The ‘Mujeres Echando Raíces’ project will benefit Cali women and migrants in vulnerable conditions and the communities that host them.
- The ‘Mujeres Echando Raíces’ (MERA) project in Cali has a budget of 3.5 million euros for operating expenses, donations, housing financing, training in economic sustainability and community empowerment.
- Cali is the fifth city in Colombia with the most migrants: 130,070 Venezuelans, representing 4.57% of the national total and 65.32% of migrants in Valle del Cauca.
- Mayor Alejandro Eder reaffirmed his commitment to the integration and well-being of the migrant and refugee population and the Cali people who host them.
Santiago de Cali, June 26, 2024
With an investment of 3.5 million euros by the French Development Agency (AFD), the Mayor’s Office of Cali, in collaboration with the French Embassy and Expertise France, presented the Project ‘Women Putting Down Roots’ (MERA). This seeks to strengthen the protection and socioeconomic empowerment of Cali women, vulnerable migrants and the community that welcomes them in this city.
Funded by the AFD and executed by Expertise France, this important investment is intended for migrant women in vulnerable situations, with special attention to the Venezuelan population, who due to the difficult socioeconomic and political situation in their country have crossed borders in search of new opportunities. These same cooperating agents make a similar investment in the city of Quito (Ecuador).
The objectives for Cali include promoting access to safe housing, socioeconomic inclusion and the prevention of gender-based violence, especially in the Aguablanca District. A significant part of these resources (approximately 2,000 million pesos), will be used to provide furniture and equipment to Mother House in the east of the city, part of the care ecosystem ‘Watch over you’ in Commune 15.
The French ambassador to Colombia, Fréderic Doré, highlighted that the project supports not only the Venezuelan migrant population, but also the local host communities, promoting entrepreneurship, access to housing and the fight against gender violence.
“This is great news for our city. For our administration, it is a priority to empower Cali women and Venezuelan migrants in complex conditions. We thank the Government of France for this support, which will allow a better integration of them in Cali. “This cooperation agreement is part of the international strategy that seeks to connect the city with the world to attract projects and resources.”argued Mayor Alejandro Eder.
During the launch of MERA were made three panels that addressed the lines of action of the project, focused on women from Cali and Venezuelan migrants in vulnerable conditions: access to decent and safe housing; socioeconomic inclusion and autonomy; and empowerment of women for a life free of violence and with access to sexual and reproductive health. The district secretaries of Housing, Economic Development and Social Welfare, respectively, María del Mar Mozo, Edwin Maldonado and María Isabel Barón, participated in these spaces, along with experts and civil organizations.
After the exchange of experiences, good practices and lessons learned from the local government, civil society and women, a dialogue began that will be maintained during the execution of the project. ‘Women Putting Down Roots’with a view to strengthening joint work, generating synergies and achieving better results.
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Communications Office
Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali
