WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced $2.4 million in funding for initiatives aimed at supporting Venezuelan migrants and addressing gender-based violence, one day before former President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2021.
The funding, awarded under the BetterTogether/JuntosEsMejor Challenge, supported projects in Argentina, Chile, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. The initiatives focused on employment, education, entrepreneurship, and combating gender-based violence.
Among the recipients, Incluyeme.com worked on social and labor inclusion for Venezuelan migrants with disabilities in Argentina and Chile. In Guyana, the National Coordinating Coalition strengthened digital platforms to aid Venezuelan migrant resettlement. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in Panama launched a program to engage men and boys in reducing gender-based violence.
In Peru, Sesame Workshop expanded digital learning access for Venezuelan children affected by COVID-19, while Needslist matched private-sector donations with community needs. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Rape Crisis Society established a bilingual, toll-free hotline for survivors of gender-based violence, and the Together WI Foundation helped Venezuelan women enter the garment-production industry. Two Venezuela-based organizations received funding to provide critical services in the country.
The aid program was part of a broader initiative to address the humanitarian crisis affecting Venezuelans across Latin America and the Caribbean.