Financial Inclusion Program for Latin American Migrant and Returnee Microentrepreneurs

Our Work

For over 40 years, IDEAS has addressed economic challenges in Latin America by supporting microentrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, strengthening microfinance institutions to expand financial access, and empowering communities to build sustainable futures through cooperative efforts. At IDEAS, we empower Latin American migrants with permanent residency in Mexico to grow businesses that provide vital income for their families. We assist:

Migrants from Latin America with permanent residency and a business in Mexico
Mexicans sending remittances and their families receiving the money to create stable, successful businesses. These are called binational families.
Mexicans returning to create or expand family enterprises for long-term prosperity.

Through tailored training and practical tools, IDEAS helps all three groups overcome barriers to economic and financial inclusion and build a prosperous future.

Our Services

Economic Inclusion

We provide entrepreneurial training and support to help individuals start or expand their businesses, creating stable and dignified livelihoods. Through practical courses and hands-on technical assistance, we equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in local markets.

Financial Inclusion

In addition to entrepreneurial support, we focus on personal and business finance training to ensure participants manage debt and resources effectively. By guiding them through Mexico’s competitive markets and helping them avoid common financial pitfalls, we foster a more secure and sustainable financial future.

Program Goals

1. Access to Social Rights

We provide training and financial counseling to foster resilience, reduce xenophobia, and support socioeconomic integration.

2. Empowering Women

During our 50 years on 4 continents we have succeeding in having a majority of women as participants in training, providing loans, strengthening organizations, strengthening their leadership and staff. We prioritize women by teaching income-generating skills, financial inclusion, promoting independence, and reducing vulnerability to violence.

3. Boosting Economic Impact

Migrants create jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to local economies, strengthening host communities.

4. Overcoming Business Barriers

Our training builds resilient businesses, helping entrepreneurs plan for success despite challenges.

5. Financial Literacy

We teach skills like marketing, fraud prevention, and how to obtain bank accounts and loans in Mexico’s financial systems to ensure business and family stability.

6. Building Sustainability

Our programs equip individuals to create lasting stability for their families and communities.

7. Strengthening Microfinance

We encourage financial institutions to include migrants and returning Mexicans, showing their value as reliable clients.

8. Diversifying Services

We train NGOs and governments to integrate entrepreneurship into their programs, expanding opportunities for migrants. By our services, they learn entrepreneurship is a beneficial addition to their organization and also to their clients.

We Work to Achieve the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Our Approach

Who Does the Program Help?

Direct Beneficiaries: Five Population Groups

1. Latin American Migrants
We seek to assist some of the 500,000 migrants from 11 countries who have gained residency in Mexico in the last 5 years. Many start businesses to sustain their families, with a significant portion being single mothers or women in vulnerable situations.

2. Binational Families

Returning Mexicans often face economic exclusion and loss of remittance income. IDEAS helps them and their families develop businesses through financial education and skill-building.

3. Financial Institutions

Many financial entities are hesitant to serve migrants. IDEAS educates them on the value of these populations. IDEAS provides potential with tools like infographics, training manuals and access to financial services such as loans and savings accounts. We train a substantial number of their staff who provide services like remittances, loans, investments, and savings.

4. Partner Organizations

NGOs, federal, state, and local government institutions, UN and international agencies, and others partner with IDEAS to support migrants and returnees. We train their staff to expand services and integrate entrepreneurship into their programs.

5. Volunteers, Consultants, and Students

Volunteers, part-time consultants, and students play critical roles, contributing expertise and gaining firsthand experience. We provide substantial education and valuable experience that help them now and prepare them for future work. Many report life-changing perspectives after working with migrant communities.

Indirect Beneficiaries: Eight Population Groups

Relatives of each of the 5 population groups above.
The government that collects taxes and benefits from free training of residents who are developing skills.
Governments that benefit from trained migrants who have more profitable businesses so that they are able to collect more business taxes
People renting apartments and business places to Latin American residents.
Universities that are sending their students to be trained.
Those who receive our training and later may decide to obtain full time employment find the materials useful.
Consultants such as those videoing and editing videos, bookkeeping, computer work, social media, administrative tasks, publishing manuals, etc.
Financial institutions who benefit from the interest paid on the loans or debts. They often do not pay IDEAS for developing their clients.

Why Did We Start this Program in Mexico?

175,000 Mexicans return each year, seeking stability after years abroad. While migration to the U.S. has received substantial media attention and aid, Mexico is increasingly becoming a key destination.

Mexico’s Role as a Destination Country

Previously seen as a transit point to the U.S., Mexico is now a destination for migrants. IDEAS has trained people from the five Central American countries and also from the following countries:

Panama
Colombia
Venezuela
Cuba
Haiti

Expanding Our Reach Across Mexico

At the beginning of 2022, IDEAS began operations in Puebla, refining its services in one state.
By the end of 2023, we expanded to support immigrants in all 32 Mexican states.
By the end of 2024, we had trained 763 more individuals.
IDEAS has a firm plan to serve 1,500 participants by the end of 2025.

Upcoming Training Initiatives in 2025

In the first half of 2025, we will conduct intensive 4-week training programs in:
Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Durango, Tamaulipas
San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Michoacán

IDEAS at Work

Re Engineering Her Path: Andrea’s Journey from Immigrant to Entrepreneur

From the moment Andrea stepped off the bus in Mexico, leaving behind the threats of gang violence in Honduras, she knew her life would have to start over. Back home, she had been a highly trained engineer, respected for her skills and work contributions. In Mexico, however, opening doors were hard.
She followed a difficult process of many months to get validation of Honduran credentials so that she finally was recognized as a professional engineer in Mexico. As she applied for jobs, employers focused more on her being an
immigrant than her having a license being a permanent resident. Her applications for professional jobs were rejected by many companies because of xenophobia. Instead of planning complex installations or overseeing critical designs that she used to love doing – she found herself working as a bartender and doing anything to make ends meet while knocking on doors.

IDEAS: Helping Families Like Sofia and Sebastian Build a Future Across Borders

At IDEAS, we meet hardworking families every day, like Sofia and Sebastian, who are determined to turn challenges into opportunities. Their story reflects what so many binational families experience: managing remittances, growing businesses, and planning for an uncertain future—all while navigating life across two countries.