Tag Archive for: Poverty In Colombia

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The Invisible Aid in Colombia’s Pacific Coast

Aid in Colombia’s Pacific CoastOn Aug. 10, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing hundreds and worsening conditions across some of the country’s poorest regions. Humanitarian aid missions have reached Colombia’s Pacific Coast in the weeks since, but their work has largely gone unnoticed by the public. Telecommunications and information networks were fragile before the earthquake and remain so now across most of Valle del Cauca, Chocó, Caldas and Quindío. Citizen movements have pushed for more visibility and faster aid, but how the government and humanitarian groups are actually working to improve conditions on the ground has remained largely unreported.

This reinforces a familiar narrative: that Chocó and Colombia’s other Pacific cities are like “ghost regions.” It is a rough label for a place rich in culture and diversity, home to significant Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, but long isolated by geography and government neglect. That neglect is highlighted in the statistics. Chocó is Colombia’s poorest department: 66.7% of its residents live below the monetary poverty line, the highest rate in the country, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). Multidimensional poverty, which measures deprivation in education, health care and housing rather than income alone, shows a similar situation: 36.8% of Chocó’s population lives in multidimensional poverty, according to DANE. The earthquake exposed this long-existing gap between Colombia’s Pacific Coast and the rest of the country.

After the Disaster

Since the disaster, the death toll has risen to 331, while 240 people remain missing and around 400,000 people have been affected across 16 of the 32 departments in Colombia. The earthquake has created a nationwide humanitarian and infrastructure crisis, shutting down health, education, information and cultural centers, damaging housing and limiting transportation and communication across the country.

Creating Solutions

According to Gloria Miranda of the Institute for Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action, nonprofit and humanitarian organizations have advanced the response to the disaster in western Colombia. However, private donations and social initiatives are not enough on their own. Miranda argues that the priorities of affected communities need to be written into the government’s political agenda, so aid can be coordinated more efficiently and tracked.

On Aug. 21, German outlet DW criticized the response of President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government. It noted that the presidency’s public messaging diverged from other state institutions on the earthquake’s toll, pointed to a limited government presence in the press, and highlighted Colombia’s hesitation over international aid.

Such hesitation was present in the earthquake’s first days, when the United Nations said it had not received a formal request for assistance from Colombian authorities, even as several governments, including Mexico, Brazil and Chile, offered search and rescue teams. Government officials said they were relying on the country’s own capacity and strict technical certification standards for foreign rescuers, but the delay attracted criticism from disaster-response experts questioning whether caution or politics were driving the decision.

Long-Standing Issues

Buenaventura, a port city of more than 430,000 people, had already struggled for decades with limited electricity, unstable internet and scarce to absent drinking water before the earthquake made those problems worse.

Records from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which has worked in Colombia since 2005 helping refugees, indicate that even before the disaster, more than 9 million Colombians already required humanitarian aid, including those affected by forced displacement, armed conflict, floods and droughts. This reminds people of the tasks of repairing damage from the earthquake and also of reaching communities that were already facing long-standing vulnerabilities.

This organization is currently providing shelter and survival supplies, such as water, hygiene products and mattresses, for those affected in Chocó, along with monetary assistance for shelters and other families in Valle del Cauca. It is also raising funds that will become a substantial form of aid in Colombia’s Pacific Coast.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), present in Chocó for more than two decades, is coordinating with national authorities and United Nations partners to support children and families. Its focus is water, sanitation and hygiene. The goal is to ease public health problems that the earthquake made worse, along with the economic hardship and basic needs many families in these communities already faced.

Building Back

Reconstruction is now underway, and progress is coming from partnerships between companies, foundations and local communities. Grupo Argos and its foundation, working with singer Nicky Jam, are building 1,000 quick-assembly, earthquake-resistant houses nationwide, from which roughly half will go to Chocó, with the first units delivered by the end of September. In Buenaventura, manufacturers Eternit and Corporacero have donated more than 100 houses combined for displaced families, while the construction association Camacol and the Corporación Minuto de Dios are financing 27 homes for families in Chocó.

Some of the new buildings in Buenaventura are being built as stilt houses, adapted to the flood-prone geography that has shaped life along the Pacific coast. These efforts are still small next to the scale of the damage. However, they show what recovery could look like if it reaches the communities the earthquake, and decades of public policy before it, left behind. Making this urgent aid visible is not a matter of publicity, but about keeping Colombia’s Pacific Coast in the national conversation for the future development of the country.

– Juan Guillermo Rueda Castrillón

Juan is based in Barcelona, Spain and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Women Are Shaping Peacebuilding in Colombia

Peacebuilding in ColombiaWomen have played an important role in Colombia’s efforts to build peace after more than five decades of armed conflict. The conflict had a particularly serious impact on rural women, as violence and displacement cost them their land, livelihoods and economic security. United Nations (UN) Women reported that rural and Indigenous women were pushed into severe poverty during the conflict. During peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), women’s organizations pushed for greater participation and demanded recognition of these experiences. Their involvement led to the creation of a Gender Sub-Commission and helped bring women’s rights and gender equality into the 2016 Peace Agreement. Women in peacebuilding in Colombia therefore play a role not only in building peace but also in addressing some of the social and economic effects left by decades of conflict.

