Attachments
This document serves as a mid-term report of NORCAP CashCap’s Route-Based Programming deployment in Latin America and the Caribbean, exploring the fundamental question: How might we design humanitarian interventions that effectively address the critical needs of mobile populations, and mitigate protection risks within the constraints of different migratory routes?
While this report presents preliminary findings and discussions focused on a preselected migration route in northern Central America, the broader aim is to replicate and adapt this work to other migration contexts.
As global migration continues to surge, with over 281 million international migrants globally according to the latest UN figures (IOM World Migration Report, May 2024), the complexity and diversity of migrant needs intensify, particularly for those in transit. Traditional humanitarian models, often siloed within national borders, fail to effectively address the continuous vulnerabilities that migrants are all too often exposed to on their journeys, including challenges and dangers such as human rights abuses, violence, extortion, and other life-threatening situations.
ROUTE-BASED PROGRAMMING represents a paradigm shift in humanitarian response, aiming to align assistance with the actual migration routes rather than being constrained by international borders.
This approach seeks to break from traditional country-centric response models, aiming to address the dynamic and evolving needs of migrants throughout their cross-border journeys. Although innovative, route-based programming can leverage years of experience and expertise in humanitarian assistance along migration corridors from specialized agencies such as IOM and UNHCR. Notably, as of 2024, the UN Network on Migration is exploring strategies to advance a route-based approach, tying it to the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration.
To support efforts in exploring the feasibility of route-based programming in LAC, CashCap (NORCAP) and its partner organizations in the region initiated discussions about a regional deployment. From May to September 2023, the Terms of Reference were collaboratively developed and endorsed by the regional directors of four requesting agencies: the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and Save the Children. This deployment is facilitated by CashCap and hosted by the IOM. More information can be found here.