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2021 International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants (Canada)

GCM Objectives

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2021 - Present

Type of practice

Partnership/Multistakeholder initiative

Latest content

Country:

Canada

Regions:

Americas

Sub Regions:

North America

Summary

On June 17, 2021, Canada’s Minister of International Development hosted the 2021 International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants as a follow-up to the May 2020 Donors’ Conference co-hosted by the European Union and Spain. Participants included donors, host countries, civil society, the Red Cross, private sector, and Venezuelan refugees and migrants themselves. Private sector participation was noteworthy, both because this was the first time and because of the potential to support longer term socioeconomic integration. The Conference also included a broad range of actors and brought forward the voices of those impacted by the crisis, particularly women and girls. It also contributed to longer-term development objectives, seeking to leave no one behind in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Collaborators

Main Implementer

Government of Canada
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Other Organizations

Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with UNHCR and IOM

Partners

Host countries
Civil society
Red Cross
Private sector
Venezuelan refugees and migrants themselves

Benefit and Impact

Thirty-seven donors pledged a total of US$2.35 billion, which included US$954 million in grants and US$1.4 billion in loans to support the response to the situation. The conference included representatives of affected Latin American and Caribbean countries hosting refugees and migrants, civil society, private sector, Venezuelan refugee and migrant-led organizations, as well as refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

Grants pledged represent a 45% increase from 2020. As the third largest donor, Canada pledged an additional US$95 million over two years in humanitarian and development assistance for both inside Venezuela and the region. Six new donors joined the international community’s support for the region (Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand and Poland).

Click here for the pledges and results: https://www.international.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/international-donors-internationale-donateurs/pledges-results-engagements-resultats.aspx?lang=eng

Key Lessons

Donors’ conferences are an effective means to mobilize additional resources to respond to needs resulting from migration and displacement situations. In the months leading up to the Conference, Canada led and supported a series of events, activities and engagement, which effectively served to increase international awareness of the situation and mobilize momentum in advance of the Conference. This included high-level events with the World Bank and civil society, as well as establishing a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum. This inclusive approach has been regarded as a model for future conferences. To ensure transparency and accountability, Canada committed to putting in place a mechanism to track and report on pledges made at the 2021 Donors’ Conference.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

• Prior to a conference, organize and support a series of events, activities and engagement to increase international awareness of the issue in agenda and mobilize momentum.

• Establish a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum.

Innovation

In the months leading up to the Conference, Canada led and supported a series of events, activities and engagement, which effectively served to increase international awareness of the situation and mobilize momentum in advance of the Conference. This included high-level events with the World Bank and civil society, as well as establishing a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum. This inclusive approach has been regarded as a model for future conferences.

The Conference also sought to directly involve individuals, including Canadians, to better understand the situations. With “Get involved: #Together4Venezuelans” (https://www.international.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/international-donors-internationale-donateurs/involved-participation.aspx?lang=eng), the Conference included interactive elements: Walk with Venezuelans, a Spotify playlist of music from the region and testimonies from Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and social media hashtags, and Instagram and Facebook stickers.

Media

“I never imagined that so many people would be leaving the country” - Isbel’s testimonial

Date submitted:

02 April 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

2021 International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants (Canada)

Summary
Benefit and impact
Key lessons
Recommendations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Additional resources

GCM Objectives

Dates:

2021 - Present

Type of practice:

Partnership/Multistakeholder initiative

Latest content

Country:

Canada

Regions:

Americas

Sub Regions:

North America

Summary

On June 17, 2021, Canada’s Minister of International Development hosted the 2021 International Donors’ Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants as a follow-up to the May 2020 Donors’ Conference co-hosted by the European Union and Spain. Participants included donors, host countries, civil society, the Red Cross, private sector, and Venezuelan refugees and migrants themselves. Private sector participation was noteworthy, both because this was the first time and because of the potential to support longer term socioeconomic integration. The Conference also included a broad range of actors and brought forward the voices of those impacted by the crisis, particularly women and girls. It also contributed to longer-term development objectives, seeking to leave no one behind in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Collaborators

Main Implementer:

Government of Canada
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Other Organizations:

Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with UNHCR and IOM

Partners:

Host countries
Civil society
Red Cross
Private sector
Venezuelan refugees and migrants themselves

Benefit and Impact

Thirty-seven donors pledged a total of US$2.35 billion, which included US$954 million in grants and US$1.4 billion in loans to support the response to the situation. The conference included representatives of affected Latin American and Caribbean countries hosting refugees and migrants, civil society, private sector, Venezuelan refugee and migrant-led organizations, as well as refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

Grants pledged represent a 45% increase from 2020. As the third largest donor, Canada pledged an additional US$95 million over two years in humanitarian and development assistance for both inside Venezuela and the region. Six new donors joined the international community’s support for the region (Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand and Poland).

Click here for the pledges and results: https://www.international.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/international-donors-internationale-donateurs/pledges-results-engagements-resultats.aspx?lang=eng

Key Lessons

Donors’ conferences are an effective means to mobilize additional resources to respond to needs resulting from migration and displacement situations. In the months leading up to the Conference, Canada led and supported a series of events, activities and engagement, which effectively served to increase international awareness of the situation and mobilize momentum in advance of the Conference. This included high-level events with the World Bank and civil society, as well as establishing a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum. This inclusive approach has been regarded as a model for future conferences. To ensure transparency and accountability, Canada committed to putting in place a mechanism to track and report on pledges made at the 2021 Donors’ Conference.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

• Prior to a conference, organize and support a series of events, activities and engagement to increase international awareness of the issue in agenda and mobilize momentum.

• Establish a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum.

“I never imagined that so many people would be leaving the country” - Isbel’s testimonial

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Innovation

In the months leading up to the Conference, Canada led and supported a series of events, activities and engagement, which effectively served to increase international awareness of the situation and mobilize momentum in advance of the Conference. This included high-level events with the World Bank and civil society, as well as establishing a conference steering group with key players to guide the conference planning and mobilize momentum. This inclusive approach has been regarded as a model for future conferences.

The Conference also sought to directly involve individuals, including Canadians, to better understand the situations. With “Get involved: #Together4Venezuelans” (https://www.international.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/international-donors-internationale-donateurs/involved-participation.aspx?lang=eng), the Conference included interactive elements: Walk with Venezuelans, a Spotify playlist of music from the region and testimonies from Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and social media hashtags, and Instagram and Facebook stickers.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Date submitted:

02 April 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).