General Information

Since its inception in 2007, the ART-REDES Programme in Colombia has aimed to contribute to the social construction of peace, sustainable human development, democratic governance, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and reconciliation. It does this by supporting and strengthening initiatives from the civil society and the State concerned with national and territorial cohesion and the promotion of political, economic and socially inclusive processes.

In Colombia, ART promotes the methodology of participatory planning among actors and fuses with the Reconciliation and Development Programme REDES strategy. As a spatial strategy, ART REDES aims to contribute to the achievement of development, peace and reconciliation in Colombia through a comprehensive approach that promotes a new type of multilateralism, in which the United Nations system strengthens local capacities by promoting the active participation of actors and communities from the South and North. It also seeks to eliminate and temper the causes of violence in Colombia, as well as to prevent it from spurring in the regions where it is latent, and makes local, national and international efforts and technical and financial resources converge.

The objectives of the strategy ART-REDES are to contribute to the social construction of peace, the non-violent transformation of conflict and sustainable development. It concentrates all its efforts on reinforcing initiatives and processes through an institutionalised dialogue between local government and social actors from the territories, and its ability to converse with the national institutions in charge of promoting regional development strategies and public policies. Moreover, it also looks to take full advantage of international opportunities, coordinating the contributions and participation of the international cooperation as well as the contributions from the South-South cooperation, with the unified technical support of the various UN agencies.

Resource Mobilization and Execution

 The Programme at a Glance

Results and Activities at the Local Level

Department of Nariño

The comprehensive implementation of ART-REDES began in 2007 in the pilot department of Nariño, located south of the country on the border with Ecuador, transformed in the last 10 years in a scenario of violence between armed groups and the presence of illegal crops that resulted in a worrying humanitarian situation. The department of Nariño is currently one of the worst violence affected areas in Colombia. Despite the difficult situation it faces, there are expressions from the civil society and traditional authorities to generate non-violent solutions to the various forms of violence. There also exist international efforts to contribute to the peace-building process.

The UNDP office in Nariño has implemented the territorial development, peace and reconciliation strategy ART-REDES, technically and economically accompanying the implementation of the programming cycle of the ART methodology and mainstreaming the social construction of peace and the transformation of the structural causes for inequality and vulnerability. To this end, traditionally excluded groups and beneficiaries of REDES such as indigenous, Afro-descendants, women, displaced farmers and victims have been incorporated to this process through their participation in various planning groups.

It is considers as important to address the growing humanitarian crisis, without this implying being trapped in the logic of the humanitarian emergency. This is why the aim is to link humanitarian action with strategic programmes for peace building and human development. During 2009, the departmental and municipal working groups have defined a structure based on 5 space of inter-institutional articulation around thematic areas concerning gender, youth, media and culture, local economic development, and human rights and victims.

Ownership

One of the most remarkable results is precisely the level of departmental ownership of the ART-REDES strategy by the different stakeholders. The local programming cycle of the participatory ART methodology has become a common language and a work fashion fostering the interaction between authorities at the national, departmental and municipal levels, the set of Nariño’s civil society actors as well as those from the international cooperation.

Governance and Local Democracy

► Elaboration of the “Plan for Ethno-Development in Nariño Pacific” by the 33 Community Councils members of the ASOCOETNAR (Association of Community Councils of the Centre and North of Nariño). ► Approval and implementation of the programme for "Strengthening Local Capacities for Peace in Nariño” (MGD Spain Fund; Government of Nariño; various municipalities and local associations; UNDP; UNIFEM; UNHCR, UNICEF; FAO). ► Implementation of the project "Growing Together in Nariño" for the development of economic alternatives for the youth (Canadian cooperation; 9 municipalities of Nariño; DWG’s Youth Board). ► Consolidation of the “Programme for Peace and Development at the Border” as a platform for bi-national human development (local Ecuadorian and Colombian institutions; UN Agencies; the Local Development Agency of Nariño; ART Ecuador). ► Within the framework of the "Rights and Development” project, took place the elaboration of a guidelines document on participation and social control; development of a communication campaign on citizen rights and duties; establishment of 6 new Development and Social Control Committees and the election of 6 new Control Representatives; organisation of diploma with the Mariana University on community training and support to the Suyusama Programme (Cittadinanzattiva; University of Nariño; Mariana University; community representatives; Secretaries of the Municipality of Pasto; Nariño’s Departmental Planning Secretary; DWG Public Services Board; UNDP’s Communication Office; Suyusama Programme).

