Project profile — Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) – Venezuelan migration in Ecuador

• Ecuador (100.00%)

• Government And Civil Society, General: Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility (15190) (100.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project supports the Government of Ecuador in the socio-economic integration of Venezuelan refugees and migrants and host communities, especially women and girls. The aim is to strengthen the government’s capacity to manage and mitigate internal shocks caused by the influx of Venezuelan refugees and migrants and regularize their status. The Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) is a financing mechanism that leverages donor grant funding to provide middle-income countries with low-cost loans to support migration responses. Supporting donor countries (nine donor countries) provide funds to the GCFF, with the World Bank acting as Trustee. As a supporting donor, Canada is a member of the Steering Committee for this financing mechanism. As with all pooled-fund projects, Canada is working in close cooperation with other donors and the Government of Ecuador to promote effective, transparent, and accountable country systems; increase donor coordination and harmonization; and strengthen mutual accountability. This project also fosters greater policy dialogue among donors, government, and partners, which helps to strengthen efforts for effective, focussed aid, and long-term development results. This project is continuously monitored and evaluated in coordination with other donors.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved socio-economic conditions and inclusion for Venezuelan refugees and migrants and host communities, especially for women and girls, in Ecuador; (2) increased ability of the Ecuadorian government to better manage and mitigate internal shocks caused by the Venezuelan refugee and migrant influx; and (3) enhanced international burden sharing, partnerships and coordination of the international response to the Venezuelan displacement crisis in Ecuador.

Results achieved as of July 2024 include: (1) supported the Government of Ecuador in implementing Decree No. 698 (2023), allowing migrants of all nationalities, not only Venezuelans, who entered Ecuador legally, to regularize their status; (2) helped the Government of Ecuador in enacting Decree No. 753 (2023), allowing Venezuelans who entered the country irregularly to regularize their status; and (3) supported the regularization process in Ecuador, which in 2023 issued 201,708 migrants with a temporary residence certificate, lodged 126,934 visa applications, granted 87,585 visas, and delivered 72,043 ID cards.

• Proactive disclosure