ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 004503 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID CO SUBJECT: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES ¶1. Summary: The GOC is rolling out social services to fifty-one municipalities recently liberated from FARC or paramilitary influence. The Plan Colombia initiative consists of a five-tiered approach to retaking the territory and stabilizing the regional economy around sustainable agriculture and the provision of social services. EconOff traveled with Accion Social to observe the roll out of economic development assistance in Valledupar. The communities are complex, and building consensus among indigenous and local leaders concerning targeted assistance requires lengthy consultation and the ability to provide creative solutions to meet cultural expectations. End Summary. -------------- Reclaiming Communities -------------- ¶2. The GOC created Accion Social and the Center for Integrated Action to reclaim and stabilize historically at-risk communities against subversive influences, especially in areas that have been affected by the conflict with Colombia,s illegal armed terrorist groups (FARC, ELN, AUC). Soon after President Uribe,s election in 2002, the GOC recognized the need to follow-up successful military campaigns with social intervention. This Plan Colombia initiative rolls out social services to approximately 1.5 million Colombians in fifty-one affected municipalities, and consists of a five-tiered approach toward securing and stabilizing affected regions. Tier 1 Control of territory, remove organized crime and drug-trafficker influence Tier 2 Deliver humanitarian assistance and reactivate social network Tier 3 Develop economic activities and connect with viable supply-chain Tier 4 Strengthen formal justice service and develop alternative conflict resolution Tier 5 Development of social activities, sports and renovate local customs -------------- U.S. Assistance to the Program -------------- ¶3. In 2004, during the early stages of the program, the Department of Defense sponsored GOC travel to the U.S. to learn about consensus building, delivering assistance to high risk communities, and maximizing international humanitarian aid programs for support of displaced families. In addition, through 2004 and 2005, DOD provided a combined USD 2.8 million in funding for infrastructure projects and medical supplies in support of this initiative. Infrastructure projects have ranged from the construction of schools and hospitals to paving of roads connecting affected areas to main economic centers. The medical supplies have been used for emergency and triage treatment for civilian populations immediately following military action. ¶4. USAID also contributes to the program, especially in the tier four- strengthening the rule of law and alternative conflict resolution. Throughout Colombia, USAID has constructed forty-three Jutice Houses (Casas de Justicia). These are multi-agency service centers that facilitate community access to justice, dispute resolution, psycho-social support and other services provided by national, municipal, university, and community justice partners. USAID has also trained Justice House staff and supported community-initiated conflict resolution initiatives, such as preventing violence against youth. In addition, USAID has trained and certified over 2,100 conciliators who contribute to strengthening community co-existence and access to justice. USAID has contributed USD 153,000 for the establishment of two Justice Houses in Valledupar, serving approximately 70,000 residents. -------------- Economic Development -------------- ¶5. Accion Social is responsible for the tier three economic development activities through coordinated interventions in each of the fifty-one municipalities. These interventions are financed through a USD 45 million budget, including some humanitarian assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense. The goal of the interventions is to assess the comparative advantage of each region and focus local leaders on measures to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the community,s key economic outputs. Interventions begin with consultations to allow the community to identify which pre-existing agricultural activities can be converted to efficient production. As communities work to convert these activities (i.e. replace old coffee trees),families are taught subsistence farming and given seeds and chickens to last them until their new crops or activities generate a return. Secondary benefits of these interventions include building community support for alternative development apart from illicit crops, the return of internally displaced people to their lands, capital improvements made to fertile lands, and whenever possible, the development of small-scale manufacturing. The following are examples of regional economic development activities and the number of families these activities are expected to support. ZONE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FAMILIES -------------- -------------- Arauca Dairy, Meat, Cacao 1,300 Choco Rice, Plantain, Fruits, Hard woods 2,330 Catatumbo Onion, Cacao, Sugar, Beans, Tourism 8,003 Cauca Plantain, Cacao, Exotic Fruits 772 Valledupar Coffee, Sugar Cane, Handicrafts 1,020 Tumaco Cacao, African Palm, Fishing 4,740 South Cattle, Wood Work, Exotic Fruits, Flowers 969 -------------- VALLEDUPAR CASE STUDY -------------- ¶6. On May 8th EconOff traveled with the GOC to Valledupar to observe the roll-out of Accion Social,s tier three economic development program. Valledupar is the largest of three municipalities located in the Cesar Department where the Kankuamo, Kogi, Arwaco and Wiwa Indian tribes reside. Historically, this region has struggled under violent influence of the FARC and AUC paramilitary groups. The intervention began with a series of consensus-building meetings among leaders and members of the community concerning which agro-industry would bring economic self-sufficiency to the region. During the visit, the GOC presented the results of economic assessments on coffee, sugar cane, exotic fruits, and livestock. The community selected coffee and sugar cane as the region,s principal activities. GOC experts highlighted traditional handicrafts as a potential supplemental source of income. -------------- COMMUNITY RESPONSE -------------- ¶7. The local indigenous tribes responded very differently to the economic development program. The Kankuamos, who were the principal recipients of the program, did not empower their representative to the meetings with the authority to allocate funds or accept the assistance. They were unwilling to reveal their available cash-flow and resisted the idea of organizing the women into a weaver,s cooperative. The tribal-leader did not attend the meetings or respond to phone calls during the visit. When the Wiwa Indians, the Kogi, and the Arwacos were contacted in a separate meeting, their leadership immediately made themselves available for consultation. During these consultations, the leaders agreed to contribute 10 percent of their total annual budget and promised to seek further financing. The leaders of these groups expressed appreciation for the agricultural assistance as well as support for the commercialization of their handicrafts. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. The GOC,s national focus on agriculture as the primary vehicle of economic development in these affected regions is a short-term fix, but lacks the long-term vision needed to significantly reduce poverty in Colombia,s rural areas. Intervention-related job training to workers through SENA (the GOC,s national apprenticeship agency) is geared primarily to small-scale agro-industry and does not prepare workers for other opportunities. Initial reports from the fifty-one communities involved in this project show affected communities support the immediate use of the region,s human capital in traditional industries, mainly agriculture. The distribution of land is a primary concern, however, and the GOC has not developed a targeted process to utilize land seized from demobilized former paramilitary groups in the roll out of these agricultural initiatives. In any event, the long-term economic viability of traditional agriculture in these areas remains in doubt. WOOD