UNHCR Costa Rica, June 2005 Experiences of UNHCR with Local Integration of Refugees in Costa Rica Current Opportunities in Costa Rica

Refugee population in Costa Rica 10,500 refugees in Costa Rica (2004 est.) 8,750 (>85%) Colombian nationality Major arrivals between (approx. 6,000) Urban origins, middle class, high levels of education and economically active Low possibility for Voluntary Repatriation to Colombia

Costa Rica: Asylum Seekers and Refugees (Colombian) Source: Division of Director General of Immigration and Foreigners in Costa Rica, Planning Department

Costa Rica: Cumulative Colombian refugee population, ? Source: Division of Director General of Immigration and Foreigners in Costa Rica, Planning Department

Socio-Economic Profile ~60% of Heads of Households below the poverty line 25% of Heads of Households count on incomes from spouses 12% of familias count on money sent from Colombia Limited assistance from UNHCR-ACAI Source: “Study of the Level of Local Integration of Colombian Refugee Population in Costa Rica, 2003”, UCR-UNHCR project

Socio-Economic Profile (Labor) 18% Heads of Households unemployed  6.7% official rate in Costa Rica (2003) 26% female Heads of Household unemployed 62% salaried - 38% self-employed Underemployment pronounced in professional and administrative sectors Tendency of underemployment towards transport (informal taxis) and services sectors 33% of refugees working in commercial sector

Socio-Economic Profile (Education) 43% of refugees with secondary school completed; 21% with University degrees 80% of children attend school Validation of diplomas:  33% adults processed; 9% achieved  63% adults processed, 22% achieved

Refugee Rights Labor: positive  Refugee document confers Work Permit  Limitation is lack of acceptance/recognition of identity document  “All conditions being equal, preference to be given to Costa Rican worker”, Art. 68, Constitution of the Republic Education: positive – pre-school/primary obligatory; two final years of secondary discretional Medical services positive Possibility to obtain Social Security coverage with employer contribution or direct payment (only 43% have it) Access to banking system affirmed by Constitutional Cort in 2005

UNHCR Activies ( Micro-credits) 2 1/2 years of service ( UNHCR-ACAI-FID ) $1,500 average loan amount 154 credit beneficiaries (10% nationals; 49% women) Trust Fund contains ~$80,000 active reserve (no new funds since 2003) Under-performance rate less than 14%

UNHCR Activities ( Labor Insertion ) UNHCR- Ministry of Labor Agreement: Intermediary functions between refugee and business Positive commitment of State to promote labor insertion of refugees, since end of 2003 Placements 2005: 6 direct, 9 indirect Training: business owners, refugees, labor inspectors Employment Bank: Inclusion of refugees in existing Ministry database Institutional Strengthening: Contribution of UNHCR to technical training in refugee matters

Micro-credit Impact (Family Income) Increase proportional to period after loan obtained % Monthly Income per family (in colones) Source: “Study of the Level of Local Integration of Colombian Refugee Population in Costa Rica, 2003”, UCR-UNHCR project

Micro-credit Impact (Housing) Transition towards better housing Notable interest in improving quality of family life (Human Development) Source: “Study of the Level of Local Integration of Colombian Refugee Population in Costa Rica, 2003”, UCR-UNHCR project

Opportunities “Community Houses” – Women refugees employed in child care (pilot project of Mexico Plan of Action with US funding) – integrated with national project of IMAS (“ Social Assistance Institute” ) Extend micro-credits to start-up entrerprises (training and use of professional “mentors”) Greater possibilities of obtaining credit financing from national banks Promotion of housing credits

Challenges Introduction of “Unique Document” as foreign identity document Broaden beneficiaries of micro-credits and labor insertion Facilitate the validation of academic and professional degrees Inclusion of refugees in human development plans (UN System, Government) Capture interest of International Community to finance initiatives (Mexico Plan of Action) Lack of clear policies about integration of urban refugees (both UNHCR and Government of Costa Rica) Reduce tendencies towards intolerance of refugees

Conclusions Refugee population seeking their Human Development Socio-Economic profile represents stability within national society Refugee population represents minimal economic burden on State Public image of Colombian refugee suffers from unfounded perceptions

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