projects

E-commerce skills to support livelihoods

Completed
A woman stands in front of some woven bags.
Argenia Centeno, an Indigenous artisan displaced from Venezuela to Brazil, was one of 19 project participants.
Photos: UNHCR Brazil
Programme
UNHCR Innovation Incubator
Fund
Digital Innovation Fund | Incubator
Start Date
Total Project Cost
USD 41,124.000
Country
Brazil
Project Team
Serviço Jesuíta a Migrantes e Refugiados , UNHCR Brazil

Challenge

Indigenous people from the Warao, Taurepang, E’ñepá and Kamarakoto communities displaced from Venezuela produce handcrafted items to generate income, but these refugee artisans – mostly women – have difficulty selling their products due to the limited market and cost barriers to acquiring a physical space.

Solution

UNHCR together with Serviço Jesuíta a Migrantes e Refugiados will engage 20 existing and early-stage businesses led by displaced Indigenous people, providing training on using online marketplaces and managing digital risks. 

Impact

Increased livelihood opportunities in digital marketplaces with the scale-up of existing businesses of displaced Indigenous people, as well as the development of handbooks and methodologies to guide similar projects in other UNHCR operations. The initiative will indirectly benefit around 150 people.

Project impact

1
training course codesigned on digital communication, financial literacy & digital safety
19
Indigenous artisans (mostly women) trained in digital communication & business skills
19
small businesses develop a lasting online presence

Other information

For more information on this project, read our webstory and watch the video below.