectors, such as the Protection Sector and its sub-sectors. A continuous challenge was the need to strengthen advocacy efforts to improve access to in-country safe and regular transportation for migrants and refugees with host governments, donor organizations, media, and other stakeholders, emphasizing the critical role of humanitarian transportation in the region. Therefore, in 2025, the regional sector will focus on the importance of building the capacity of governments and other entities to support these efforts. 

Situation

Throughout 2024, refugees and migrants seeking socio-economic integration in Latin America and the Caribbean faced significant challenges, particularly in accessing formal employment, financial services, and social integration. As highlighted in the RMNA 2024,  while many Venezuelan migrants and refugees benefit from regularization policies in Colombia, 87% work in the informal sector, — a challenge that also affects over half of the Colombian population — limiting social protection and economic stability. Brazil has seen improvements in social cohesion, with Venezuelans contributing to local economies, yet many still face labour market discrimination. Across the region, financial exclusion is prevalent, with 41% of migrants lacking access to banking services. Rising xenophobia in some countries, such as Chile, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil and Peru, also hinders integration. These barriers push many unto onward movements, seeking better opportunities in other host countries, often through irregular routes. 

Response 

In 2024, the Integration Sector focused on strengthening socio-economic inclusion for refugees and migrants through employment access, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and social cohesion. Recognizing that regularization alone is insufficient for integration, efforts targeted job placement, vocational training, skills and degree validation, entrepreneurial support, and anti-xenophobia initiatives. 

Key initiatives included vocational training in high-demand sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and the digital and green economies. Job-matching programmes helped connect migrants and refugees with formal employment, with additional support in soft skills, language training, skills recognition, and relocation assistance. For example, in Peru, through the program “Integrando Talentos” more than 200 refugees and migrants (more than 55% women) were able to recognize their professional titles in 2024. Special attention was given to women and youth, addressing barriers like childcare and workplace discrimination. Additionally, technical assistance was provided to Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services to enhance labour market integration.  

Access to financial services remained a challenge, with targeted interventions improving banking access, financial literacy, and credit opportunities. Support for refugee and migrant entrepreneurs included capital support, digital marketing, and direct financial assistance. In Argentina and Guyana, financial inclusion programs empowered women and LGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, helping them expand their businesses. 

To combat xenophobia, the sector implemented community-building activities, workplace anti-discrimination programs, and awareness campaigns. Campaigns as “Somos Panas” in Colombia and the serie “Panas” in Ecuador raised awareness and promoted successful inclusion throughout the year.The sector also collaborated with the Protection and Shelter sectors to ensure comprehensive support; a key intersectoral initiative provided policy recommendations for local authorities on socio-economic integration. 

Lessons Learned 

The Integration Sector faced challenges in supporting refugees and migrants due to restrictive regularization pathways, limiting their access to employment and financial services. Informality in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru further hindered economic integration. Costly, lengthy degree validation processes in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay restricted skilled workers’ access to formal employment. These barriers have affected the quality and scope of partners’ responses, shifting focus to direct assistance. To promote systemic solution in 2025, efforts will strengthen intersectoral collaboration, engaging local authorities, civil society, and refugee- and migrant-led organizations, as well as working closely with governments to enhance and promote skill recognition, employment programmes, and financial inclusion policies. 

Situation

Pregnant and lactating women, infants and children up to five-years-old have inherently heightened nutrition needs and are most at risk of undernutrition than other population groups. Among migrants and refugees, limited access to health and nutrition services, food, safe drinking water, and unhygienic environments further increases these risks – due to both reduced dietary intake and increased risk of infections.  

According to the RMNA 2024, lack of access to a minimum package of services to prevent malnutrition while migrating ranged between 12%-92% of pregnant and lactating women, 65%-80% of caregivers of infants under six months, and 25%-98% of those of children 6-59 months. In addition, infants under six months who were not exclusively breastfed and received infant formula, plain water or juice, ranged between 59%-85%, and children 6-59 months facing child food poverty ranged from 8%-68%. 

Response 

Access to nutrition services from qualified health personnel to identify and manage malnutrition was the main priority of the Nutrition Sector in 2024. Among nutrition interventions aimed at preventing malnutrition, over 20K caregivers of infants and children 0-23 months were reached with qualified counselling on adequate feeding, and almost 4K children 6-59 months received micronutrient supplementation to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In addition, more than 64K children 6-59 months received nutritional evaluation to identify child wasting. Among these, almost 3K children identified with severe wasting were admitted for treatment (mostly in Colombia and Brazil).  

A second priority of the Sector was the assessment and follow-up of the nutrition situation of refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations. In that regard, the Nutrition Sector supported the development of a digital system designed to create a personal health and nutrition record that can serve to monitor the nutritional status of children under five years old, as well as pregnant and lactating women, and track the nutrition services and interventions they receive across the region. The prototype Contigo, that was built, and field tested, was developed to ensure that health workers at mobile medical units across the country can both access information from previous health and nutrition encounters and update individual records. After the field-testing, it is expected to expand its use to other countries across the region. The overall objective is to have a cross-border case management system that would allow governments and partners to enable continuous nutrition care through a dynamic, longitudinal health and nutrition record, and ensure a patient-centred approach to care for migrant and refugee children and their families. 

A third and final priority of the Nutrition Sector was the advocacy for stronger prioritization of nutrition interventions as life-saving interventions. This advocacy was conducted through the creation and dissemination of four videos highlighting the nutrition risks and needs of vulnerable groups (young children, pregnant and lactating woman, and adolescents) and the importance and life-saving impact of nutrition interventions. At the regional level, the Nutrition Sector also collaborated with the Global Nutrition Cluster to deliver a four-session online training to strengthen the integration of a gender perspective in the nutrition response, engaging 40 participants.  

Lessons Learned 

Limited nutrition capacity at the country level was one of the main reasons behind the low levels of people reached. Among the 17 countries in the R4V response, only ten have an active Nutrition Sector. Also, not all countries with nutrition capacity can provide the full range of nutrition interventions. In some countries, for instance Colombia, the prioritization of the identification and care of undernourished children among efforts of nutrition partners limits the focus on preventive interventions, including adequate infant and young child feeding, such as breastfeeding, in a context of limited resources. 

