UNDPs Program for local peacebuilding 2016-2021

Through this Program, Sweden provided financial and technical support to UNDPs offices in eight regions, as well as third parties as Redepaz (2017-2018), Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres (2017-2018), Defensoría del Pueblo (2017-2021), Fenalper (2017-2021), Mesa Nacional de Garantías (2017-2020), Recon (2017-2019), Vive Bailando (2017-2021) and Movilizatorio (2017-2020). Moreover, the Program strengthened the National Planning Department capacity to follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and financed 24 PDET initiatives in south Córdoba and Montes de María through subgrants to community-based organizations. The main result of the contribution is the fact that the program has become a platform that enables the articulation of national and local initiatives among civil society, private sector, public authority and UNDP. The UNDP further presents their results in relation to the three strategic lines. Results achieved within the first strategic line institutional set-up for peacebuilding and development demonstrate progress in fostering institutional collaboration, strengthening human rights protection, and advancing sustainable development and peace. The following can be highlighted: - Strengthened nation-territory coordination platforms across various regions, leveraging trust with local stakeholders. For instance, in Caquetá, tools for transparency and public accountability were implemented, fostering trust between public institutions and social organizations. - In Nariño-Cauca, alliances with national agencies like UARIV, ARN, and ART enabled spaces for dialogue on sustainable development goals (SDGs), peace-building, and local public policies, impacting local governance. - Support for the Defensoría del Pueblo and territorial human rights councils increased institutional capacity. Over 8,000 people were trained in human rights, and strategies like Estamos contigo were developed to protect social leaders and human rights defenders. The second strategic line Dialogue and participation for Public Policy formulation and the achievement of Agenda 2030, contributed to empowering civil society, fostering public-private partnerships, and advancing the SDGs. Some examples are the following: - The platform SDG Corporate Tracker was designed to measure the private sectors contribution to the SDGs, with 430 companies participating by 2020. The platform provided valuable insights for public policy and the national voluntary report presented to the UN in 2021. A multi-stakeholder alliance, including the National Planning Department (DNP), PNUD, and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), facilitated this initiative. - Support to grassroots organizations in PDET regions, with a focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups, led to capacity-building, project management training, and initiatives like urban gardens and a virtual memory museum. - The Rural Forum on Women's Land Tenure raised awareness on the importance of women's access to land in transforming rural communities, contributing to SDG 5. - The youth and womens leadership initiatives developed in PDET regions exceeded expectations by generating more significant employment opportunities and empowering local leaders to engage in long-term peace and development planning. Within the third strategic line Coexistence, reconciliation and reintegration, efforts were focused on building peace and social inclusion through initiatives led by youth, women, and ethnic groups, using technology and social innovation. Key actions include analyzing and supporting reintegration processes for ex-combatants with a community-centered approach. Two key strategies were implemented to support the social and economic reintegration of ex-FARC members: self-sustenance projects and rapid impact projects. These initiatives focused on enhancing food sovereignty and strengthening technical and financial capacities. Significant outcomes included increased female participation and territorial articulation in the projects, as well as collaboration with institutions like SENA, FAO, and universities. Additionally, a digital inclusion strategy was developed to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly for ex-combatants in rural areas, enabling continued technical support for productive projects and fostering reconciliation between ex-combatants and local communities. Several initiatives related to social inclusion of youth was supported, among them RECON, a Colombian NGO that works with vulnerable communities in Colombia searching, supporting and strengthening social entrepreneurships that may generate sustainable economic alternatives to poor populations affected by conflict. During the project period, RECON, among other, conducted the first survey on social entrepreneurs in Colombia, identifying the growth of this model and its potential for driving social and economic development.

OUTCOME: Contribute to the establishment of a country platform that promotes the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals -SDGs- in Colombia, with emphasis in SDG 16, in order to advance towards the reduction of inequalities, the strengthening of territorial peace institutions and the diminution of political polarization. The structure of outcomes within the contribution was redefined and the contribution's seven outcomes were reorganized into the following three strategic lines: I. Institutional set-up for peace building and development This strategic line will replace former Outcome 1 and intends to enhance coordination between the central and local governments (vertical coordination) and to strengthen institutional peacebuilding spaces at the local level (e.g. local peace secretariats). Special emphasis will be given to the support in the formulation of local Human Rights and Gender Public Policies. Former Outcomes 1 and 4 (result 4.2) will now report under this strategic line. II. Dialogue and participation for Public Policy formulation and the achievement of Agenda 2030 This strategic is oriented towards the promotion of civil societys participation in decision-making processes for the formulation and implementation of public policies related with the SDG agenda and the implementation of the Peace Agreement. Former Outcomes 2 (results 2.4 and 2.5), 3 (result 3.4) and 5 (result 5.1) will now report under this strategic line. III. Coexistence, reconciliation and reintegration Under this strategic line, work will focus on generating dialogue capacities for the non-violent resolution of conflicts and the identification of local strategies that promote local peacebuilding. Former Outcomes 3 (results 3.5), 4 (result 4.3 and 4.8), 6 (result 6.2) and 7 will now report under this strategic line. No additional resources were allocated for activities covered by former Outcome 7 (ELN peace process) since the peace talks are no longer taking place.