Leveraging academic expertise for migrant protection in Ecuador and Peruu

This Lives in Dignity Grant Facility-funded academic-NGO partnership project (August 2022 - July 2024) in Ecuador and Peru, implemented by ChildFund International, Instituto De Democracia Y Derechos Humanos PUCP, Universidad Del Azuay, UNESCO Perú, and We World ONLUS, addressed the complex challenges facing displaced Venezuelans who struggle with poverty, limited access to work, social security, healthcare, and education, while being vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination, and human trafficking. The initiative pioneered a unique approach by leveraging university-affiliated research teams to conduct collaborative cross-country qualitative research that explored barriers to migrants' socio-economic inclusion, particularly in education and decent work, as well as trafficking dynamics, focusing on local-level public policy implementation challenges and opportunities. Key achievements included developing advocacy strategies targeting authorities, creating training and capacity-building programs based on research findings, engaging authorities in focus groups about improvement opportunities, presenting findings at regional migration roundtables, publishing peer-reviewed research in both countries, and facilitating direct connections between migrant organizations and authorities. The project's strength lay in its complementary partnership model that allowed NGOs to contribute practical experience and local connections while universities provided academic rigor and methodological expertise, creating multiple pathways for impact by transforming academic findings into accessible formats for advocacy and demonstrating that engaging authorities directly through research discussions can activate officials' capacities for human rights protection.