TetraPak & FAO: Dairy network in Colombia (peacebuilding)

This project was officially launched in August 2023 with the signature of the agreement with FAO and was formally presented to national and local authorities in a public event with media. During the period from august to December 2023, FAO undertook the procurement process to hire 14 professionals to conform an interdisciplinary team mainly based in Cauca. Only the administrative manager will be based in Bogota and the coordinator will be traveling between Bogotá and Cauca. The Embassy's assessment is that the selection process was transparent, followed FAOs procurement rules and at the end they conform a robust and experienced team that will guarantee the implementation of activities. More information in the statement on narrative report (UM2022/26989/BOGO/20). In March 2024 the Embassy accompanied a territorial workshop where a fluent dialogue with the new elected local authorities, universities, local producers and national institutions working in Cauca were held. The Embassy's conclusion was that FAO has had a strategic dialogue with all the stakeholders in a short period of time (January-February 2024) and the workshop was a very relevant starting point for the project. The positive response and interest of the more than 100 participants showed that international cooperation could play an important articulation role and be complementary with previous experiences in Cauca and in other regions. More information could be found in the travel report (UM2022/26989/BOGO/18).

The main goal is contributing to the implementation of the first part of the peace agreement (Integral Rural Reform 1.3.3) and the Colombian National Development Plan through the strengthening of a sustainable and replicable dairy production system using a public-private development partnership with small scale farmers in the municipalities of Cajibio, Totoro, Silvia and Sotará in the Department of Cauca. The specific objectives are: 1.Prioritized communities of small livestock farmers in the Department of Cauca have appropriated practices associated with Sustainable Community livestock farming, thereby transforming their productive, social and commercial processes. 2.Communities and institutions in prioritized regions have implemented environmentally sustainable practices and ecosystem management tools linked to Sustainable Community Livestock Farming. 3.Communities of small-scale producers/farmers have increased productivity and competitiveness of their sustainable farming enterprises/associations with an emphasis on milk production. 4.The local community actors have implemented a territorial information system thereby strengthening their milk collection processes and supporting an integrated territorial transformation.