Project profile — Venezuelan Health Professionals Strengthen Peru’s Health System

This project aims to increase the economic independence of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, particularly women with professional qualifications in Peru's health sector. Project activities include: (1) facilitating the degree revalidation processes; (2) supporting skills upgrading of revalidated professionals by providing access to online education; (3) promoting certified Venezuelan professionals’ recruitment by employers in the health and other sectors; and (4) assisting professionals in gaining experience in the local job market by subsidized, short-term placements with local health facilities, health service providers, and other organizations in the public and private sectors. The project targets at least 2,500 Venezuelan professionals (50% women) in the health sector including at least 600 professionals in other sectors. It aims to focus primarily on Lima, a concentrated area in Peru with 85% of the Venezuelan population, other regions with refugee and migrant populations, and where they are most needed.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved professional qualifications of Venezuelan refugee and migrant health professionals, particularly women, recognized by Peru's health and other sectors; (2) increased equitable, decent, and formal employment opportunities for qualified Venezuelan refugees and migrants, particularly for women; and (3) increased acceptance of Venezuelan refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, particularly women, in the Peruvian host society.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) supported 275 Venezuelan refugees and migrants (77% women) to become certified health professionals in Peru. It does so by revalidating their degree with the National superintendence of higher education or registering with the relevant Professional Board; (2) 209 Venezuelan refugee and migrant health professionals (80% women) received a job placement aligned with their educational credentials and experience in 7 private and 1 public health centre; (3) improved professional qualifications recognized by Peru’s health sector by increasing equitable, decent, and formal employment opportunities for qualified Venezuelan refugees and migrants, particularly women; and (4) increased independence and empowerment of Venezuelan refugees and migrants with professional qualifications in Peru’s health sector, particularly women.