Strengthening the participation of local organizations and governments as key actors in planning and implementing the nutrition response is key to ensure country-level ownership of the nutrition response, its sustainability, and the integration of migrants and refugees in the national systems.  

Finally, evaluation of the nutritional status, monitoring, and surveillance of women and children on the move is a challenge as continuity of services was not guaranteed between countries. Likewise, the traceability and follow-up of child malnutrition cases across countries remained a concern. The continued development and scale-up of the digital solution Contigo in 2025 has the potential to address this challenge and enable continuous nutrition care along the routes. 

Situation

Despite over four million Venezuelan refugees and migrants having received regular status in 17 host countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, challenges persisted in terms of long-term regularization and integration. These challenges include high costs, strict entry requirements and changes in asylum laws and procedures. Access to documentation was another challenge, also due to the suspension of diplomatic and consular relations between Venezuela and seven countries in the region after the July 2024 elections in Venezuela.  

Internal conflicts and other situations of violence, such as those in Colombia and Ecuador, along with sudden climate events, like floods in Brazil and wildfires in Chile, worsened the protection situation for migrants and refugees. In addition, difficulties in accessing rights became a push factor in the search for safety and opportunities elsewhere. Tighter border controls and increasing administrative and procedural obstacles to safely enter these countries in a regular manner forced many vulnerable individuals in need of protection to seek risky solutions, often times being compelled to depend on smugglers or organized criminal groups to continue with their journeys. 

Response 

In 2024, 121 Protection Sector partners reached over 701K refugees and migrants. To facilitate access to protection services, regularization pathways, and asylum systems for those in need of international protection, partners prioritized legal assistance and counselling. Legal aid also contributed to prevention of refoulement and assisted those arbitrarily detained. Additionally, partners provided technical support to government authorities to strengthen national asylum systems, such as ​​in Chile, where partners provided technical assistance to the refugee status determination process and contributed to case analysis during sessions of the National Commission for the Recognition of Refugee Status. Protection partners also promoted advocacy interventions for meaningful and ​​effective adoption of public policies aimed at ensuring refugees and migrants have access to regularization pathways in host communities.  

Community-based protection activities were carried out to address and create awareness on protection risks. For instance, in Bolivia, activities were implemented to promote peaceful coexistence among communities, or in Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil, where activities focused on enhancing the overall resilience of refugees and migrants. In Peru, partners trained refugees, migrants and members of host communities on psychological first aid assistance and identification, referral and monitoring of community protection cases.  

Specialized protection services, including case management and referrals, were strengthened to support individuals at heightened risk. In Colombia, partners strengthened intersectoral protocols for case management and referrals. Capacity-building initiatives with government counterparts in Panama and Costa Rica, and with affected communities, promoted adherence to international protection principles and enhanced prevention and response to protection risks.  

Partners continued regional and national advocacy efforts to promote the adoption and implementation of simplified national asylum procedures, aiming to ensure quick and fair access to protection for asylum-seekers and refugees. 

At the regional level, the Sector harmonized indicators and questions for protection monitoring exercises implemented by partners, enhancing information sharing and contributing to coherent and comprehensive regional protection analysis. In 2024, participation in regional multilateral processes, such as the Quito Process, and engagement with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, reinforced regional common protection messages within these broader forums. 

Lessons Learned 

The suspension of diplomatic and consular relations between Venezuela and countries in the region severely hampered the implementation of key protection activities, including legal assistance and counselling for access to documentation, regularization and family reunification processes. Strengthened border control measures, including through increased presence of military forces, strict entry requirements and changes in asylum laws and procedures, such as in Argentina and Chile, limited partners’ access and capacity to deliver assistance to vulnerable individuals. Additionally, the outbreak of emergency situations leading to further migration and displacement, like the extreme climate events in Brazil and Chile, severely impacted refugees and migrants and members of the host communities as well as impacting operational capacity of partners to respond. A coordinated response must be reinforced to ensure that protection remains at the core of all partner activities. 

Situation and Response

In 2024, 210 Support Spaces were active in nine countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay, providing information, orientation, guidance, basic services and safe referral for refugees and migrants. These Support Spaces are coordinated through a network across the region and are located in key areas to migrants and refugees. In addition, these facilities are context-tailored to provide the best support possible to these populations.   

Response 

In 2024, The Support Spaces Initiative implemented 231 activities through 11 partners, including three organizations led by refugees and migrants who were involved in 77 activities in three countries. These Support Spaces provide orientation and information on rights and available services, identification of protection cases and safe referrals, and a range of multisectoral services aimed at promoting the dignity, well-being, and protection of refugees and migrants. 

Throughout the year, the Support Spaces Initiative continued to coordinate with regional networks, including Red Clamor and the Regional Network for the Protection of LGBTQI+ persons. In June, the Initiative provided capacity-strengthening efforts for partner organizations from the LGBTQI+ Network. These alliances have played an important role in reinforcing a differentiated and diverse approach. 

During the second semester, following the safe route’s session of the Quito Process, good practices in the implementation of Support Spaces were presented by state actors from Costa Rica, Colombia and Uruguay. This session, focused on promoting coordinated and responsive protection responses along migration routes, provided a platform for States to share concrete experiences and lessons learned in providing key services to refugees and migrants through Support Spaces. Emphasis was placed on the importance of institutionalizing mechanisms for care, information, and referral, and of promoting dialogue on how to implement the minimum standards outlined in the Toolkit on Support Spaces. As a result, the commitment of States to maintain and expand care and information structures for populations in situations of human mobility was reinforced. Finally, regional coordination with the Quito Process contributes to promoting coordinated and sustainable efforts with State and non-State actors.  

Lessons Learned 

Amid evolving movement trends and the need for more sustainable strategies for Support Spaces, it is essential to identify synergies with state actors to coordinate responses and harmonize the principles of care for guidance, information and safe referral. By harmonizing efforts and resources, ensuring that care, guidance, information, and safe referral mechanisms are in line with shared humanitarian principles, and working closely with governments, the response can better adapt to dynamic migration flows, institutionalize protection measures, and create durable frameworks that strengthen local capacities and ownership, which ultimately promotes more resilient and sustainable support systems for refugees and migrants. 