Women’s Influence on the Peace Negotiations

Women’s organizations in Colombia helped push for greater representation during the peace negotiations. Their advocacy led to the creation of a Gender Sub-Commission in 2014, tasked with ensuring negotiators included a gender perspective throughout talks between the Colombian government and FARC-EP. Women also participated through consultations and visits to the negotiating table, which allowed victims and women’s rights organizations to share their experiences and proposals. According to the United Nations, women made up approximately half of those involved in national and regional consultations during the peace process. Their participation meant negotiators recognized women not only for how the conflict had affected them but also for the role they could play in building peace in Colombia.

Progress on Gender Commitments

Although Colombia’s Peace Agreement included important commitments on gender equality, putting them into practice has been slower. The Kroc Institute monitors 130 gender-related commitments within the agreement. Its research found that, as of November 2022, 18% had not been initiated, 52% remained at a minimal level of implementation, 18% had reached an intermediate level and only 12% had reached completion. Earlier monitoring also identified limited institutional leadership and inadequate funding as obstacles to progress, particularly for women and LGBTQ+ people in rural areas. These figures show that including gender commitments in the Peace Agreement was an important step, but implementing them remains a challenge for women in peacebuilding in Colombia.

Women Building Peace in Local Communities

Women’s role in Colombia’s peace process extends beyond national negotiations. Across areas affected by armed conflict, women leaders and local organizations have worked to support dialogue, protect communities and encourage the implementation of the Peace Agreement. Women have also organized to address issues affecting their communities, including displacement, insecurity and continuing violence. UN Women has highlighted the work of women and local organizations involved in peacebuilding, including efforts to strengthen women’s participation and represent communities affected by the conflict. This shows that peacebuilding in Colombia is not limited to national negotiations. Women are also working within communities that continue to experience the effects of conflict.

Women’s Role in Reintegration

Women who formerly belonged to the FARC-EP have also become part of Colombia’s transition from armed conflict to peace. More than 30% of former FARC-EP members involved in the reintegration process are women, many of whom have had to adapt to new roles as workers, students, mothers and community leaders. Reintegration can involve challenges including access to employment, education, health services and personal security. Programs in Colombia have worked to support women’s economic independence, political participation and leadership during this transition. Supporting women’s access to livelihoods and economic independence is particularly important in communities where conflict has fueled poverty and stripped away economic opportunities.

Young Women Are Strengthening Peace

Young women are also contributing to peacebuilding in areas of Colombia that continue to experience violence and inequality. In Quibdó, in the department of Chocó, the Empatía Chocó Foundation supports community initiatives focused on women’s rights, violence prevention and youth leadership. Young women involved in these efforts work to strengthen relationships within their communities and create opportunities for younger generations in an area that has endured decades of armed conflict. Their work shows how women in peacebuilding in Colombia are not only involved at the national political level but are also helping to build peace within communities still affected by conflict.

Women Peacebuilders Still Face Security Risks

Despite their contribution to Colombia’s peace process, women activists and community leaders can face serious risks because of their work. Human Rights Watch has documented violence and threats against human rights defenders and other social leaders in Colombia, particularly in areas where armed groups continue to operate. A 2026 United Nations report also found that women, including community and political leaders, continued to face heightened risks from armed violence and gender-based discrimination. These threats can make it more difficult for women to participate safely in community leadership and peacebuilding. Protecting these women matters if they are to continue their work in communities and contribute to peace in Colombia.

Looking Ahead

Nearly a decade after the 2016 Peace Agreement, women continue to play an important role in Colombia’s efforts to build lasting peace. Colombia has made progress in recognizing women’s participation, supporting former combatants and including gender commitments in the Peace Agreement, but challenges remain. A 2026 United Nations report highlighted continuing concerns around women’s participation in decision-making and the implementation of gender provisions. Continued support for women leaders, peacebuilders and local organizations will be important as Colombia works to strengthen peace in communities still affected by conflict. Ensuring that women in peacebuilding in Colombia can participate safely and meaningfully remains an important part of the country’s peace process.

– Aniya Akram

Aniya is based in Bradford, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Countries Providing Earthquake Relief in South America

Earthquake Relief in South AmericaSouth America has a high risk of earthquakes with an average of 32,000 per year, according to Volcano Discovery. This year, three major earthquakes were reported, hitting Venezuela and Colombia with magnitudes above 7. Venezuela received the first two, while Colombia received the third. Before the earthquake, Venezuela already faced one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America, with independent estimates placing it above 80% of the population. The earthquakes are expected to push that figure even higher. In Colombia, 28% of marginalized communities were living in poverty. After the earthquake, the percentage rose to 30%. People suffered from food insecurity and basic infrastructure issues, leaving tens of thousands displaced within the country.

To provide earthquake relief in South America, countries outside of the continent have supported survivors living in poverty after destruction. Here are five countries that have given continuous support for earthquake victims.

