Currently, around 250 million people in the world are international migrants, constituting around 3.4% of the world population.
Guatemala and the Central American region, as countries of emigration, are important territories for approaching and investigating the migratory phenomenon and migrants. For many Central Americans migration remains the only and last option to achieve a dignified life.
The support of different organisations is essential to face the adverse conditions that the migratory trajectory presents for these people, as well as to empower them, organise and participate in the fulfilment of their human rights, among which there is the right to migrate.
A strategy and programs that seek to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable populations entail a focused analysis for each territory, with specific policies and instruments that promote sustainable alternatives that recognise the migratory reality and enhance its positive effects on places of origin and destination while mitigating its negative consequences.
In the territories of origin, the importance of capacity building for leaders and communities is clear, since it aims to put them in the condition to identify situations of risk and/or vulnerabilities, within their territories, linked to the migratory phenomenon. Self-management by communities and working in partnership with government and civil society organisations is important and key to achieving results and responding to possible crises.
The project “Fostering capacity-building activities in livelihoods, legal protection and health and psychological assistance for migrants in Central America” has been promoted by three partner organisations to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations in territories with high migration rates in four Central American countries, as well as to provide greater protection for the migrant population in transit.
The project, implemented by Acción contra el Hambre, Médicos del Mundo and WeWorld-GVC, aims to contribute to strengthening the capacities of European NGOs and Central American entities to provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations affected by the region’s migration crisis.
The COMMUNITY PROTECTION APPROACH (CPA) is a methodology of participation and empowerment of a community to design and monitor Integrated Protection Programs, which are understood as any program to respond to a protection problem through multi-sector humanitarian action.
The experience of WeWorld-GVC has shown that the CPA methodology increases the capacities of communities to face their risks, and of individuals to make informed decisions about their safety, organise resources and efforts to reduce their exposure to risks, as well as to develop local strategies to improve protection against the obstacles to a dignified and safe life.
Read the full report (in Spanish)* to know more: Migración y Desarrollo. Metodologías y enfoques para abordaje (corto)
Migración y Desarrollo. Metodologías y Enfoques para abordaje (largo)
*An English translation of the report will be provided soon.
If you are interested in knowing more about the CPA, please check the different sections of our website or contact us at cpa@gvc.weworld.it