In 2024, Support Spaces were strengthened through regional frameworks such as the Quito Process and deepened synergies with other regional initiatives, included the exchange of good practices, capacity-building trainings based on the Support Spaces Toolkit, and improved articulation between state and non-state actors. Additionally, deepened synergies with other regional initiatives including Red Clamor and the Regional LGBTQI+ Network facilitated the alignment of protection standards, enhanced referral mechanisms, and ensured more sustainable, rights-based support services for refugees and migrants across the region. 

Looking ahead to 2025, the Support Spaces Initiative plans to develop a community guide focused on integration, as well as a comprehensive review of the Initiative. 

Situation

In 2024, as highlighted in the RMNA 2024, refugee and migrant children continued to face severe protection challenges, including violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, family separation, and lack of documentation. Unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) are particularly vulnerable due to the absence of caregivers and difficulties in accessing essential protection services.  

There are substantial numbers of UASC in several countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, with reports of many, particularly those on the move, spending the night in public or open areas, and generally being exposed to a range of protection concerns (including dangerous border crossings, child labour, and encounters with armed groups; often without being able to access essential services).  For instance, in Panama, almost 4,500 UASC crossed the Darien jungle up to November 2024. In Brazil, the RMNA 2024 found that approximately 8% of all the children arriving in Brazil through Roraima were unaccompanied or separated and in Ecuador, 16% of Venezuelan refugee and migrant households had children in this situation.  

There was a continued need for migrant and refugee children to access regularization, asylum, and documentation to ensure their protection, integration and access to essential services like education and healthcare. However, high costs, delays in consular procedures, and lack of prioritization were identified as obstacles to this process. As a result, many children remain in an irregular situation, lack documentation and/or are at risk of statelessness.  

Response 

In 2024, the Child Protection Sub-sector reached 87.1K refugees and migrants across 17 countries, 33.6% of the target population. Of all activities reported, 84% were implemented through direct assistance by 57 partners, including eight refugee- and migrant-led organizations. Core interventions included legal support and orientation, documentation and registration, prevention and response to violence, family reunification support, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and transitory care for UASC.  

Partners also worked closely with national authorities to ensure the identification and referral of children at risk to appropriate services. In Ecuador, for instance, more than 15.8K children were referred for child protection and psychosocial support services, including UASC impacted by forced recruitment by criminal gangs. In the Dominican Republic, child-friendly consultations enabled caregivers and children to identify key challenges in accessing protection services, while in Trinidad and Tobago, interpretation support was provided to facilitate access to national protection mechanisms for Venezuelan children. 

At a regional level, Child Protection Sub-sector partners held an event that brought a global perspective to the region, serving as a strategic dialogue to address the risks and protection needs of children and adolescents in humanitarian contexts in Latin America and the Caribbean. This dialogue was held within the framework of the 2024 Annual Meeting for Child Protection Humanitarian Action. 

In terms of capacity building, partners supported the development and implementation of the new version of the learning package on Child Protection Minimum Standards, adapting it to the Latin America and Caribbean region. In-person training was delivered to R4V partners, reaching 40 people from across the region (national and International NGOs and other humanitarian actors). Partners also launched the regional directory of child protection services for the care of children, including migrants and refugees. 

Lastly, the Sub-sector maintained close coordination with the Quito Process, to advance advocacy efforts for child protection and family reunification matters among the member states of this intergovernmental forum. 

Lessons Learned 

Regional coordination, contextualized tools, and inter-institutional collaboration strengthened child protection in 2024. Dialogue spaces fostered joint action among humanitarian actors, while adapting global standards to the regional context improved implementation. Coordination through the Quito Process advanced key priorities across Latin America and the Caribbean, like protection for unaccompanied children and family reunification. 

Situation

In 2024, refugees and migrants, particularly women and girls, were at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) both in public and private spaces. Irregular migratory routes increasingly controlled by organized crime groups and persistent economic and political instability further increased GBV risks. 

According to the RMNA 2024, in Ecuador, 20% of Venezuelan women and girls who were trying to reach another country reported feeling unsafe in relation to GBV risks. In Colombia, this same percentage reached 35% for Venezuelans and 33% for other nationalities. In Peru, women and girls on the move reported being threatened and propositioned for sex in exchange for food and transportation. 

A 2024 World Bank study reported that at least two in five women have witnessed some form of GBV while on the move across Latin America. Access to GBV response services remain a critical challenge for them. In fact, 41% of survey participants knew women who had experienced physical, psychological, or sexual violence. This figure, however, likely understates the actual prevalence due to the persistent issue of underreporting. 

Response 

In 2024, the Regional GBV Sub-sector oversaw the multi-country response, supported national sub-sectors with technical guidance as well as with their coordination efforts, produced technical guidance on GBV risk mitigation and led regional trainings on inter-agency guidance to improve GBV programming. The sub-sector also worked with other sectors to mainstream GBV in their action plans throughout the year. Throughout the R4V countries, partners reached a total of 100.1K refugees, migrants and affected host community members through a range of GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response activities. Efforts focused on providing life-saving services, enhancing the capacity of duty bearers to deliver survivor-centred care, and advancing crucial prevention and risk mitigation initiatives. 

The Regional Sub-sector co-facilitated, alongside the leaders of the Sub-sector in Colombia and other actors from Venezuela, a three-stage training of trainers for 24 women-led organizations on Minimum Standards in GBV Programming. Furthermore, the Sub-sector launched an online GBV Case Management in Emergencies course attended by 128 people from 10 countries. Other achievements included supporting the establishment of a network of 22 organizations from 10 host countries working on GBV prevention and response. They received information on funding opportunities; peer-to-peer technical support to produce key messages on protection from GBV; GBV standardization for different operations in the area; and facilitating a training on GBV Guiding Principles and Safe Referrals for 23 NGO staff members in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.  