United States

The United States (U.S.) mobilized efforts in response to the earthquake in Colombia on Aug. 10, 2026. The Department of State donated $15.5 million in funds for emergency shelter, food, protection, and structural assessment. They also deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to look for individuals impacted by the earthquake. DART comprises workers from various partner organizations like Catholic Relief Services and the United Nations (UN) World Food Program.

On July 8, the Department of State announced the establishment of a humanitarian air bridge for the June 24 Venezuelan earthquakes. The bridge would initiate Amazon and Airlink to fly weekly relief supplies from Miami, Florida, to Maiquetía, Venezuela, at no cost.

The Venezuelan earthquakes left more than 17,000 people homeless, according to NBC. Venezuela was already home to nearly 8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance before the quakes struck. The humanitarian air bridge provided crucial relief as reconstruction began.

Canada

On June 25, the day after the Venezuelan earthquakes hit, Canada donated an initial $5 million in humanitarian aid, later expanding to $12 million total, according to the Government of Canada. Anita Anand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X that the suffering in Venezuela is “heartbreaking,” adding that many people were “facing unbearable days ahead without shelter, food or certainty.”

For the earthquake in Colombia, more than 30,300 families were affected with 9,550 homes destroyed, according to CBC. To combat the damage, Colombian residents in Toronto are raising funds for survivors in poverty. Two GoFundMe pages were set up to collect money for earthquake recovery and rebuilding.

The first GoFundMe page, set up by Natalia Campo, owner of Delicious Empanadas in Toronto, raised $3,000. The money will go to lost loved ones, homes, and aid for search and rescue teams. The second, set up by Toronto-based Colombian journalist Camilla Gonzales, raised $22,000. The money will go to Corporación Presentes, a Colombian organization that works in disaster recovery.

While there is no specific number of survivors in poverty who are benefiting from the aid, Campo and Gonzales hope that the funds lead to a successful recovery of those impacted by the earthquake.

France

After the earthquake in Venezuela, France deployed a rescue team of 85 French rescue workers to search for victims, according to France in the United Kingdom. Along with search and rescue, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs sent 38 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Guadeloupe, plus an additional six tonnes from Martinique, France. In Colombia, France worked with the European Union (EU) to launch Copernicus, its satellite service to help with rescue operations. Copernicus provides rapid mapping and assesses earthquake damage. Based on the analysis, Copernicus estimated that 622 buildings were impacted by the earthquake.

Japan

The Government of Japan issued an emergency grant of $3.5 million in response to the earthquake in Venezuela, according to Relief Web. They also provided goods, such as tarpaulin, portable jerry cans and water purifiers through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Based on the ongoing needs assessment, Japan partnered with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to provide support to disaster victims living in poverty. In response to the Colombian earthquake, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu expressed condolences and readiness to assist following the Colombian earthquake. “In the wake of the earthquake that struck the Republic of Colombia on Aug. 10, I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and extend my heartfelt sympathies to all those affected,” Toshimitsu said. “Japan stands in strong solidarity with the people of Colombia.”

Outside of the government, the Nippon Foundation is requesting donations for disaster relief for Colombia. The money will fund efforts for survivors in poverty from the aftermath.

Israel

In response to the earthquake in Colombia, Israel sent a rescue team of 80 people to search for victims, according to the Jerusalem Post. The main goal of the expedition was to provide immediate life-saving assistance to survivors through mapping destruction sites. The rescue team comprised regular duty soldiers and reservists. The delegation also spent three weeks providing earthquake relief to Venezuela before returning home, according to the Times of Israel. During the three weeks, Israel was tasked with assessing and classifying damaged buildings and assisting with reconstruction efforts. After the return, Israel continued to provide aid to survivors remotely.

By proceeding efforts remotely, Israel provides the framework for rebuilding Venezuela after the destruction from the earthquake. The two countries also restored consular ties with each other after severing diplomatic relations in 2009. The impact shows another face of Israel and the Jewish community, according to eJewish Philanthropy.

Moving Forward

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to support the people of Colombia. Other countries continue to provide earthquake relief in South America as more victims find themselves in poverty. Through international support, survivors receive basic needs from across the globe.

With the five countries providing international support for earthquake relief in South America, past hostilities are forgotten as they come together to provide humanitarian aid to poverty-stricken communities.

– Casey Chan-Smutko

Casey is based in Natick, MA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education Training Centers in Colombia

Vocational Education in Colombia Vocational education training centers in Colombia are helping people develop practical skills that can lead to employment and entrepreneurship. This training can be particularly important for people experiencing poverty, as access to skills and employment opportunities can affect a person’s ability to obtain a stable income. One of the country’s largest providers of vocational education is the National Training Service, known as SENA. The public institution provides free training programs designed to prepare Colombians for occupations in areas ranging from technology and business to agriculture and manufacturing.

Poverty and Employment in Colombia

Poverty remains a challenge in Colombia, particularly in rural communities. According to Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), 28% of the country’s population lived in monetary poverty in 2025. The rate was higher in rural and dispersed areas, where 39.5% of people lived in monetary poverty. Monetary poverty measures whether a person’s income is sufficient to meet the basic needs represented by Colombia’s official poverty line.

