Sida's work in Colombia

Through The International Organization for Migration (IOM), Sida supports government institutions for transitional justice: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the War Crimes Tribunal and the Missing Persons Unit. Among other things, it has been possible to bring charges against FARC guerrilla leaders accused of illegal detentions during the conflict. Important progress has also been made in the investigation of killings of civilians by the military.

About the work for justice in Colombia on IOM’s web page

Sida supports civil society organisations that work long-term to strengthen the rights of conflict victims. We also support the government’s transitional justice system, with a particular focus on women and LGBTQI people who have been victims of gender-based violence during the conflict.

Sida works with the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), which provides support and advice to build and strengthen transitional justice institutions. ICTJ also supports civil society and victims’ organisations and increases their participation in the transitional justice process.

About the work in Colombia on ICTJ’s web page

Many women are particularly vulnerable because of the conflict. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women – UN Women is supported by Sida in collecting testimonies from women and LGBTI people in conflict-affected regions. The testimonies are part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s investigation into how the conflict has affected women and LGBTQI people.

About the work in Colombia on UN Women’s web page

The reintegration of former guerrilla members into society is essential to achieving peace. In partnership with We Effect, Sida supports the organisation Ecomun, the former FARC guerrilla’s cooperative for the socio-economic reintegration of guerrilla members. Sida also supports UN and EU peace funds that, in addition to working on the reintegration of former guerrillas and military personnel, also work on rural development, create jobs and help to increase the presence and work of public authorities in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas.

• About Ecomun on Openaid
• About the support to the UN’s peace fund UN-MPTF on Openaid
• EU Peace Fund’s website

Sida strengthens the private sector’s involvement in peacebuilding, for example through the Ruta Motor programme. It contributes to helping vulnerable young people into jobs so that they are not at risk of being recruited into armed groups or illegal economic activities. The programme is run in partnership between the business sector, private companies and institutions. Improving employment conditions for young people and strengthening opportunities for relevant training are part of the programme.

About Ruta Motor’s on Openaid

Sida contributes to the protection of human rights defenders by empowering local communities and civil society organisations to identify, map and manage security risks themselves. One example is support to the Christian Peace Movement, which protects and strengthens security awareness within local organisations that are under threat or attack, enabling them to continue their important work.

Christian Peace Movement’s website

Sida supports the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). OHCHR produces independent reports with concrete recommendations to the Colombian government, and also cooperates with several government agencies that, among other things, protect human rights defenders and fight corruption.

About the work of the OHCHR

Electoral fraud is suspected of having occurred in the Colombian elections. The local civil society platform MOE is mapping and analysing the risks of electoral fraud and irregularities in election campaigns, throughout the country. Through its support to MOE, Sida also contributes to the prevention of violence against women in politics.

MOE’s website

The people living along Colombia’s conflict-ridden Pacific coast are directly dependent on the natural world around them for their survival. Here, Sida is supporting the La Minga (All Together) programme to conserve two marine protected areas. Local stakeholders guide the work with the aim of conserving biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of local ecosystem services.

Sida is also supporting a collaboration between Colombia’s National University (UNAL), Lund University and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) that strengthens local communities’ capacity to conserve ecosystems through sustainable fishing practices and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

Article about La Minga: Protecting the mangrove forest gave Merlin hope for the future (in Swedish)

Through the UN, EU, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) peace funds, Sida supports projects that contribute in various ways to combating deforestation, promoting sustainable agriculture and providing increased access to basic social services such as water, toilets and energy supply, through environmentally sustainable solutions.

Together with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Sida has developed a guarantee facility to lend money to Colombia. The support focuses on the environment and climate and on increasing gender equality.

• About the IDB Peace Fund on Openaid (in Swedish)
• About the UN-MPTF on Openaid
• EU Peace Fund’s website

Sida supports Action Against Hunger (AAH), which is present across Colombia. They provide support to the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas. Sida is also working with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to support people in hard-to-reach areas.

• About this work at AAH web page
• About this work at DRC web page

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the only organisation allowed to have contact with armed groups classified as terrorists. They search for missing persons, aiding the peace process. The ICRC also runs a comprehensive programme to reduce the risk of civilians being affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance left in rural areas after the long conflict.

About the work in Colombia (ICRC website)

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR), together with the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), is responsible for coordinating and implementing the regional humanitarian plan for Venezuelan migrants and refugees in 17 Latin American countries. They coordinate and collect data and provide basic assistance and advice to ensure that support reaches the most vulnerable.

About the work in Colombia at UNHCR web page

Save the Children works on shelter, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, with a particular focus on indigenous peoples, the Afro-Colombian population and people in areas controlled by armed groups. Local partner Fundación Saldarriaga Concha helps children living with disabilities.

About this work at Save the Children web page

Oxfam’s efforts target women from Venezuela and women in Colombia who are victims of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and forced recruitment into the armed groups

About this work at Oxfam web page