Please join us for a hybrid event in partnership with the Wilson Center's Latin American Program on advancing Venezuelan refugee integration in the Americas. This event will feature Ivan Duque Marquez, President of the Republic of Colombia, and Guillermo Lasso, President of the Republic of Ecuador. 

In partnership with: 

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Background: 

The event, “A Path to Self-Sufficiency: Advancing Venezuelan Refugee Integration in the Americas,” will focus on the critical need for successful integration of Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, and the rest of the region. The discussion will address some of the ongoing implementation challenges, barriers that limit integration, and the critical roles that the public and private sectors can play in delivering solutions and ensuring the success of these bold government initiatives. Speakers will emphasize opportunities and challenges for refugee employment and entrepreneurship, both vital paths to economic self-sufficiency.

Please register at the Wilson Center's website here. 

Featuring: 

• Ivan Duque Marquez, President of the Republic of Colombia 

• Guillermo Lasso, President of the Republic of Ecuador 

Panelists: 

• Lucas Gomez, Advisor to the President on the Colombia-Venezuela Border

• Silvia Espindola, Vice Foreign Minister for Human Mobility, Ecuador

• Eduardo Stein, Joint Special Rep for Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, UNHCR-IOM and Former vice-president of the Republic of Guatemala

• Marcela Escobari, Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Latin America and Caribbean, USAID

• Julieta Noyes, Assistant Secretary, State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration

• Paola Buendia, Executive Vice President, National Business Association Columbia

• Danny Bahar, Associate Professor of Practice, Brown University

• Tim Docking, CEO, Refugee Investment Network