localization labs
Venezuela Localisation Lab
Overview
A mapping and profile of grassroots organizations in the states of Guárico and Zulia promoted a movement of localization. This movement base developed exchanges among them.
As a sub-activity, a database was generated with key information about the organizations, including their capacities, through a survey and interviews reflected in the document, “Mapping of FUDEP Organizations,” where relevant information is collected from each of the organizations in the states of Zulia and Guárico that expressed the desire to form the NEAR Venezuela movement.
The first online informational meeting about the movement with the organizations in each state was held in March 2024. There are 10 grassroot organizations in the LAB network.
Maritza Copete
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01
Movement Building
Movement Building
Based on the mapping of organizations, an Advocacy Plan was organized, which included convening the Colombia-Venezuela Binational Meeting of NEAR Organizations. This meeting was an opportunity to bring together the program’s organizations with representatives of the United Nations humanitarian system in Venezuela, and due to the event’s relocation to Bogota, they were also able to exchange with organizations from Colombia.
Likewise, FUDEP representatives from the states of Guárico and Zulia had the opportunity to attend, in person, the Binational Workshop Venezuela-Colombia NEAR May 14 to 17 in Bogota to exchange experiences with NEAR members from Colombia regarding localization initiatives in each country as well as with organizations working on Localization in Colombia. It was a propitious space to highlight the importance of coordination, task planning, and building strategic alliances.
Another scheduled event was the “II Binational Meeting of Organizations of the NEAR Colombia and Venezuela network.” The political electoral context in Venezuela (presidential elections on July 28) was the reason for changing the city (Caracas) and date (August 12) of this activity. Therefore, it was held in Bogota from August 19 to 21 with the Venezuelan attendance of representatives of FUDEP, a representative of a NEAR Venezuela organization from the state of Zulia (Fundación Alitasia), and the Venezuelan Association of Christian Oriented Health Services, AVESOOC.
02
Building Bridges
Bridges
Within the framework of the local Labs, an Advocacy Plan for the year 2025 was formulated, which will be followed up by FUDEP. This plan was validated in the last training sessions by both Guárico and Zulia state organizations.
One of the main activities developed for the “building of bridges” with international and national humanitarian aid organizations and the exchange of information on the topic of Localization was the attendance to the event “I Localization Retreat” from May 20 to 21 at the UNHCR headquarters in Caracas. The Localization Working Group Venezuela made this invitation to define the common objectives of a localization agenda in the country and create a proposal of associated indicators that would allow the monitoring of progress and the definition of the first elements of a work plan.
03
Solutions
Solutions
Thanks to the mapping of the organizations participating in the project, it was possible to evaluate the priority needs for capacity building in humanitarian projects. Based on the findings, a training plan was developed during the project period to respond to the requirements raised by their representatives.
The training began with the topic: “Tools for the formulation of projects and search for resources / Advocacy Plan (where we are going),” in which key information was shared for the planning, drafting, and execution of projects, as well as the following activities to be carried out during 2025. The activity was developed actively with the participants’ intervention, who provided examples of their experiences and the experiences of each organization.
04
Learning
Learning
The “Localization and Sustainable Development Forum” was held on October 31, 2025, in Altagracia de Orituco, Guárico state, as a space for exchange among various civil society actors and local communities. Two or more members of the following NEAR Guárico member organizations attended the meeting: Centro Profesional Dr. Miguel Gutiérrez, Fundacapral, Movi Enlaces Monagas, Fundación Dr. Pedro María Arévalo Cedeño, Asociación Civil Fundasolez.