Socioeconomic sustainable development

► Development of a strategy stimulating the rural economy under agro-ecological principles (Economic Development Agency of Nariño). ►Creation of the (soon to be formally constituted) Development Agency for the Nariño Border (ADISUR) and the Development Agency for Nariño Pacific (ADEP). ►Implementation of a District Irrigation Project that has benefited over 5,000 families. ► Creating a community-based company for the production and marketing of vegetables with the participation of 645 families belonging to 17 producers’ associations (…). ► Encouragement of Shagra through 60 production units in Pasto indigenous reserves for the generation of income, and the promotion of food sovereignty and Indian identity (...). ► Consolidation of the Regional Cocoa Council and constitution of the Agreement on Regional Cocoa Competitiveness as an economic and production alternative to coca cultivation (15 organisations of small farmers and peasants; 5 Community Councils from Afro-descendent communities). ► Formulation of 23 productive projects to the benefit of 184 families responding to the calls by the Colombian Institute for Rural Development (INCODER). ► Implementation of an early recovery program with the Awa indigenous population (UN Agencies; International NGOs; IASC).

Conflict prevention and transformation and promotion of a culture of peace

Formulation of the Public Policy for the Youth and the Departmental Strategy for the Prevention of Youth Linking to illegal activities and armed conflict (DWG’s Youth Board). ► Creation of a Youth Training School for the participatory formulation of the Public Policy and Departmental strategy, generation of an organisation process of youth networking (...). ► Development of a communication strategy for the respect and upholding of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) (Regional media; DWG’s Board for Communication and Culture).

Justice, human rights and victims’ rights

► Creation of the Support Committee for Human Rights and Victims’ Organisations, development of the International Cooperation Strategy for this realm and organisation of events in the 5 sub-regions of Nariño (more than 90 community, social and ethnic organisations). ► Assistance to the Inter-institutional Committee for Victims’ Support as a space to promote truth, justice and reparations in Nariño (CNRR; MAPP OAS Government of Nariño: Office of the Attorney General; Defensoría del Pueblo o Office of the Ombudsman; IOM).

Gender Equity

► Consolidation of the School for Women’s Political Education, already found in 27 municipalities and managing the Departmental Public Policy for Gender Equity (DWG’s Gender Board). ► Design and implementation of a joint strategy against gender-based violence and support to the preparation of the report of the Defensoría del Pueblo -Ombudsman Office- on this issue (IASC).

Region of Eastern Antioquia (Department of Antioquia)

The implementation of the Programme in Eastern Antioquia will set off in January 2010 with the development of the first cycle of local programming in different municipalities in the region (currently under the prioritisation process). It will be started from a REDES implementation area, where also the following criteria are met: existence of social organisations and networks; political will; presence of conflict victims; working culture on issues of peace and development; return of displaced persons; and existence of international cooperation projects.

Results and Activities at the National Level

Ownership:

 As a result of the success ART-REDES in Nariño, its national counterparts, partners and donors have become positively familiar with the ART methodology and have requested extending the programme to the Region of Eastern Antioquia. The degree of ownership at the national level is important because the Director of Social Action and International Cooperation Director participating in the CNC, for which a technical follow-up committee has been put in place between Social Action and the UNDP and where all decentralised cooperation initiatives are constantly coordinated with the Social Action Office responsible for new sources.

Although the ART-REDES Programme implements its territorial approach to sustainable human development and peace building in prioritised geographic areas, it also has strategic dimensions of national scope:

Local Economic Development

►Formation of the National Network of Local Development Agencies (ADELCO) as a platform for coordination, promotion and transfer of technical assistance among Colombian LEDAs; design of a Territorial Information system to monitor local development, organisation of international missions on LED and development of a programme for financial technical assistance. ►Technical assistance to, strengthening of and funding of LEDA projects: Cauca LEDA: implementation of a water project (UNICEF); ADEPROA eastern Antioquia: reinforcement of the planning and territorial development strategy, a community-based tourism programme and the regional financial fund , Nariño LEDA: definition of the new economic development approach including issues related to Development, Peace and Reconciliation; Boyacá LEDA: strengthening of the priority production chains and economic invigoration of the territory; Cesar and Santander LEDA: formulation of projects for the "Local Development and Trade” initiative called by the EU and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism; support for the implementation of the Theme Annual Operational Plans in the LEDAs of the Metropolitan Area, Urabá and Vélez.

