Colombia Sostenible promotes rural development and peace

The Colombia Sostenible program is working to transform rural areas through sustainable production and environmental conservation. Co-financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with $100 million, the initiative aims to address poverty, low agricultural productivity, and environmental degradation.

Mariana Gómez Jiménez, director of the Fondo Colombia en Paz, stated that the fund was established in 2017 to manage resources for implementing the Final Peace Agreement. The program specifically addresses the Integral Rural Reform, investing in 16 subregions of the Territorial Development Program with an approach to territory (PDET).

Between 2018 and 2026, the program has implemented 201 projects across 114 municipalities, benefiting over 35,000 people, including 42% women. Beneficiaries primarily consist of farmers, indigenous populations, and Afro-Colombian communities in conflict-affected territories. Success stories include honey production in Campo Dulce and the cultivation of Amazonian fruits and agroforestry cocoa in Caquetá, helping producers transition from illegal economies to licit activities.