Highlights
Colombia CO launched the first multi-purpose cash-based project in the region, aimed at women victims of gender-based violence. Through cash transfers, WFP assists women and their children in order to end the cycle of violence and food insecurity through their re-integration into society via sustainable economic activities.
WFP Colombia CO continues to support the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women. WFP Colombia´s strategy is aligned with WFP’s 2015-2020 Gender Policy as well as those of the UN System.
WFP Assistance
WFP's strategy in Colombia complements the government's peacebuilding efforts and aims to build government capacity by strengthening social programmes, which will improve the food and nutrition security of conflict-affected populations. Based on lessons learned and past experience, and in consultation with the Government, donors and other partners, WFP is reorienting its strategy in Colombia through a strategic review process. Important shifts include the transition from humanitarian assistance to longer-term solutions for recovery. Thematic priorities include resilience-building, capacity strengthening, and nutrition sensitive programming with a focus on dispersed rural areas and marginalized ethnic groups.
WFP has adopted innovative approaches to assist displaced, confined and returnee populations and supports small farmers by providing vulnerable populations with e-vouchers that are redeemed at farmers’ associations. WFP thus promotes the consumption of fresh nutritious foods and creates market opportunities for smallholder farmers. Additionally, through asset creation activities and trainings, WFP strengthens the resilience of communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. The Government is particularly interested in this approach, which supports its post-conflict strategy.
WFP and partners conduct trainings on gender equality (including women's and girl’s rights, sexual and reproductive health, shared domestic responsibilities and violence against women) in addition to mainstreaming gender in all activities. Actions such as organizing food distributions closer to targeted communities and minimizing waiting time resulted in a higher participation of women. WFP activities seek to promote the leadership of women and their greater participation in oversight and accountability committees, in order to strengthen their decision-making in project implementation. Organizational strengthening workshops are conducted to reinforce the capacity of women.
WFP established a committee with government partners to coordinate the implementation of the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), guarantee the complementarity of actions and ensure the flow of information. A multi-donor trust fund (MDTF) has been set up to align with government’s social programmes, with the aim of strengthening their capacities through a wide range of food assistance tools. The MDTF complements WFP's PRRO and effectively contributes to the implementation of WFP's strategy in Colombia.
WFP started to develop the National Study on Food Security and Nutrition in Indigenous Communities (ENSANI). This study is carried out with the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF), the National Department of Statistics (DANE) and the National Institute of Health (INS). The trust fund covers the second stage of the study. During the first stage (2015), information was gathered from four indigenous groups located in Arauca, Meta and Guaviare provinces. In the current phase, information will be collected among four additional groups, in the Caquetá and Putumayo provinces.