Nuevas Oportunidades: productive reintegration of returned migrants

The New Opportunities project addresses one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in Central America. In 2018, for example, 195,790 migrants from the Northern Triangle countries of Central America (NTCA) were forced to return to their countries of origin, which represented an increase of 38.5% compared to 2017. With a stricter policy of the United States government on illegal migration and the termination of temporary protected status, it is expected that this trend will increase in the coming years. The project is for the economic reintegration of returned migrants in Guatemala and El Salvador so they can certify the skills they acquired in the United States or Mexico and get a job or develop their own business. The project is composed of three main parts: certification, employability, and promotion of self-employment and entrepreneurship in places where there is a supporting ecosystem that includes institutional actors, mayors, universities, and private companies. 
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Departamento de Guatemala, Guatemala
14.5649401
-90.52578229999999
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Departamento de Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
14.792433
-91.714958
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Departamento de San Miguel, El Salvador 
13.4451041
-88.24611829999999
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Departamento de Usulutan, El Salvador 
13.4470634
-88.55653099999999
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Departamento de La Paz, El Salvador
13.495364
-88.9796776
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Departamento de San Salvador, El Salvador
13.7739997
-89.20867729999999
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Departamento de Santa Ana, El Salvador
14.1461121
-89.5120084
Project duration
2018 - 2024

The project

Migrants who are forced to return to their countries of origin face various difficulties and are often excluded from the social and economic system. And although the vast majority of them do not have a criminal record, the deportees are generally perceived as criminals by their compatriots and have difficulty accessing the labour market. However, these are skilled workers with practical experience and are a great asset to the labour market that also responds to the private sector demands for experienced workers in growing economic sectors such as construction and tourism.

The project focuses on the productive reintegration of returned migrants by certifying their knowledge and skills acquired abroad in the construction and tourism sectors, reinforcing existing services (job placement, development of entrepreneurial skills), and facilitating access to the labour market or the creation of their own businesses. It works through four components, geared to achieve economic and social reintegration: evaluation and certification of skills, coaching and job placement, creation of enterprises, knowledge management, and it also facilitates intersectoral alliances.

Certification of the skills of returnees is an effective way of responding to the demand for skilled workers in the construction and tourism sectors. Not only does it create income opportunities for returnees, but the existing services are also reinforced (job placement, development of entrepreneurial skills).

On the other hand, given that returned migrants do not have access to financial instruments, the project seeks the participation of diaspora organisations to support returned migrants in the creation of their own businesses. 

Project partners

in El Salvador:

  • INSAFORP
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador
  • Ministry of Labor of El Salvador and Guatemala
  • Chambers of tourism, industry and construction
  • CONMIGRANTS in El Salvador
  • CONAMYPE
  • FE Y ALEGRIA
  • University of the East (UNIVO)

in Guatemala:

  • Guatemalan Chamber of Construction
  • Intercap
  • Municipality of Coatepeque
  • Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare

Expected Results

  • 118 new jobs created by returned migrants in their enterprises
  • 610 returned migrants increase their income
  • US$5.8 million increase in revenues
  • 18 returned migrants with fast-track enterprises
  • 130 returned migrants with existing businesses they have created
  • 518 returned migrants inserted in the labour market in an occupation related to their area of certification

Financing partners

This project is financed by the Medicor Foundation, Green Leaves Education Foundation, and Däster-Schild Foundation, among other donors. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.  

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The large number of Guatemalan and Salvadoran migrants who have returned to their home country in recent years poses significant challenges for their sustainable reintegration, especially in terms of finding employment. Swisscontact has been successful in assisting the reintegration process of migrants since 2016, as demonstrated by the case study "Supporting returnees’ employment in Guatemala" where the New Opportunities project takes centre stage.

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