Employment opportunities can also influence the ability of people to move out of poverty. The OECD reports that around 56% of workers in Colombia are employed informally, meaning they generally do not have access to employment protections or social security benefits. The organization identifies high informality, low access to high-quality education and other inequalities as factors contributing to poverty in Colombia. Developing skills that correspond with labor-market needs can help workers pursue more productive employment opportunities.

For people in low-income and underserved communities, vocational education can therefore provide a pathway toward employment and greater economic stability. By giving students practical skills that employers need, vocational education training centers can help address some of the barriers that make it difficult for people to access higher-quality work.

SENA Provides Free Vocational Training

SENA offers vocational training at several levels, including auxiliary, technical and technological programs. Its certified training programs are designed to prepare people for occupations needed by Colombia’s productive and social sectors. SENA also provides free virtual training, allowing Colombians to access courses without attending a physical training center.

SENA has a large network throughout the country. The institution currently provides in-person services through 33 regional offices and 118 training centers. This network allows vocational education to reach communities throughout Colombia rather than being concentrated solely in the country’s largest cities.

Connecting Training to Employment

Vocational education training centers in Colombia can be especially valuable when training is connected to the needs of employers. SENA’s Public Employment Agency helps connect job seekers with companies while also providing occupational guidance and employment services. The agency works to coordinate labor-market needs with vocational training, occupational certification and employment opportunities.

The connection between vocational training and employment is reflected in recent results from SENA’s Labor and Occupational Observatory. More than 35,600 people who completed SENA programs during the first half of 2025 obtained formal employment within six months of receiving their certification. According to SENA, 58% of the graduates evaluated entered the formal labor market during the six-month period following their certification.

These employment opportunities can be especially significant for people who previously relied on informal or low-quality work. Access to formal employment can provide greater economic stability and access to benefits that are often unavailable to informal workers. In this way, vocational education can help address employment challenges that contribute to economic insecurity and poverty.

Reaching Communities Across Colombia

SENA also works to expand vocational education beyond Colombia’s major urban centers. The OECD has identified SENA as an important provider of job training in Colombia and noted that it reaches some of the country’s more remote areas. Expanding access to training can give people in underserved communities opportunities to develop skills that can be used in the labor market.

The importance of reaching rural communities is particularly evident because poverty rates are higher outside Colombia’s urban centers. Providing training opportunities in these areas can help reduce geographic barriers to skills development and give people more opportunities to pursue employment without leaving their communities.

Other Vocational Education Training Centers

SENA is one of the most prominent providers of vocational education in Colombia, but it is part of a broader network of institutions that provide technical and technology-focused education. The Institución Universitaria Pascual Bravo in Medellín, for example, offers programs in areas including software development, electrical technology, mechanics, mechatronics and industrial production. Some programs are available through in-person, distance or virtual formats.

The Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano (ITM), another public institution in Medellín, also maintains a strong technological focus. The institution offers programs in technological and professional fields and has been recognized for its emphasis on preparing students for life and work. Government sources have also highlighted ITM and Pascual Bravo as institutions participating in programs designed to expand access to technological education.

Together, these institutions demonstrate that vocational and technology-focused education in Colombia extends beyond a single organization. Different training centers provide pathways into fields that correspond with the needs of Colombia’s labor market, giving students opportunities to develop skills that can improve their employment prospects.

Preparing Colombians for the Future

Vocational education in Colombia is also adapting to changing demands in the labor market. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has worked with SENA and Colombian partners to develop training based on occupational competencies and current labor-market needs. According to the ILO, its professional training program in Colombia has reached more than “387,000 direct beneficiaries” since 2016.

SENA’s programs include fields such as software development, accounting, tourism, marketing, logistics, electrical installation and health services. By providing free opportunities to gain practical skills, vocational education training centers can help Colombians prepare for employment while supporting the country’s broader economic development.

Looking Ahead

For Colombians living in poverty or working in informal employment, gaining skills that correspond with labor-market needs can provide an opportunity to pursue more stable sources of income. As training centers expand access to technical and technological education, they can help address employment barriers while giving people tools to improve their economic circumstances.

The diversity of programs in vocational education training centers in Colombia demonstrates how practical education can create pathways toward employment and economic opportunity. As SENA and other institutions continue expanding access to training and connecting education with labor-market needs, vocational education can remain an important tool for helping Colombians build skills, find employment and pursue greater economic stability.

– Kenneth Dyer

Kenneth is based in Westwood, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Project Hope is Helping After the Earthquakes in Colombia

Earthquakes in ColombiaOn Aug. 10, 2026, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia caused mass destruction, hundreds of fatalities and left thousands of people in need of urgent help. The earthquake hit about 150 miles west of Bogotá, with the city of Cali facing considerable destruction. Tremors were felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

It was the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia in over a decade, followed by at least 250 aftershocks, just weeks after two detrimental earthquakes in Venezuela.

