Settlement, WASH, and Non-Food Assistance for Venezuelan Migrants in Brazil (SWAN) Semi-Annual Report

Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and implemented by the Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA). The program aims to provide new socioeconomic opportunities for Venezuelans in Brazil. Initially, the project was planned to be active in six Brazilian states, but networking with the private and public sector resulted in job opportunities in the states of Mato Grosso and Santa Catarina, extending the project to these regions. During the reporting period from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, a total of 9,813 people benefited from SWAN's activities, and 15,490 people have been reached since the program started. The project has reached more people than expected, but the period from October to March brought challenges and transformations, leading to innovative solutions such as transit housing for interiorized beneficiaries and WhatsApp groups to provide support to interiorized women. SWAN's most significant achievement was connecting 223 individuals with job opportunities, resulting in the interiorization of 304 households (847 individuals). ADRA noted that beneficiaries have had notable successes, such as promotions and recognition for their professionalism. SWAN has been positively recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the State Government of Minas Gerais, and other entities and civil society organizations in all the regions where the project is present. ADRA's recognized best practices include providing a "full package" of benefits to interiorized households, social support and follow-up visits to beneficiaries, special attention when looking for job opportunities, provision of bus passes, and seeking to include beneficiaries in the social protection network through local public policies. ADRA adjusted its interiorization targets to reflect the actual average household size of 3, which is smaller than initially expected. ADRA conducted SWAN registration by dividing beneficiaries into three groups and implemented activities such as WASH trainings, delivery of e-vouchers, guidance on how to use benefits, social support visits, and interiorization process. With the arrival of COVID-19, ADRA adapted SWAN's hygiene promotion strategies to ensure the safety of its beneficiaries, staff, and volunteers. ADRA utilized WhatsApp to provide WASH messages and adapted the interiorization process to include supplementary steps to check for COVID-19 symptoms. Since the beginning of the project, 369 households were interiorized from Roraima to other Brazilian states, 443 individuals found new employment, 13,569 people received WASH assistance through e-cards, and 15,490 received direct hygiene promotion through WASH sessions. The project's sectors include Economic Recovery and Market Systems, Logistics Support, Shelter and Settlements, and WASH, which were strategically selected to help Venezuelan migrants achieve economic autonomy and social acclimation. The project's objectives include resettling and acclimating 1,440 vulnerable Venezuelans through interiorization in coordination with the Brazilian Air Force in their Operação Acolhida. SWAN applies lessons learned and strategies from a preceding OFDA/ADRA project, while incorporating elements that address recent changes in sentiment and attitude among the vulnerable population and recent opportunities created by the Government of Brazil and the private sector. ADRA's objective in the Economic Recovery and Market Systems sector is to provide employment opportunities for Venezuelan migrants through job placement and vocational training. The Logistics Support sector provides transportation and last-mile settlement and orientation assistance to beneficiaries. The Shelter and Settlements sector provides shelter and settlement assistance to beneficiaries, while the WASH sector provides WASH assistance to beneficiaries through e-vouchers and WASH trainings. The project's scope of activities spans through four OFDA sectors, which were strategically selected to help Venezuelan migrants achieve economic autonomy and social acclimation. The project's sectors are designed to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of Venezuelan migrants in Brazil.