Intergovernmental Processes and Civil Society Liaison

The Intergovernmental Processes and Civil Society Liaison Unit promotes the follow-up and implementation of the Plan of Action of the Quito Process and the Declarations and roadmap approved by the countries participating in this process. It liaises with regional intergovernmental organisations such as Mercosur and the Andean Community (CAN). It also coordinates visibility and collaboration with civil society organisations.

The Quito Process was established to promote dialogue and a coordinated response between countries in the LAC region to address the increase of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. The joint technical forum was initiated by Ecuador in September 2018 and its participating countries have continued to meet regularly since its first meeting in Quito. The Quito Process consists of 14 member countries as well as the Group of Friends. The joint technical forum for government representatives enables exchange of information and discussion of a regional strategy to the human mobility from Venezuela. 

Together with UNHCR and in coordination with the Pro Tempore Presidency, IOM co-leads the Technical Secretariat of the Quito Process.   

The Quito Process

The objective of the Quito Process is to provide a joint technical forum for government representatives from the Latin American and Caribbean region to exchange information and discuss a regional strategy linked to human mobility from Venezuela. The first meeting was held in Quito in September 2018, where 13 countries participated under the leadership of the Government of Ecuador. At the end of the meeting, a declaration was signed by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay
 
Following the initial meeting in Ecuador, the countries of the region have continued to meet periodically to follow up on the action plans and thematic areas of the Quito Process agenda. The leadership of the Pro Tempore Presidency rotates among the countries,following the Seventh Joint Declaration in May 2021, Brazil assumed the role of PPT from Peru. The next Technical Meeting is scheduled for May 20221. 

Together with UNHCR and in coordination with the Pro Tempore Presidency, IOM co-leads the Technical Secretariat of the Quito Process.   
IOM and UNHCR also support the Group of Friends, a entity that was established during the Sixth Technical Meeting in 2020. The Group of Friends includes Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).