With more than 156,000 homes damaged or destroyed, more than 170 collapsed buildings, at least 300 dead and more than 4,500 injured, immediate outside help is necessary. Organizations such as Project HOPE, a nonprofit dedicated to emergency response, are working to provide hygiene supplies, medical assistance and infrastructure repairs in the days after the earthquake.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency, and Project HOPE responded within hours.

Project HOPE’s Efforts

Project HOPE is aiding Colombia by providing hygiene supplies such as toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, diapers, soap, cleaning supplies and more. Without the worry of basic hygiene and dignity items, those affected by the earthquake can focus on finding their families and rebuilding their lives. In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, Project HOPE began assessing health facilities within hours of the earthquake, surveying the partially collapsed Hospital Universitario del Valle Evaristo García, where health workers have had to set up tents outside to treat the injured after a wing of the hospital collapsed.

Mental Health Focus

Project HOPE also focuses intensely on mental health. Traumatic events such as earthquakes and other natural disasters leave wounds that are not always visible. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety surrounding possible future tremors can leave people with immense fear and inability to function.

Project HOPE is working to make mental health services a part of basic healthcare, regardless of social or financial circumstances. One billion people around the world suffer from psychological challenges, and less than 30% of those people will receive treatment. Challenges increase significantly in areas impacted by war or natural disasters. Project HOPE’s implementation of mental health services in Colombia helps to address all injuries a person may suffer from after a traumatic event, including mental ones.

Pre-Existing Needs

While it is vital to respond quickly during an emergency, need existed before the earthquakes in Colombia. Nearly 7 million individuals were already in need of humanitarian support before the earthquake hit. After the disaster, that number is expected to grow as families face further displacement, disrupted services, loss of income and reduced access to basic necessities. The limited access to healthcare, clean water and psychological first aid makes recovery from the earthquakes more difficult, emphasizing the importance of aiding those in need before disaster strikes.

– Julia Cholerton

Julia is based in Gig Harbor, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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$25 Million PAHO Health Initiative in Latin America

PAHO Health Initiative in Latin AmericaOn June 25, 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched a $25 million health initiative in five Latin American countries. The project will directly benefit more than 1.1 million people in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras, and indirectly reach close to 900,000 more. It aims to expand access to essential health care in communities facing some of the region’s most severe humanitarian pressures. In these nations, poverty and poor health access often reinforce each other.

Why Now

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs manages the Regional Humanitarian Pooled Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean (RHPF LAC), which was established in 2024. The fund delivers faster, more flexible funding to one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. Latin America and the Caribbean face mounting humanitarian pressure: food insecurity and violence have reached record levels, with 27.3 million people in need of assistance in 2025.

In Colombia, armed conflict, extreme weather and migration pressures continue to drive urgent health needs, particularly in areas where non-state armed groups restrict access to essential services. Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador face their own overlapping challenges. These include population displacement, cholera, drought, food insecurity and vector-borne disease outbreaks. PAHO selected the five countries because their health systems face some of the region’s steepest strains, making them priorities for a coordinated response.

Country-by-Country Snapshot

Haiti will receive the largest share of the funding, reflecting the severity of a humanitarian crisis marked by widespread displacement and cholera outbreaks. Poverty compounds the crisis. The World Bank’s most recent national survey from 2012, found 88% of Haitians live below the national poverty line. Given the survey’s age, that figure likely understates current conditions after more than a decade of continued political and economic instability. In Haiti, the initiative aims to maintain access to emergency and essential health care for more than 524,000 people in highly vulnerable situations. This includes support for the cholera response, maternal and neonatal care, mental health services and vaccination campaigns against measles and diphtheria.

In Colombia, where an estimated 37% of the population lives below $8.30 a day, funding will expand health services for communities affected by conflict, violence and climate-related displacement, with a specific focus on hard-to-reach rural and tropical areas. Planned actions include primary care, disease surveillance, nutrition support, mental health services and improved access to safe drinking water.

In Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where implementation began in early June, PAHO is working to restore and strengthen essential health services disrupted by climate shocks, food insecurity and disease outbreaks. Around 50% of Hondurans and 47% of Guatemalans live below $8.30 a day, while roughly 30% of Salvadorans live below their country’s national poverty line. These figures underscore why sustained health investment in these communities matters. Response efforts include mobile health brigades, vaccination campaigns, rehabilitation of health facilities and improvements to water and sanitation systems, alongside targeted disease prevention work. In Guatemala, the project will prioritize communities affected by drought and crop losses, while in El Salvador, funding will concentrate on vector-borne diseases and climate-related emergencies.

The Capacity-Building Angle

PAHO structured the health initiative in Latin America to build lasting capacity, not just deliver short-term relief. Alongside emergency response, its projects include strengthening epidemiological surveillance, expanding maternal, child and mental health services, also improving water, sanitation and hygiene systems in all five countries. These investments will help local health systems detect and respond to future outbreaks and climate emergencies on their own, reducing long-term dependence on humanitarian aid. The initiative pairs immediate care with system-level improvements. This approach aims to leave communities more resilient and better equipped to protect their own health and economic stability long after the current funding cycle ends, offering a model for how emergency response and lasting development can work together.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez

Gonzalo is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How a Solar Project is Reducing Poverty in Cali, Colombia

poverty in CaliFor years, residents of Santiago de Cali have faced high electricity bills, carefully managing their appliance usage to avoid spikes in expenses.

