IDB and USAID Announce New Finance for BetterTogether Challenge Projects

The funds will support projects that promote gender equality, entrepreneurship and educational opportunities for Venezuelan migrants and the communities that receive them.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced $2.4 million for nine new BetterTogether/JuntosEsMejor Challenge awards to benefit Venezuelans in Argentina, Chile, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

The awardees will provide critical solutions for delivering accessible education, generating employment, fostering entrepreneurship, combating gender-based violence, fostering women’s economic empowerment, and accessing vital services:

• In Argentina and Chile, Incluyeme.com will implement an initiative for social and labor inclusion of Venezuelan migrants with disabilities, facilitating access to online employability tools, career development training and local labor legislation guidance. 
• In Guyana, the National Coordinating Coalition will enhance a digital platform designed to strengthen cross-country partnerships for the successful resettlement and empowerment of Venezuelan migrants. 
• In Panama, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society will launch a multi-stakeholder program to educate and engage with men and boys about gender-based violence, targeting behavioral change to reduce risk and mitigate the impacts of violence against Venezuelan women and girls. 
• In Peru, Needslist will scale their digital platform to bridge the gap between private sector donors and the needs of vulnerable Venezuelan migrant communities, allowing humanitarian aid stakeholders to meet needs efficiently and effectively. 
• Also in Peru, Sesame Workshop will support Venezuelan children and families on the move by scaling access to a transformative, no-cost digital solution that reduces barriers to learning caused by COVID-19. 
• In Trinidad and Tobago, the Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago will establish the first after-hours, toll-free, bilingual gender-based violence hotline for Venezuelans and other survivors who need immediate support, anywhere in the country.   
• In Trinidad and Tobago, the Together WI Foundation will help Venezuelan women enter the specialized garment-production business. The women will have access to markets and employment placement, while also contributing to boosting the local economy.  
• In Venezuela, with USAID funding, two organizations will support Venezuelans providing access to vital support services and information in areas heavily impacted by the humanitarian crisis.

The BetterTogether (JuntosEsMejor) Challenge is a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to crowdsource, fund, and scale innovative solutions to support Venezuelans and communities that host them across Latin America and the Caribbean. For more information, visit JuntosEsMejorVE.org.