Additionally, the GBV Sub-sector participated in the Quito Process and Cartagena+40 consultations to advocate for the prioritization of GBV response and risk mitigation in the humanitarian agenda, in inter-governmental agreements on safe migration and for the meaningful participation of women-led organizations. 

GBV risk mitigation efforts included collaborating with other sectors.  In this sense. a regional workshop on GBV risk mitigation in cash assistance was conducted for Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, resulting in CVA Working Group partners in these countries adopting GBV risk assessment tools in their cash assistance programming and committing to training cash providers on GBV risks as part of their work plans. 

Lessons Learned 

GBV programmes, throughout 2024, faced significant obstacles in conflict affected areas and those with broad presence, including under direct control of organized criminal and non-state armed groups in parts of Ecuador, Colombia, northern Chile, Guyana and the Brazilian border with Venezuela.  Despite these obstacles, progress was made through the expansion of essential services and activities such as mobile safe spaces and brigades, and by building strong partnerships with state authorities, local civil society, and community-based organizations.  

In 2025, sustaining GBV interventions will require a stronger focus on the localization of GBV prevention and response putting at the forefront local actors, in particular women-led organizations, while pushing for further government ownership. This would entail also an increased and meaningful inclusion of women-led organizations in decision making fora. These groups are vital for maintaining continued access to refugees and migrants, fostering local ownership and ensuring sustained territorial presence. Strengthening these partnerships is crucial for long-term impact and sustainability in GBV programming. 

Situation

Refugees and migrants continue to be at risk of human trafficking and migrant smuggling throughout the region, with many Venezuelans identified as victims of trafficking. In fact, human trafficking has been continuously evolving and specially increasing among refugees and migrants, affecting disproportionately women and girls. According to UNODC’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons released in December 2024, in Central America and the Caribbean, 52% of all detected victims were girls and 30% women. Out of the total, 62% were trafficked for sexual exploitation, with female victims comprising nearly the entire group—slightly more girls (56%) than women (41%). In South America, women and girls made up 62% of all detected trafficking victims.  

In 2022, the most common form of exploitation in South America was trafficking for forced labour (55%), followed by trafficking for sexual exploitation (40%). As for smuggling, risks in the region have increased significantly for migrants and refugees, particularly along the more dangerous routes through the Darien jungle and across Central America and Mexico, largely due to increasingly restrictive migratory policies. According to the Mixed Migration Centre, in 2024 around 30% of women and men on the move used smugglers, especially for transit across countries (88%); in-country transit (64%), as well as food and water and access to communications (30%). As noted in the RMNA 2024, the most vulnerable groups vis-a-vis trafficking include refugees and migrants trying to reach another country or those in an irregular situation, particularly women, unaccompanied or separated children, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, persons with disabilities, sex workers, and LGBTQI+ individuals. 

Response 

In 2024, the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Sub-sector promoted comprehensive responses to both crimes by involving a diverse range of actors. The strategy focused on the “4Ps”: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. In total, the sub-sector reached 10.5K people through 10 partner organizations, three of which were led by migrants and refugees.  

Community-based prevention and protection assistance remained central to the sector’s work, supported by direct assistance, regional collaboration, and awareness campaigns. A key focus was also placed on institutional capacity-building to enhance governmental ownership through regional coordination networks.1 Along key migratory routes, partners supported enhanced collaboration to address human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. This included the launch of the first digital Case Management system in the Caribbean for Victims of Trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago, developed together with government stakeholders; the approval process of a new antitrafficking law in Panama; and the establishment of a data collection tool on trafficking in persons for Costa Rica.  

The Sub-sector also strengthened coordination with the Quito Process Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. A Consular Guide to assist the relocation of victims of trafficking to third countries was validated during a session on safe routes and protection. For the first time, women’s ministries participated in the session, sharing best practices for addressing trafficking from a gender and intersectional perspective. The ministries of Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica presented innovative approaches to adapting responses to the needs of refugee and migrant women facing exploitation.  

Additionally, Quito Process’ Early Identification of Human Trafficking Toolkit was introduced in a training workshop in Argentina, which was also supported by Sub-sector partners. This helped strengthen the connection between development and peace, further strengthening the work carried out within R4V. Sub-sector partners built alliances with the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS) and specialized networks of authorities, such as CORETT, REDTRAM and the Regional Platform to Combat Human Trafficking and the Illicit Smuggling of Migrants (PRETT, for its acronym in Spanish). The Sub-sector also collaborated with other R4V sectors and sub-sectors, including Humanitarian Transportation, Integration, Child Protection, and GBV, to better address the growing risk of gender-based violence—including human trafficking and smuggling — along routes. 

Lessons Learned 

Challenges in 2024 included adapting the response to evolving dynamics linked to organized crime, including new trafficking routes, reverse north-south movements and rising protection risks. Targeted technical assistance at border points and increased collaboration with other regional networks significantly enhanced the capacity of frontline authorities to detect, identify, and refer cases of trafficking and smuggling. Specialized training, tools, and protocols aligned with international standards improved operational readiness and fostered stronger synergies between border units and central authorities, ensuring more coherent and effective national responses. 

Situation

In 2024, access to shelter remained a top priority for refugees and migrants in the region. Social and physical barriers have exacerbated issues such as homelessness, evictions, overcrowding or inadequate housing, and relocation to peripheral areas or informal settlements. Many migrants and refugees faced compounded challenges due to insecurity, violence, and the impacts of environment and climate events in host territories. As highlighted in the RMNA 2024, approximately 73% reside in rented accommodations, with higher rates observed in Argentina, Ecuador, and Panama. Strict rental requirements, high costs, financial constraints, and the lack of rental subsidies have contributed to precarious living conditions. Around 20% of households are reported to be at risk of eviction or have already been evicted. Meanwhile, emergency solutions such as temporary collective accommodation options were deemed insufficient, with emergency shelters often unable to meet demand due to closures or inadequate infrastructure. 

Response 

In 2024, the Shelter Sector reached a total of 128.4K people across 17 countries, representing 27% of the target population. Out of the total activities, 83% were implemented through direct assistance by 59 organizations, including nine organizations led by refugees and migrants, and the other were related to capacity building.  