Coordination with government and international agencies on LED

►Support from Social Action for the formulation of ADELCO’s 2010 AOP Strategy and guaranteed participation in events organised in 2009. ► In collaboration with the Vice Ministry of Tourism, access to resources from the Tourism Promotion Fund; articulation between the coordinators of the Vice Ministry and the LEDAs and formulation of the Policy on Community Tourism. ► In the framework of the European Commission’s LED Programme, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, technical assistance for the creation of LED instruments in Valley, Meta, Bolívar and Boyacá. ► Articulation between PRODEPAZ and ADELCO. ► Establishment of cooperation agreements with the Network of Ecuadorian (CEDET) and Dominican Republic LEDAs, and the Colombian Federation of Municipalities for the implementation of joint actions.

Governance

► Implementation of the “Development and Rights” project for stirring a debate on citizen involvement in public services and the right to health. ►Organisation of the “Civic Engagement and Public Services” Forum and establishment of a Participation Board (Cittadinanzattiva; Defensoría del Pueblo: Superintendent of Utilities; CSOs). Misunderstanding

Results and Activities at the International

Level

Decentralised Cooperation

► Implementation of the ACCD support strategy for the ART-REDES Programme in Nariño. ► Execution of a FAMSI project in support of the Cesar LEDA. ►Formulation of a Youth Project in Nariño in partnership with the Region of Tuscany. ► Promotion of the decentralised cooperation through the joint organisation of the Third Social Action Meeting for the Promotion of the Decentralised Cooperation.

International Meetings

► Participation of a UNDP, ART-REDES, Government of Nariño, and ADELCO delegation at the ART International Forum in Seville (November 2009); presentation of ADELCO and Nariño’s Cooperation Strategy.

Local Economic Development

► Strengthening and promotion of ADELCO with the support of LED experts from Spain and Italy. ►Establishment of a support strategy for Colombian LEDAs. ►Organisation of the Meeting of Latin American LEDAs and a LED specialisation course.

Innovation Identification and Sharing

► Transfer of knowledge on Naturalistic Engineering between the University of Florence and Nariño. ►Signing of an agreement between Maloka and Colombian public and private entities to organise the first national innovation competition.

Training and capacity development

► Organisation of a specialised course on "Management of Organisations for Social Development, with Emphasis on Local Development and Territorial Marketing" as a result of the agreement between the Eafit University, UNDP and ADELCO.

South-South Cooperation

► Implementation of the First Congress of Latin American LEDAs, promotion of an agenda for the continent and signing of the Quirama Agreement consolidating the articulation between the Network of Latin American LEDAs.

Knowledge Transfer

► Technical assistance and exchange of experiences between Colombian and LEDAs from the Dominican Republic: participation at the meeting of Dominican LEDAs, technical advice and identification of a proposal to support Dominican LEDAs; Peru: participation of ADELCO and the Vélez LEDA in two exchange events in Lima; and Bolivia: ADELCO accompanied the process of formation of the LEDA in La Paz’s Metropolitan Area. ► Joint work between ART-REDES and the Programme on Development and Peace in the Northern Border of Ecuador to restore bilateral relations. ►Participation of ART-REDES and UNDP’s MGDs Programme in the South-South cooperation and territorialisation of the MDGs event organised by ART Uruguay.

The Programme's Challenges for 2010

During 2010, the Colombian ART-REDES Programme will face major challenges in terms of its consolidation and growth. It will have to joint efforts to consolidate the undergoing process and to systematise the best practices and lessons learned that have arisen from ART-REDES in Nariño.

Similarly, it is expected to achieve a successful implementation of the local programming cycle in Eastern Antioquia. At the national level, it will be sought to strengthen the operation of the NCC and its technical committee, ensuring the active participation of the national and regional government and international cooperation partners; efforts to promote functional networks with the European decentralised cooperation will be added to this process. Finally, during 2010 it is expected to consolidate the structure and strategic planning of the ADELCO network, as well as the articulation with other UN Agencies in their support for peace, development and reconciliation processes in the prioritised areas.

Contacts

Sr. Bruno Moro, UNDP Resident Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and UNS Humanitarian Coordinator: bruno.moro@undp.org

Sra. Barbara Pesce Monteiro, UNDP Country Director: pesce-monteiro@undp.org

 Sr. Alessandro Preti, Coordinator of Peace, Development and Reconciliation and CTA of the ART-REDES Programme: alessandro.preti@undp.org