In 2025, President Gustavo Petro’s government took action to lower their bills by implementing renewable energy as a cost-effective solution, and it is working. To address increasing household expenses in Colombia’s third-largest metropolitan area, Cali, the government collaborated with local utility program EMCALI to push the Hogares Energéticamente Sostenibles (Energy-Sustainable Homes) initiative, or Colombia Solar. The project’s goal extended beyond implementing sustainable energy infrastructure; it aimed to lift 2,000 low-income families in Cali out of poverty by reducing energy bills.

Simultaneously, it sought to lessen the government’s reliance on subsidization by reallocating money from energy subsidies to the solar initiative. This Cali-specific investment comprised COP 8.35 trillion (approximately US$2.22 billion).

Implementation and Impact

As of August 2025, Colombia Solar successfully installed photovoltaic systems in 1,860 low-income households in the Potrero Grande and Llano Verde neighborhoods, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Edwin Palma. In September of the same year, these programs urged the solar project to continue reducing poverty in Cali, aiming for their goal of 2,000 households.

The results have been significant. Increased solar energy usage has reduced most sustainable households’ electric bills by 40% to 60%, with some reporting no charges at all. “This program is a blessing. Before, I had to stop using the fan or blender because the energy consumption skyrocketed. We were paying up to 230,000 pesos a month; now the bill is down 100,000 pesos. It is a huge help for my family,” beneficiary Bellanira Guzmán said.

The Bigger Picture

Colombia Reports indicates that while extreme poverty has decreased in the last 10 years, urban poverty was still at 30% in 2022. Disparities have worsened in areas like food and housing deficiency in the last five years.

The city organizes its social classes in categories one through six, with six being the highest class and one the lowest. Neighborhoods are organized according to these metrics. This recent program, aimed at Cali’s three lowest social strata, relieved significant financial burdens on thousands of people dealing with these disparities.

Colombia Solar’s program has shown that measures of equity and renewability can have real, sustainable impacts on well-being. Aiming this initiative at Cali’s three lowest social strata has relieved significant financial burdens, allowing them to narrow the wealth gap with higher economic strata.

Beyond poverty reduction, Colombia Solar has impacted the country’s energy industry. From 2025 to 2026, Colombia’s solar energy market grew by 0.7%, showing its effect on larger markets as well as locally. The report estimates additional growth up to 8% by 2031.

This economic growth could potentially create 25,000 jobs in Colombia’s renewable energy industry nationwide as the broader Colombia Solar program, backed by a separate 8.35 trillion COP (about $2.2 billion) national investment, expands to more than 1 million low-income households between 2026 and 2030. The government already provides tax breaks and subsidies for businesses using renewable energy resources, covering installation costs.

While installations can be expensive, results clearly show that long-term savings on bills are worthwhile.

Why Cali’s Case Matters

The advantages of this solar project in Cali are abundant. It has brought prosperity to impoverished populations and positively impacted larger economic markets with job creation and the growth of renewable energy industries.

The use of renewable energy in Cali demonstrates that sustainability, poverty reduction and market prosperity can work together.

– Aren Lau

Aren is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Colombia’s Decreasing Unemployment Rate

Colombia's decreasing unemployment rateCompared to other Latin American countries, Colombia’s unemployment rate has always been notably higher. Currently, the average rate for Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the International Labor Organization, is 5.5%, whereas Colombia’s is 8.3%. This leaves many people and families in the country impoverished and food insecure, especially in families where both parents cannot work. However, despite being much higher than average, Colombia’s decreasing unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 1994.

Unemployment in the Past

The lowest Colombia’s unemployment rate has been in recent decades was 7.8% in 1993, aligning with Latin America’s lowest until the average hit a new low in 2024. Despite this all-time low in the ’90s, the highest the unemployment rate reached was just seven years later in 2000 after Colombia’s 1999 economic crisis. This was caused by a rapid increase in public expenditure and major debt within private sectors, leading to a sharp drop in GDP growth. At its peak, the unemployment rate reached 20.5%, almost triple what it was in 1993.

Though Colombia was able to recover steadily after the recession, the rate began to increase again from 8.6% in 2015 to 16% in 2020, with the major spike mostly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This worldwide event left people jobless everywhere, so it is no surprise that Colombia faced similar circumstances. However, despite this spike, the country recovered much faster than in 2000, with Colombia’s decreasing unemployment rates now being the lowest they have been this century, just three years after the pandemic was declared over.

What Has Changed?