Half of activities implemented were on individual shelter solutions, mostly rental programmes such as Housing, Land and Property (HLP) support to minimize the risk of eviction, prevent overcrowding and promote conflict resolution between tenants and landlords. These activities were followed by collective shelter solutions, with partners focusing on improving shelter infrastructure and supporting management through technical assistance and capacity building. For instance, following a storm in Roraima, Brazil, R4V partners together with the government and the military formed a task force to provide dry mattresses, re-establish 650 structures, isolate areas and manage the flow of people.  

Other activities included the delivery of non-food items (NFIs), with the distribution of items to deliver daily tasks, such as clothing, sleeping and cooking items. Community infrastructure-related activities were also implemented, with area-based interventions such as in settlements playing a vital role in promoting social and cultural integration and empowering local authorities. 

Shelter Sector partners continued to coordinate activities with various sectors, aiming at delivering integrated solutions. The Shelter and the Integration Sectors, published “Strengthening the territorial approach to integration” guidelines that furthered these efforts. Coordination with the R4V Environment Group was enhanced, training shelter partners in both Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser (VEHA) and Nexus Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT+) to mainstream environmental considerations into the shelter response. These trainings were conducted alongside REDLAC and the Global Shelter Cluster (GSC), paving the way for further humanitarian architecture alignment in 2025. Additionally, efforts were initiated with the GBV Sub-sector and the WASH Sector, with plans for further guidance to be published throughout the year. 

Lessons Learned 

Despite the significant challenges refugees and migrants face in accessing shelter—including high rental costs, financial constraints, strict rental requirements, and limited access to housing subsidies, all of which often result in precarious living conditions—important progress has been made in strengthening government commitment and response capacity. This progress has enabled more robust programmatic linkages to social protection schemes and broader development initiatives, thereby advancing and sustaining the inclusion of migrants and refugees within public policies. 

For example, in Uruguay the R4V partners worked together with the Government on the implementation of the “Support Program for Socio-Urban Integration of Migrant Populations” (original title “Programa de Apoyo a la Integración Socio Urbana de la Población Migrante”) which aims to promote the social and urban integration of refugees and migrants. 

There is growing recognition of the need for more sustainable solutions that are not only embedded within public policy frameworks but also driven by localization efforts and strengthened through increased engagement with the private sector. 

Situation

The RMNA 2024 demonstrated that life-saving WASH services, particularly access to water, remained one of the primary needs for refugees and migrants trying to reach another country. Four countries – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama – showed alarming rates of limited or non-existent WASH facilities and services, resulting in unsafe open defecation practices and other health risks such as dehydration and gastrointestinal illnesses among this population.   

For migrants and refugees in-destination, challenges in accessing WASH services continued throughout 2024. Although Venezuelan households have access to improved water infrastructure, the supply of water is often insufficient to meet basic needs, as evidenced in Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. This led families to depend on more costly and less reliable water sources. Furthermore, sanitation facilities are often shared with other households or strangers, compromising safety and dignity, while access to hygiene items remains limited due to financial or supply shortages. 

High-need areas such as informal settlements, which are often overlooked by local authorities due to regulatory conditions, face significant challenges in accessing adequate WASH services, exacerbating the conditions for refugees and migrants living there. Additionally, the effects of climate change are further intensifying water scarcity in the Latin America and Caribbean region each year, disproportionately affecting migrant and refugee communities, often settled in flood prone or water scarce areas. 

Response 

In 2024, WASH partners continued to respond to the critical WASH needs of refugees and migrants. The Sector reached over 152K people with 1.39K activities carried out by 42 partners. Part of those reached included migrants and refugees at the Temporary Migrant Reception Stations (ETRMs) in Panama or the Southern Migration Stations (EMISUR) in Costa Rica, where life-saving WASH services were delivered to those in the most vulnerable situations, such as women and children. 

The response across the region was largely implemented through direct assistance (91%), encompassing the provision of safe water, sanitation, washing facilities, and hygiene services and items, including menstrual hygiene. At crossing points between Peru/Bolivia and Bolivia/Chile, these services were delivered on both side of the borders in the orientation and attention points (PAO, for its acronym in Spanish). In Brazil, R4V partners worked on joint initiatives with the government, investing in key infrastructure, including the installation of semi-permanent latrines and the improvement of water access in the official shelters.  

The model of the “hygiene corners” was successfully scaled up in most R4V countries: hygiene corners are safe spaces where migrants and refugees could choose the hygiene items that were most adapted to their situation (menstruation management, baby diapers, underwear, hand washing or laundry soap, and others).   

Longer-term WASH interventions were also implemented. For example, in Huaquillas, Ecuador, R4V partners rehabilitated wells and enhanced the water supply system for host communities, migrants and refugees. Across various host countries, partners also rehabilitated healthcare facilities, schools, and community kitchens. These efforts included distributing hygiene items, filters, and water tanks, coupled with social behavioural change and hygiene promotion campaigns in order to enhance safe water access and treatment in households.  

Coordination and response efforts were strengthened through capacity building activities to enhance collaborative WASH response capacity. For instance, in Brazil a WASH technical committee was established with local authorities, and a laboratory for monitoring water quality for host communities as well as migrants and refugees was set up in coordination with the local municipality. Similarly, in Colombia, the Sector developed a Hygiene Promotion in Emergencies Operational Framework to standardize hygiene practices and items for partners, demonstrating the sector’s commitment to leveraging existing capacities and expertise for a more coordinated and effective response.  

Lessons Learned 

Despite challenges related to costs and maintenance of infrastructure, WASH partners continued providing life-saving WASH services. In 2025, the sector will prioritize lasting solutions in high-need areas, such as informal settlements, which are less likely to receive local authority support to guarantee access to WASH. Effective long-term interventions will further support the integration of local communities, promoting social cohesion and community development.  

To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of WASH services, the sector will continue strengthening local coordination mechanisms This involves establishing clear lines of communication, defining roles and responsibilities, building partnerships and promoting collaboration between WASH actors, R4V sectors, government agencies, and other stakeholders. 

