Gene-Sis: Creating new opportunities for returned migrants

Creating a support system for human rights, empowerment and economic reintegration of returned migrants in El Salvador and displaced persons within the country. A participatory project - with civil society leadership - that is inclusive, effective, meaningful and sustainable. 
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El Salvador
13.704472
-89.193733
Project duration
2021 - 2023
Financed by
  • European Union EU

The project

Gene-Sis creates a support system for human rights, empowerment and economic reintegration to improve the living conditions of returned migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as well as their families in El Salvador. The project will be implemented over a period of 30 months (2021-2023) and includes five measures: Skills Assessment and Certification, Coaching and Job Placement, Creation of Businesses, Knowledge Management, and Promoting cross-sectoral alliances to advance the rights of migrants (both the returned and internally displaced). Activities include cross-cutting elements of psychosocial support and the application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

The project focuses on formulating and implementing public policies that strengthen the rights of migrants and their families. To achieve this, the project promotes the leadership and capacity of civil society by building alliances with local and sectoral public and private actors working to promote and protect the human rights of returned migrants and IDPs as well as their families. It also aims to enhance the capacity of civil society and public institutions in advocacy, formulation and implementation of public policies with a focus on strengthening the rights of returned migrants and IDPs and their families.

Through knowledge and learning management, the project increases the replicability and dissemination of the adoption of good practices, both in other countries and in wider populations living in vulnerable conditions.

The activities focus on three dimensions:

  • Individual level: the project addresses the needs of migrants and their families and promotes employment through skills certification, upskilling and reskilling, and support for entrepreneurship, among other things.
  • Social level: The project activities promote migrants' social adaptation to the new circumstances as well as their participation within the community.
  • Structural: Thanks to their acquired skills, returned persons in El Salvador promote the competitiveness of enterprises. Thus, the project not only creates income opportunities, but also contributes to the economic development of the country. In addition, the project strengthens the capacities of the institutional ecosystem, the development of public policies and the exercising of rights.

Objectives

  1. Strengthening the leadership and capacity of civil society to build alliances with local and sectoral actors (public and private) in promoting and defending the human rights of returned migrants and IDPs and their families
  2. Promoting the capacity of civil society and public institutions to formulate and implement public policies that strengthen the rights of migrants and their families
  3. Creating cross-sectoral alliances and viable tools for the economic reintegration of returned migrants and IDPs that are replicable and scalable
  4. Knowledge, communication and learning management for the adoption of best practices

Project partners

  • INSAFORP
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Labour
  • CASALCO
  • CASATUR
  • CONMIGRANTES
  • CONAMYPE
  • GMIES
  • University Universidad de Oriente
  • Fé y Alegría

Results

2022

  • 19 organisations participating in multi-sectoral alliances for the economic reintegration of returnees
  • 5 Territories in the process of adopting viable instruments for the economic reintegration of returnees
  • 747 people supported to reintegrate productively into society
  • Created preconditions for scaling the productive reintegration model at the regional level of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala
  • Formed an alliance between the public and private sectors and civil society to promote the process of recognising the skills that returnees previously acquired abroad.

News

El Salvador
Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Upskilling and Reskilling
27.09.2023
Supporting entrepreneurial dreams – the story of Juana Haydee Lazo de Brunes
In Southeastern El Salvador in municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima, a hot dog cart has become a gastronomic oasis for hundreds of local residents and tourists travelling through the city. This venture called "Los Lacitos" – meaning little ties – has changed the life of its founder Juana Haydee Lazo de Brunes in a way no one could have imagined.
El Salvador
Upskilling and Reskilling
11.09.2023
Tony's inspiring Journey from Migrant to successful local Entrepreneur
In search of a better life, many people in El Salvador venture north, selling everything for an uncertain journey. The story of Tony Joel Solís Sánchez is one of overcoming challenges and determination to forge opportunities in the region. His "American Dream" is now a "Salvadoran Dream", driven by his desire to stay, to grow his business, and to invest in his country.