  • The fertility rate has decreased. From 2000 to 2024, the fertility rate in Colombian women went from 2.5 to 1.6 children. A lowered fertility rate leads to fewer people requiring jobs as well as fewer parents being financially insecure, while also allowing more women to join the workforce since they have fewer, if any, children to care for at home.
  • Education rates have been rising as well. Colombia’s decreasing unemployment rate has gone hand-in-hand with rising education rates, especially among women. In 2019, only 73% of the population had an upper-secondary education, but that has already increased to 83% as of 2024. Higher education typically means more job opportunities, allowing more people to have jobs overall.
  • The enactment of mandatory disability hiring. As part of Colombia’s 2025 labor reform, policies forcing companies to meet a disability hiring quota, as well as training and accommodation for these new hires, are giving more people the opportunity to work in various sectors. This mandatory act is employing people who previously would have struggled to find places of work, causing the unemployment rate to decrease.
  • The enactment of new anti-discrimination policies. Another key part of the 2025 labor reform was various policies to prevent discrimination and harassment to make the workplace safer, especially for minorities. This will not only give more minorities, especially women, the chance to be hired, but it also will keep them working by helping them feel safe in the work environment.
  • Increased job availability in specific industries. Specifically, accommodation and food services, education and health care, transportation, and public administration have all contributed to the increasing job market. In addition to those, more citizens have been able to find work in the arts than in previous years.
  • Receiving outside organizational help. Specifically, nonprofits like the AVSI Foundation and Mercy Corps work to provide more job opportunities to those in need. The AVSI Foundation has educational programs and job placement help specifically targeted at low-income households and women. Meanwhile, Mercy Corps works in the agricultural sector of Colombia by helping farmers acquire land and better crops, having now supported over 3,200 farmers.

Looking Ahead

Colombia’s decreasing unemployment rate still has a long way to go to be on par with some of the surrounding countries, most notably in rural areas, which have seen much less improvement than urban ones. However, if it maintains its current decreasing rate by continuing the implementation of labor laws and giving more citizens the opportunity to work, mass unemployment in Colombia will be a thing of the past.

– Ally Jones

Ally is based in Bethany, OK, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Cuerpxs En Resistencia: Reducing Poverty in Colombia

Cuerpxs En Resistencia: Community Meals in ColombiaCuerpxs En Resistencia helps provide warm and dignified community meals in Colombia’s poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods to those in precarious and exploitative positions. Colombia’s first left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, has lifted almost 4 million people out of poverty since his inauguration in 2022. However, with criticisms of an unequal urban-rural welfare distribution and an upcoming election in May, poverty in Colombia is in the spotlight. The Borgen Project spoke with a previous volunteer of Cuerpxs En Resistencia, who helps explain the necessity of social enterprises to provide both physical resources and a sense of community and dignity in an attempt to tackle poverty in Colombia.

Poverty in Colombia

Much of the current poor economic situation in Colombia can be traced back to the U.S.-led war on drugs, where policies led to increased militarization of several key areas and increased rates of criminalization and incarceration. The consequences of these policies led to land dispossession, a decrease in rural autonomy and food sovereignty and an increase in violence and precarious employment.

Although numbers are still relatively high, since the COVID-19 pandemic and President Petro took office, poverty rates in Colombia have been on a steady decline. The most recent statistics from 2024 indicate that 31.8% of the population is below the national poverty line, while 4.5 million people (8.5%) are below the international poverty rate, calculated at living on less than $3.00 a day. Compared to figures in 2020 and 2021, at the height of the pandemic, where 39.7% of the population lived below the poverty line and 15.76% (almost 8 million people) lived on less than $3.00 a day, these figures suggest major improvements to the welfare state in Colombia under President Petro.

Rural Poverty

There does, however, remain an uneven distribution of this poverty. Around 61.5% of people living in rural Colombia are identified as poor, likely as a result of the historically disproportionate delivery of quality public services across departments and municipalities. Poverty and inequality are a particular concern in certain Colombian departments such as Nariño and La Guajira, where vulnerable groups such as Indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected.

An absence of money is not the only aspect of poverty. Multidimensional poverty takes into consideration other factors of deprivation that individuals experience. In Colombia, multidimensional poverty is assessed across five dimensions:

  • Employment
  • Housing conditions
  • Health
  • Household education
  • Children’s or youth’s conditions

The National Administrative Department of Statistics published the most recent report on multidimensional poverty in Colombia in 2024 and found that in 2023, around 12% of the population was identified as multidimensionally poor. This means that in addition to receiving less than $3.00 a day, they and their households have little to no basic education and poor access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and electricity. The World Bank reported that by 2024, this percentage had reduced to 8.76%.

Cuerpxs En Resistencia: Bodies in Resistance

The Borgen Project spoke with Sofia, who has previously volunteered with Cuerpxs En Resistencia, a social enterprise helping to fight poverty in Colombia. Cuerpxs En Resistencia translates to “Bodies in Resistance,” with the “x” in “cuerpxs” indicating inclusivity to all types of bodies. The organization describes itself as a grassroots nonprofit social, community, political, artistic and academic organization that fights for sexual and bodily emancipation. It focuses on the intersections of class, gender and disability to advocate for the ways in which oppressive systems and policy changes do not affect everyone equally. Its work ranges from raising awareness about the lived experience of intersecting forms of oppression to community projects such as providing safe spaces and community meals in Colombia.

