HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REINTEGRATION FRANK PEARL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004614 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REINTEGRATION FRANK PEARL REVISES PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON LONG-TERM STABILITY -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The High Commissioner for Reintegration's Office (HCR)--which replaced the Reinsertion Program managed by the Minister of Interior and Justice last September--has changed the process to improve its effectiveness. The changes extend the program's educational and employment services--as well as the monthly stipend received by demobilized paramilitaries--and increase its rural coverage. The HCR has also imposed stricter monitoring as well as a requirement that each demobilized commit to individual study or work programs. HCR is also creating new job search services, incentive structures, education and health care programs, and micro-credit projects to speed reintegration into society. Of the 31,000 demobilized paramilitaries, the program has so far re-registered over 22,000. End summary. -------------- For Long-term Stability and Sustainability -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Spurred by concerns that its previous system was encouraging dependency and threatening the reinsertion program's longterm success, the High Commissioner for Reintegration's Office (HCR)--which replaced the Reinsertion Program managed by the Minister of Interior and Justice--is making changes to guarantee the process' long-term stability. HCR Adviser Maria Eugenia Pinto told us HCR has modified its programs since its creation in September 2006 to extend services to all demobilized paramilitaries beyond the 18-24 month timeframe originally planned. Each person will be under strict monitoring and commitment to an individualized "reintegration route" and job search program. ¶3. (SBU) Pinto said the HCR deployed re-registration brigades throughout the country to explain the changes and obtain a commitment from the demobilized to participate and provide updated contact information. Of 31,000 paramilitary members demobilized, the program has re-registered over 22,000. In addition, the program will expanded to include 11,000 individual deserters from illegal armed groups. The HCR has already identified 5,000 individual deserters eligible for HCR services through the registration process. ¶4. (SBU) Pinto said HCR shifted 85 percent of its personnel to the rural regions (previously 37 percent were in regions) and reduced operating costs by 20 percent while increasing national coverage. HCR increased its number of Service Centers from 11 to 29 (28 permanent and 1 mobile),with a new emphasis on psycho-social assistance. HCR also hired 221 psychologists--1 per 120 persons--to provide support and field monitoring for each individual's reintegration program. -------------- Education and Healthcare Access Essential -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The new program offers educational alternatives tailored to each individual's skills to prepare him/her to enter the workforce. Pinto said HCR has been able to obtain 30,000 new spaces for basic and high school education, and made arrangements with 87 educational centers to offer space to the demobilized for higher education. HCR also designed a scholarship fund to encourage higher education. Pinto said the reinsertion program previously had to deal with multiple healthcare agencies, but now uses one healthcare provider (Caprecom) greatly increasing efficiency and lowering costs. More than 73,000 demobilized persons and their family members--84 percent of the demobilized population--use the new provider. -------------- From Financial Dependency to Self-Sufficiency -------------- ¶5. (SBU) High Commissioner for Reintegration Frank Pearl said the main obstacle to reintegration is not a lack of jobs, but demobilized paramilitaries' unwillingness to transition into the legal work force. He has been reaching out to private firms for job opportunities, but found the pool of "ready" candidates small. Pinto said the old focus on the monthly stipend fostered dependency. In contrast, the new program creates incentives for the demobilized to work. HCR cut the basic stipend from COP 350,000 (USD 150) to COP 150,000 (USD 75) a month, and added non-monetary assistance such as food stamps. It also offers financial rewards for study and work, up to a maximum of COP 400,000 (USD 200),for those that show extra effort to reintegrate. After several notable failures, HCR is reevaluating all micro-credit applications for individual and associative income-generation projects to ensure they are market-driven and technically sound enough to warrant private sector support. -------------- Income Generation Opportunities -------------- ¶6. (SBU) HCR has made alliances with the private sector to provide technical assistance for all new productive projects through a "Bank of Business Professionals," a sort of "Business Big Brother" program. In the program, the private sector can invest in projects, support continued education through a Social Investment Fund (SIF) used for seed grants, or invest in scholarships for higher education. Thus far, the HCR has received support from the Gates Foundation and from numerous Colombian and multinational companies. HCR has also created two additional funds: a micro-credit fund requiring more accountability from the demobilized, and a "peace-building fund" for infrastructure projects. Pinto said these new initiatives are designed to meet longer-term goals of "reintegration" rather than immediate relief. Drucker