© UNHCR
OTTAWA — In a significant move to bolster Ecuador’s efforts in safeguarding vulnerable populations, Canada has announced a new funding initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to provide international protection and support for refugees.
In October 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new investment of $75 million over six years to provide more effective means to support origin, transit and destination countries in the Americas to better respond to and manage the increased irregular migration and forced displacement, and to support Canada’s commitment to regional challenges.
Ecuador has been at the centre of multiple and often overlapping population displacements over the past decades. Its geographical position provides for mixed and often complex population movements heading both north and south. Both a transit and destination country, Ecuador is home to one of the highest number of recognized refugees in the region, hosting a historical figure of over 76,000 people. These include Colombians and Venezuelans, among others.
The IRCC-funded project, which started in November 2023, has enabled the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Ecuador to enhance its collaboration with the Government, ensuring equitable access to rights and upholding Ecuador’s rich tradition of asylum.
This initiative focuses on refining the processes of registration and regularization, bolstering socioeconomic inclusion, facilitating access to formal employment, healthcare, and other vital services for those in need. This endeavor not only aims to improve humanitarian assistance but also aligns with stringent safety and security standards.
The importance of regularization extends beyond immediate relief; it empowers refugees and other forcibly displaced people to actively participate in and contribute to the economic and social landscape of their host communities. Since 2022, the combined efforts of the Governments of Canada and Ecuador, UNHCR, and their partners have successfully integrated over 92,000 individuals into the regularization framework, granting them the ability to utilize essential services and seize new opportunities.
This financial backing, amounting to almost CAD$2 million, will further reinforce the enduring partnership between UNHCR and Ecuador’s Refugee Status Determination (RSD) system. The goal is to foster an environment where displaced people can fully exercise their rights and address their unique needs. Key areas of focus include the enhancement of institutional capabilities, access to legal documentation, legal assistance, and the refinement of RSD system procedures.
Through this project, Canada and UNHCR are committed to supporting Ecuador’s asylum infrastructure, and promoting a consistent and autonomous application of international protection standards and humanitarian principles. Moreover, this project helps advance key initiatives to promote the integration of forcibly displaced people in Ecuador, including those engaging the private and public sectors to enhance access to processes that formalize small businesses, recognizing professional titles and facilitating access to formal labour opportunities, among others.
For media inquiries, please contact:
- In Ottawa, Canada, Levon Sevunts, sevunts@unhcr.org
- In Quito, Ecuador, Diana Diaz Rodriguez, diazdi@unhcr.org
