CASE STUDY: Fostering Stronger Communities: From Emergency Needs to Long-term Inclusion

Estrella is a Venezuelan migrant living in Manta, Ecuador. She struggled to escape an abusive situation, insecurity and a lack of basic necessities. She cares for four children, including her nephew. Manta is still recovering from the devastation caused by the 2016 earthquake, but it has a thriving tourism industry and hosts lots of new arrivals to Ecuador. Estrella wants to have her own restaurant and bakery, but doesn't make enough on her current income to even pay for her family's rent.

Image

The provincial and municipal governments of Manabí and Manta have joined forces with internal and external stakeholders through projects like M4SD to move people from aid dependence to sustainable livelihoods. How do local governments support community members to provide for their basic needs and move towards empowerment and self-sufficiency? How can we collectively empower migrants and displaced people, youth, women-headed households and local community members to access better opportunities? How might other communities take these practices and do the same?

Read the new case study to find out how communities can develop inclusive employment solutions. The case study gives 4 tips that we learned from putting this approach into practice, including: Connecting emergency and non-emergency services, providing multiple options for accessing services, making services fully accessible, and addressing systemic and institutional barriers to empowerment.

These activities are supported by the IOM-UNDP Global Joint Programme Making Migration Work for Sustainable Development (M4SD) which supports Ecuadorian local and national governments, the private sector and community organizations to establish community-led solutions that empower migrants, refugees and displaced people and create inclusive opportunities for all. Learn more about our work in Manta and Ecuador.