Focus Area
Health, Humanitarian Relief
Location
Cúcuta, Colombia
Beneficiaries
Venezuelan refugees and indigent Colombian communities lacking access to affordable medicine
Safavi's Role
Partner-funded through BYNODE Development & Cooperation ONLUS
Key Impact
Establishment of a pharmaceutical production facility for off-patent generic medicines, overcoming international shipping barriers and delivering direct medical support to underserved populations
Project Overview
The Solidarity Drug initiative is a humanitarian pharmaceutical project located in Cúcuta, Colombia, one of the most active migration corridors on the Venezuelan-Colombian border. The project addresses the critical lack of access to essential medicines for both Venezuelan refugees and impoverished Colombians. By building a certified local pharmaceutical facility, this initiative creates a self-sustaining supply chain for affordable, off-patent drugs—delivered directly to those most in need.
Beneficiary Profile
Venezuelan refugees: Nearly 1 million individuals pass through Cúcuta annually, fleeing extreme shortages of food and medicine in their home country.
Impoverished Colombian citizens: Many in the border region lack consistent access to health care and medications.
Beneficiaries often arrive in dire health conditions and face limited or no access to traditional healthcare systems. This initiative offers targeted pharmaceutical support through local health outposts operated by Franciscan friars and lay volunteers.
Safavi's Role
Safavi supports this initiative through a funding partnership with BYNODE Development & Cooperation ONLUS, working in tandem with the Provincial Custody of the Friars Minor Conventual "San Francesco d'Assisi". The Safavi Impact Institute’s contribution is focused on enabling:
The construction and certification of a pharmaceutical production facility
Strategic support for sustainable supply chain development
Logistical and operational backing to ensure direct distribution through local faith-based health centers
This partnership allows Safavi to amplify grassroots medical relief while avoiding customs issues and regulatory burdens associated with international drug transport.
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: Solidarity Drug / Farmaco Solidale
Impact Achieved
Facility construction initiated with administrative procedures underway for compliance with international generic drug production standards.
Sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain being built on-site to replace expensive and legally complex import routes.
Improved access to essential medicine for thousands of refugees and low-income Colombians through local Franciscan health networks.
This initiative marks a pivotal step toward long-term health equity in a critically underserved border region.
Purpose & Signifigance
The Solidarity Drug project embodies Safavi’s commitment to scalable, human-centered solutions in crisis zones. By supporting locally-produced generic medicines, Safavi avoids the delays and costs of cross-border pharmaceutical aid—delivering care faster, more affordably, and with lasting infrastructure. This initiative addresses an urgent need while investing in long-term self-sufficiency for one of South America’s most vulnerable populations.
Future Outlook
Completion of the pharmaceutical plant and certification for production
Expansion of health facility networks for wider distribution
Ongoing evaluation of impact metrics and potential for replication in other regions facing migration-related medical crises
Safavi plans to continue supporting this initiative through the next phases of development and deployment