Situation

After six years, the widespread inability of refugees and migrants to generate sufficient income impedes many from meeting their basic needs, accessing services, and exercising their fundamental rights, in turn continuing to undermine their socio-economic integration. Although significant progress was achieved in some countries in providing migratory regularization, refugee recognition and integration opportunities (such as in Colombia), this has not yet translated into comprehensive access to services and rights for the majority of refugees and migrants in the region. In particular of those engaging onward or transit movements, as well largely remain dependent on humanitarian assistance.

To respond to the varied needs, throughout 2023, cash and voucher assistance (CVA) was the preferred modality of assistance among refugees and migrants both in-transit and in-destination – in particular, multipurpose cash transfers. As noted in the RMNA 2023, cash was the preferred response modality of 61% of refugees and migrants in need of food, and of 77% of those in need of housing.

The large majority of CVA implemented in the region is targeted at in-destination refugees and migrants, who are the overwhelming proportion of refugees and migrants in the region. As concerns those in-transit, the RMNA 2023 showed that while 88% of the in-transit population in Colombia reported not having enough resources to cover their basic food requirements, with only 2% having reported receiving cash-based assistance between April and May the same year.

Response

Cash and voucher assistance has been a key response modality to meet basic needs of refugees and migrants in LAC. In 2023, some 30% of the people reached by the overall R4V response received assistance in the form of cash or vouchers. In addition, 257K people (40,7% of the target population) benefitted from multipurpose cash transfers (MPC), 74% of whom were women and children. However, this amount fell far short of the targeted population due to funding gaps for this intervention (15,1% of funds needed were received).

In 2023, the Regional Cash Working Group supported the regional coordination of cash-based interventions, the use of MPC linked with sectoral services, and the strengthening of linkages between humanitarian assistance and social protection to integrate refugees and migrants into national systems. This was done by means of partnering with regional sectors and key stakeholders, promoting inter-country dialogue and information sharing, compiling and disseminating relevant regional knowledge, and capacity-building trainings and workshops. Three capacity-building events worth highlighting are the “Basic Principles of Cash Transfers” and “Cash Transfers and Child Protection,” which trained approximately 50 regional and national actors in Panama and Bogota, respectively. Additionally, the virtual three-day Regional Learning Event “Linking CVA and Social Protection Systems” in Latin America and the Caribbean attracted an average of 90 attendees per session and garnered over 900 views of the recordings.

Lessons Learned

Cash and voucher assistance was unequally distributed across countries, with Colombia and Peru accounting for more than 87% of all CVA. A very small proportion of CVA is provided to in-transit populations, that tend to be in greater need of food and basic services, while being exposed to significant protection and safety risks. The CVA Working Group will continue to coordinate and offer technical assistance to partners in other R4V country platforms, to assess the viability of CVA methodologies outside the larger responses along the Andean Corridor.

Suggestions to improve the coordination and implementation of CVA in the region includes supporting the work on route-based approach to CVA in the region; and continuing to strengthen the linkages between social protection and humanitarian assistance.

Situation

2024 was marked by a series of extreme weather events across Latin America and the Caribbean, which resulted in loss of lives, displacement, disruption to livelihoods and extensive damage to critical infrastructure, significantly impacting communities. The climate-related impact from the El Niño phenomenon was evidenced in various countries in the region. These included altered rainfall patterns leading to widespread droughts, while, conversely, other areas experienced heavy rainfalls, resulting in flooding, flash floods and landslides, causing fatalities and economic loss. In addition, the region was also impacted by several tropical storms and hurricanes, causing extensive damage and devastation.  

Climate variability and extreme weather events placed additional pressure on the agrifood system and food security, affecting community farmers and small-scale producers, as well as vulnerable populations, already facing poverty, inequality or marginalization, including refugees and migrants. These groups are more vulnerable to climate impacts, which exacerbate poverty, limit access to drinking water and increase food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in the aftermath of conflict or climate-related disasters.   

Furthermore, large movement of migrants and refugees, along with large-scale humanitarian responses, contributed to environmental strain along key routes and areas of congregation. In the Darien jungle, for example, these movements and responses have led to further deforestation, pollution, and pressure on local ecosystems and Indigenous communities. 

Response 

Building on the integrated strategy developed in 2023, which reaffirmed R4V’s commitment to operationalizing the Humanitarian-Development Nexus in its activities and response, efforts in 2024 to operationalize this strategy included strengthening capacities for environmentally durable solutions, raising awareness and improving the resilience of both communities and the environment to external shocks and hazards. 

 In order to attain environmentally durable solutions and reinforce the “do no harm” approach, several capacity building and regional trainings were conducted for R4V partners. In July, a training was held with the Shelter Sector to facilitate the use of the Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser (VEHA tool). Following this training, a new package of the Nexus Environment Assessment Tool (NEAT+) was developed for the LAC region. Furthermore, a November training grouped the R4V Shelter Sector, the Global Shelter Cluster, IFRC and the UNEP-OCHA Joint Environment Unit. Participants acquired knowledge about the relevance of the NEAT+ for environmental screening and gained practical understanding based on a real case studies. 

Finally, the Environment Focal Point led the creation of a new Environmental Marker, presented during the RMRP 2025-2026 activity submission process webinar in August 2024. This marker, as part of the newly integrated strategy, focused on durable solutions by enhancing communities’ and the environment’s resilience to shocks and hazards through a humanitarian, peace and development nexus approach. It measures actions which include Nature-based-Solutions (NbS) and environmental restoration, aiming to address the compound needs of migrants and refugees affected by climate change, violence and conflict. The survey of 261 organizations highlighted the current state of environmental mainstreaming and the strategic implementation.   

Situation

In 2024, risks of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) continued to be a critical concern across the R4V response. The convergence of humanitarian needs, limited access to protection pathways, and unequal power dynamics between affected populations and service providers can lead to SEA, which often go unreported. Populations on the move, particularly women, girls, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), other vulnerable groups and those without regular status, remained at heightened risk, especially when navigating unfamiliar systems, while trying to reach another country, or when dependent on assistance to meet basic needs. These risks are compounded by limited availability of services, challenges in accessing regularization, and insufficient awareness about rights and reporting mechanisms. 