Sofia volunteered with Cuerpxs En Resistencia in one of the particularly poor neighborhoods of Colombia’s capital city, Bogota, called Santa Fe. She emphasizes how poverty in Colombia is not simply the lack of money but also leads to an increased sense of dehumanization due to limited access to other human rights, such as access to water and a lack of resources and organizations to turn to in times of need. She also recalls how common gun violence and the use of serious drugs were in Santa Fe as a result of decades of conflict.

Due to these local conditions, many individuals in Santa Fe are forced into exploitative and precarious job situations. Recognizing the need for help, Cuerpxs En Resistencia helped create a community-funded project to form a safe and welcoming community, providing the people of Santa Fe a safe space to receive a free, warm community meal, as well as entertainment, with the goal of improving the lives, health and dignity of those facing multidimensional poverty in Colombia. A diverse group of people attended these community meals — from young children to people in their 70s facing homelessness.

Looking Ahead

Sofia stressed that President Petro has given her and many people in Colombia hope for reducing poverty across the country. Petro has focused on the concept of dignity alongside tangible measures to help those facing poverty. While the work of grassroots projects such as the community meals provided by Cuerpxs En Resistencia is an important lifeline, systemic changes such as those implemented by President Petro are also necessary to drive broader change.

– Stephanie Gable

Stephanie is based in Wales, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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4 UK Charities Providing Aid in Colombia

aid in ColombiaDespite the significant strides made toward poverty reduction and the landmark 2016 Peace Agreement, inequality and violence continue to impact the lives of rural, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. These challenges have drawn the attention of international charities and aid groups focused on the region. Several of these charities are based in the U.K. and four in particular have provided significant foreign aid and assistance in Colombia.

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has been providing aid in Colombia for more than 60 years. Through partnerships with local organizations and Indigenous leaders, it works to protect local environments, build peace and support human rights defenders and Indigenous communities. One of its most notable contributions has been supporting the people of Cajamarca in their fight against AngloGold Ashanti, one of the world’s largest mining companies.

In March 2017, 98% of Cajamarca’s residents, more than half of whom depend on farming, voted against proposed mining in the area to protect their water sources from pollution. Although the vote was legally binding, energy and government officials have tried to overturn it in favor of the mine. However, their efforts have been challenged by a legal coalition of local groups. 

These include the Cajamarca Youth Socio-Environmental Collective (COSAJUCA) and the Socio-Legal Center for Territorial Defense (SIEMBRA), both supported by CAFOD partners.

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) has operated in Colombia since 1985, providing aid, promoting peace and helping Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities preserve and protect their land. One example of its work came in 2011, when SCIAF supported COCOMOPOCA, a coalition of 43 Afro-Colombian communities. After 12 years of appeals, their application for collective legal ownership of 73,000 hectares of land in the Chocó region was approved. While SCIAF has continued supporting efforts to protect Indigenous and Afro-Colombian land, it has recently expanded its focus to the growing number of Venezuelan migrants entering Colombia. 

In 2019, SCIAF received more than $140,000 from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund for projects in Colombia. This funding provided food support to 13,259 Venezuelan migrants and nonfood items to assist 6,339 migrants traveling through the country, both 25% above projected targets. These efforts have become even more significant amid rising regional instability. Colombia already hosts around three million Venezuelan migrants and could face another large influx following recent U.S. strikes in Venezuela.

Tearfund

Tearfund is a Scottish-based charity that has provided aid in Colombia since 1980, with assistance ranging from supporting Venezuelan migrants to responding to natural disasters. Through collaboration with its local church partner, CORSOC and funding from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund, Tearfund has provided 500 families with basic household goods and food. It has also offered medical assistance to 1,175 people at four church locations across Colombia.

Additionally, 24,000 children of Venezuelan migrants are now Colombian citizens as a result of campaigns supported by Tearfund. In recent weeks, catastrophic flooding in northern Colombia has heavily affected the Córdoba region, where officials report that 156,000 people have been impacted and 80% of the territory remains underwater following heavy rainfall. In response, a network of local churches that participated in Tearfund’s Transforming Communities program has helped more than 3,000 people rebuild their lives, including 700 families.

Christian Aid

Christian Aid has supported local communities and strengthened resilience among Indigenous groups for more than 20 years by helping them secure land and territorial rights. One of its most significant achievements came in 2016, when it partnered with the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission (CIJP) to help obtain a collective land title for Afro-descendant communities in the Naya River basin. The title recognizes the land rights of 52 communities that have lived there since the 17th century.

The agreement secured 177,817 hectares of land for 18,000 beneficiaries, marking a powerful milestone 15 years after the Naya Massacre, when right-wing paramilitaries killed 25 civilians in the town of Alto Naya.

Future Efforts

While the aid provided by these four U.K. charities has helped reduce economic gaps between urban and rural areas, more must be done to address the inequality that makes Colombia the second most unequal country in Latin America. The U.K. continues to support efforts in Colombia and has called for faster implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement. 

– Sean Welsh

Sean is based in Haywards Heath, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr