29-05-2025 | di COOPI

Venezuela. COOPI leads a coordinated, multisectoral humanitarian response

Since June 2024, COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale has been leading a humanitarian project in Venezuela funded by the European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and called Integrated response to the emergency needs of the most vulnerable populations in Venezuela. Implemented in partnership with HIAS and Visión Mujer, the initiative focuses on addressing urgent protection needs across the states of Bolívar, Delta Amacuro, and Sucre. In a context of growing vulnerability and deepening underfunding, the project offers a multisectoral response that integrates mental health, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, and community-based protection services.

The intervention operates within the framework of CONAHVE, a national humanitarian consortium composed of 16 organizations, both national and international, coordinated by COOPI. The consortium aims to build a common strategy for humanitarian assistance in Venezuela, grounded in shared tools, principles, and localized action.

Coordination that makes a difference in crisis settings

In a country where humanitarian needs continue to escalate, COOPI's leadership within CONAHVE has been essential not only to the project's direct implementation but also to the consolidation of a functional and inclusive coordination platform. The consortium provides a space for joint planning, technical harmonization, and unified decision-making that strengthens the national humanitarian response architecture.

In Bolívar, the operationalization of a local inter-agency coordination table has brought together civil society actors, local authorities, and community networks. This has allowed for more agile and informed decision-making, with COOPI ensuring that both institutional and grassroots perspectives shape the response.

The result is a protection strategy with territorial complementarity. In Caroní municipality, for instance, COOPI coordinates specialized psychosocial care for GBV survivors, while Visión Mujer promotes community-based prevention mechanisms and safe spaces, and HIAS contributes legal support and mental health services for groups such as children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities. These actions are not isolated; they are synchronized to address the erosion of protection routes and services, especially in areas where access is limited.

Empowering communities, building trust

From the start, the project has prioritized participation and local ownership. Through workshops, trainings, and community dialogues, CONAHVE members have worked to restore trust in protection systems and services. In Delta Amacuro and Sucre, joint efforts between COOPI and local actors have allowed the mapping of urgent needs while simultaneously reinforcing the role of women leaders, health promoters, and protection volunteers in their own communities. One community member who took part in the psychosocial support sessions shared:

I never thought telling my story would help others. But now I see how our voices matter, and that’s something I’ll carry with me"

One of the most emblematic community activities was the creation of the mural “Weaving Support Networks”, painted by women in San Félix as part of International Women’s Day. More than just a piece of public art, the mural represents a space of emotional expression and shared memory. It was the result of a process in which women were invited to reflect on their experiences and collectively reclaim their visibility, strength, and voice in the community.

For COOPI, cultural and artistic expressions such as these are vital tools in the humanitarian field. They not only strengthen local identities but also help to break silences around violence and inequality. Community engagement activities like this also support psychosocial recovery by creating safe, affirming spaces where collective resilience is built.

Sharing tools for a sustainable response

Beyond fieldwork, the project also invests in systems-building. Under COOPI’s coordination, CONAHVE partners have developed shared case management tools, harmonized referral pathways, and updated protocols for safe and ethical GBV response. These tools are already being used by multiple actors in the field and are helping to build a more consistent, survivor-centered approach across different states.

To ensure institutionalization and sustainability, technical exchanges are promoted between organizations and with public sector counterparts. These include protection roundtables and inter-agency learning events, where good practices are documented and shared. In this way, the impact of the project extends beyond its direct beneficiaries and contributes to the strengthening of the broader humanitarian ecosystem in Venezuela.

COOPI has been active in Venezuela since 2019. It coordinates the national protection consortium CONAHVE and works in sectors including protection, WASH, health, livelihoods and disaster preparedness. From a community-centered perspective, COOPI promotes intersectoral responses and inclusive, sustainable humanitarian action. Its work is guided by humanitarian principles and the belief that no one should be left behind.