Findings from the RMNA 2024 and the UN Secretary-General’s PSEA 2024 report point to systemic gaps in SEA prevention and response. Despite ongoing efforts, only half of households in R4V countries receiving assistance reported knowing how to file complaints or feedback about organizations or staff, with knowledge rates dropping to 29% among those on the move. Additionally, more than 1 in 10 surveyed households were unaware that humanitarian assistance is provided free of charge, a figure that increases to 32% amongst those on the move, placing them at significant risk of exploitation. The RMNA 2024 also indicated that misinformation, lack of safe reporting channels, and minimal understanding of the expected behavior of aid workers persist across multiple contexts, including high-risk routes.  

Response  

In 2024, the R4V PSEA Community of Practice (COP) prioritized strengthening Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) through the identification of SEA risks, investment in partner capacity assessments, tailored capacity-building plans, and leveraging inter-agency collaboration among R4V and United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) technical and senior leadership. 

Key achievements emerged from PSEA capacity assessment and strengthening efforts, where partnerships between the COP and four R4V Civil Society partners in Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Chile proved transformative in how these R4V key responders address SEA. These partnerships led to the development of impactful PSEA organizational measures, such as the development of policy documents, inclusion of SEA clauses in contracts, mandatory PSEA training for personnel, and systematic vetting procedures for recruitment. Partners mapped victim assistance services, ensuring survivors can access lifesaving, survivor-centred support.  

Another key achievement was the interagency SEA Risk Assessment conducted in Chile in November 2024, in collaboration with multiple UN entities and the PSEA National Committee. Engaging over 80 migrants and refugees, 28 frontline responders, and 16 representatives from various organizations, the assessment identified key vulnerabilities, risks related to operational modalities of the response, and gaps in reporting mechanisms and support systems for survivors. Collectively, these efforts strengthened PSEA frameworks and can foster safer environments for refugees and migrants. 

The COP adapted and launched the “Together We Say No” materials, creating 15 tailored pieces. The regional launch was carried out using art, in a theatre forum format, highlighting various manifestations of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) and discussing preventive measures among staff from various R4V organizations, including Regional Directors. This successful format led countries like Ecuador and Peru to replicate the event with national theatre companies.  

Lessons Learned 

In 2025, implementing strategic priorities on PSEA will be focused on including further financing and support for PSEA-specific activities and tackling inconsistent engagement across platforms and countries due to gaps in dedicated capacity. Local organizations exhibit varying levels of PSEA capacity; therefore, efforts will be concentrated in providing technical support for smaller partners to adapt their internal systems. 

A key lesson learned to enhance coordination and maximize resources for PSEA is the pooling of small funds from different partners in the COP, the Gender-Based Violence Sub-Sector, and sectors such as Shelter and Humanitarian Transportation. This collaborative funding approach supported several capacity-building programmes, enhanced technical contributions, and strengthened partnerships, learning, and synergies among R4V partners. Implementing this strategy in the coming year will be essential for further implementation of PSEAH measures and continuing response activities with safety, dignity, and integrity. 

Situation

Throughout 2024, the operational context in Latin America and the Caribbean continued to shift, driven by evolving movement dynamics, policy changes, and increased enforcement along major routes. These developments impacted how Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Communication with Communities (CwC) were integrated into the response. While there was visible progress in institutionalizing participation and feedback mechanisms in some countries, efforts to ensure consistent and meaningful engagement across the region remained uneven. Many migrants and refugees continued to face barriers in timely, accurate and actionable information. Language, digital exclusion, and limited outreach in rural and border areas contributed to persistent gaps in two-way communication. At the same time, the increasing reliance on digital platforms for both information sharing and access to services highlighted the urgency of addressing the digital divide, especially for groups such as older adults, people living with disabilities, and indigenous populations. Ensuring that communication strategies are inclusive and that feedback mechanisms are used to inform decision-making remains a key challenge and strategic priority for the region. 

Response 

In line with the RMRP 2024 priorities, the AAP/CwC Working Group focused on three key areas: (1) strengthening localized feedback systems, (2) strengthening inter-agency efforts to apply minimum AAP actions, and (3) promoting inclusive and accessible communication approaches. Throughout the year, several R4V national platforms strengthened and adapted existing community feedback mechanisms by aligning them with global technical AAP standards, while tailoring approaches to fit their specific operational contexts and community needs. In Chile, an inter-agency mission to the temporary facility in Lobitos supported the rollout of a community feedback mechanism designed to collect and respond to the opinions, questions, and suggestions of migrants and refugees, with active involvement from local authorities. The mission included a training session on feedback systems for 58 partners and civil servants, alongside direct consultations with Venezuelan migrants and refugees using the facility, ensuring the approach was context-specific and informed by community input. In Bolivia, over 300 people used established channels to share concerns and suggestions, contributing to more informed programmatic decisions. In Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, partners worked to better connect community feedback with referral pathways and service delivery, helping improve trust and responsiveness on the ground. 

In Brazil, the inter-agency U-Report Uniendo Voces continued to serve as a participatory communication tool, engaging a new group of Venezuelan youth volunteers. The platform enabled open dialogue on issues like mental health and climate change, ensuring the centrality of community perspectives in ongoing programming. 

At the regional level, the AAP/CwC Working Group collaborated closely with the Protection Sector and Communications Working Group to co-develop harmonized messaging on rights, services, and procedures. Capacity building remained a core component of the response, with briefings and joint training sessions on how to effectively integrate minimum AAP actions into programmes held for the Trinidad and Tobago and Shelter Sector partners. 

Additional exchanges were also rolled out in coordination with R4V partners and UN agencies, aiming to strengthen common approaches to accountability and reinforce community engagement practices across the regional platform. 

Lessons Learned 

In 2024, integration and mainstreaming of AAP continued to face challenges in some national responses, particularly where rapid shifts in migratory policies and operational pressures limited partners’ ability to sustain structured community engagement. In several contexts, digital and language barriers, as well as limited institutional ownership of AAP, reduced the effectiveness of feedback channels. For 2025, the AAP/CwC Working Group will focus on reinforcing coordination at country level, promoting the inclusion of AAP in preparedness and response planning, and expanding the use of context-appropriate, low-tech solutions to consolidate and expand the reach and accountability in volatile and hard-to-reach areas. 

