📋 Tender Overview
Following the earthquakes in Venezuela, Switzerland is supporting a programme implemented by Caritas Venezuela that provides multipurpose cash transfers to displaced families and their host families in La Guaira to help them meet their basic needs. Beyond addressing urgent humanitarian needs, the project will generate operational learning to support the wider use of cash assistance in future post disaster responses in Venezuela.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Venezuela
Emergency Relief and Protection
Emergency food assistance
Emergency rehabilitation
Material relief assistance
01.08.2026 - 31.01.2027
CHF 240’000
The project in brief
Background La Guaira is among the areas most affected by the 24 June 2026 earthquakes, which caused extensive damage to housing, public infrastructure, basic services, and livelihoods across north-central Venezuela. The humanitarian impact is exacerbated by the state's high exposure to natural hazards, dense urban settlements on coastal and hillside areas, structurally vulnerable housing, and pre-existing economic constraints. Many households were already facing irregular incomes, high food prices, and limited access to essential services before the disaster. The earthquakes displaced families, forcing many to rely on relatives and host households for shelter and support. This has increased household sizes and placed additional pressure on food, water, hygiene, healthcare, transport, and other essential needs. Both displaced and host families face reduced coping capacity and an increased risk of adopting negative coping strategies, including reducing food consumption, delaying healthcare, or selling productive assets. These factors have heightened food insecurity, strained community support networks, and increased humanitarian needs across the affected population.
Objectives Contribute to the early recovery of earthquake-affected families and host households in Venezuela through timely cash assistance.
Target groups Direct beneficiaries: 2’800 recipients of cash assistance (350 displaced families and 350 host families) in La Guaira. Indirect beneficiaries: Market actors such as suppliers of food and essential goods, and local businesses.
Medium-term outcomes Earthquake-affected displaced families and their host households in La Guaira are able to meet their basic needs, maintain their dignity and avoid negative coping strategies during a critical three-month recovery period in the aftermath of the disaster.