Situation

In 2024, the spread of harmful disinformation about migrants and refugees intensified across media and social networks, directly affecting their lives and undermining the credibility of organizations working to support them. This surge in disinformation was closely linked to heightened levels of xenophobia, which hindered the integration of refugees and migrants in the 17 R4V countries, resulting in discriminatory hiring practices and significant barriers to accessing housing, as reported in the RMNA 2024. 

At the same time, refugees and migrants continued to face persistent challenges due to inconsistent and often inadequate access to reliable and timely information. False and misleading content spreads widely across social media platforms commonly used by them, leaving many vulnerable to fraudulent job offers, human trafficking, and perilous journeys. 

Migrants and refugees require accurate information to make informed decisions regarding their safety, regular status, and access to essential services. However, according to the RMNA 2024, three out of four refugees and migrants in Ecuador reported lacking the information and resources needed to navigate their journeys safely. In Colombia, 60% of migrants and refugees moving through the region indicated that they had not received the necessary information about their rights and available services. 

Together, the proliferation of disinformation and the lack of trustworthy and accessible information continue to have a profound impact on the protection, inclusion, and well-being of refugees and migrants across the region. 

Response 

In response to the challenging disinformation landscape described, the Regional Communications Working Group focused on combating xenophobia and promoting social cohesion by improving public understanding of migrants’ and refugees’ realities, emphasizing their contributions to society. 

A key achievement within the overall strategy was the digital campaign for the R4V documentary “The Journey That Never Ends”. This documentary highlighted the experiences of four refugee and migrant families in Panama, Ecuador, and Peru. Eight promotional videos and targeted social media messages achieved global reach, generating nearly 5M views, 18M impressions, and close to 190K interactions on ‘X’. On YouTube, the campaign reached nearly 652K viewers and attracted almost 400K new visitors to R4V’s profile. 

To put a human face on the experiences of migrants and refugees across the region, R4V produced 12 video stories. These stories reached over 40K people through R4V’s profiles on X and YouTube. Additionally, content missions were carried out in Ecuador and Costa Rica to support public dissemination of human-interest stories. 

The Communications Working Group strengthened awareness of R4V’s mission by developing strategies to disseminate and amplify the impact of evidence-based insights into regional needs and priorities while calling for global solidarity. These efforts included 360º communications plans, featuring media outreach, videos, social media content, key messages, newsletters, and real-time coverage of high-level events. 

The Communications Working Group also supported R4V’s sectors, national and sub-regional platforms, and the regional team in creating products to communicate key contextual, operational and strategic information and initiatives. 

Lastly, public communication messages were prepared in coordination with partners to address political and social developments impacting refugees and migrants, as well as to counter misinformation about the response. Close collaboration with the Regional AAP/CwC Working Group was key in identifying information needs, closing gaps, and supporting refugee and migrant protection in adverse contexts. 

Lessons Learned 

The greatest challenge for the Communications Working Group was effectively responding to media disinformation and false narratives about migrants and refugees spreading on social media. Tackling this issue requires stronger coordination with communications teams across the region to anticipate emergencies and counter misinformation with positive content, highlighting the contributions of refugees and migrants to host communities. 

In 2025, the Working Group will continue to develop accurate and reliable content to counteract negative narratives and highlight the challenges and contributions of migrants and refugees to host communities, ensuring that media, decision-makers, and the public are well-informed. Additionally, it is crucial to underscore the importance of the R4V response in supporting the most vulnerable populations and complementing the efforts of governments in the region. 

Situation

In 2024, gender inequalities remained a defining feature of the experience of refugees and migrants across the 17 countries of the R4V Platform. According to the RMNA 2024, women, girls, and LGBTQI+ migrants and refugees continued to face intersecting barriers that limited their access to rights, services, and opportunities for integration. Across the region, they were disproportionately affected by inadequate shelter, poor WASH conditions, and limited access to healthcare, employment, education, and protection services. 

Increasingly restrictive migratory policies and xenophobia further exacerbated these challenges, hindering social integration for these groups. Women were more likely than men to work in informal jobs and faced greater barriers due to caregiving responsibilities. In Colombia, 79% of refugee and migrant women were in informal employment, and in Brazil, only 21% of working-age migrant and refugee women had access to formal jobs, compared to 42% of men. These disparities reinforced the feminization of poverty, dependency on intimate partners, and exposure to exploitation. Indigenous people, particularly women, faced added discrimination due to language and cultural barriers. 

Overcrowded and unsafe shelter conditions exposed women, girls and LGBTQI+ individuals to heightened protection risks. They continued to experience unsafe conditions in public spaces and other daily activities like commuting to school or work. These gendered risks, compounded by xenophobia and stigma, marked the specific needs of these groups this year. 

Response 

R4V partners incorporated an intersectional gender perspective as a priority in their activities for the RMRP 2025-2026, and in the preparation of the RMNA 2024. This approach considered factors such as age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability, among others, to help bridge gender gaps and empower the most vulnerable population groups—whether those trying to reach another country, engaged in pendular movements, or at their destination. Pregnant women, female head of households, girls, adolescents, LGBTQI+ individuals, and people with disabilities have been at the centre of the RMRP response. As part of these efforts, training on the Gender and Age Marker (GAM) was conducted with partner organizations to further integrate gender, age, and diversity perspectives into R4V responses. Furthermore, the gender and age marker was a prerequisite for all R4V partners when registering activities for the RMRP 2025-2026. 

Coordination efforts with the Quito Process Gender Working Group led to a meeting on safe migration routes from a gender perspective, marking the first-time participation of women’s ministries from across the region. The ministries of Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica shared innovative approaches to tailoring responses to the needs of refugee and migrant women on the move.  

R4V partners also delivered gender-sensitive life-saving services. Shelters such as Casa de Acogida Esperanza in Uruguay, played a crucial role in supporting women migrants and refugees, including those from Venezuela. These shelters provided refuge, legal guidance, psychological and labour counselling.