Tag Archive for: Poverty In Colombia

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Taking Action Against Yellow Fever in Colombia

Yellow Fever in ColumbiaAfter the mysterious deaths of three monkeys of different species in Putumayo, Colombia, health teams quickly determined the cause. They identified that the deaths were not random or coincidental, but the beginning of what could have been a yellow fever outbreak in Colombia. It is a highly contagious virus mainly transmitted by mosquito bites.

However, it can be prevented by vaccines, which are relatively affordable and easily accessible. Nonetheless, depending on the region, it can be harder to access or afford. In 2025, five countries reported an increasing presence of yellow fever. In Colombia (as of June 28, 2025), there have been 114 confirmed human yellow fever cases, 49 confirmed deaths and case fatality rate of 43%.

The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) offered training to health teams through the PROTECT initiative in Colombia. It educated health workers on taking preventative measures quickly and efficiently against outbreaks of viral diseases such as yellow fever.

Education From Health Professionals

Following the deaths of the monkeys, several immediate preventative measures were taken. These included vaccinating environmental workers, conducting entomological studies and analyzing the affected area. Due to the training offered by PAHO, health teams were taught how to take samples from wildlife safely and the importance of integrated surveillance.

Integrated surveillance showed health workers the importance of monitoring primates and mosquitoes in the area and shared many tools to take preventative action and control outbreaks. Due to strong surveillance of the area, Colombian professionals were able to identify the presence of yellow fever in Putumayo, Colombia and control further spread of the virus.

Maintaining high vaccination levels and continued wildlife surveillance will help catch future outbreaks before they become too severe. Colombia has issued regulations and laws to help contain the spread of yellow fever and increase preparedness for future situations where swift action is needed.

PAHO has urged countries to “maintain active surveillance, vaccinate at-risk populations and ensure rapid responses to early warning signs — such as unexplained monkey deaths.” This is extremely important because our health depends on the health of our environment and the wildlife inside it. Monkeys are extremely similar to humans, so we won’t be far behind if they are affected.

The Future of PAHO’s Health Initiative

PAHO has made guidance documents publicly available on the regional level, which include instructions on safe sample collection, guidelines for managing control endeavors and maps of high-risk areas. It continues to conduct in-person training on surveillance and entomology of yellow fever for vulnerable countries.

Colombia has also issued circulars that establish transitional measures for yellow fever vaccinations. The criteria of these letters extend from ages 9 months to 59 years of age. The public health risk of yellow fever is extremely high.

However, with these measures implemented by PAHO/WHO, such as increasing vaccination levels, people have been successfully learning to save lives and contain outbreaks of yellow fever in Colombia.

– Bowie Aldrich

Bowie is based in North Syracuse, NY, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Inciting Action in the “War on Drugs”: Colombian Drug Use

colombian drugIn the wake of a perpetual international drug issue, the Latin American “War on Drugs” has only increased in intensity – particularly in Colombia, the world’s primary international cocaine supplier, where drug-related influence is historically pervasive. According to the American Journal of Public Health, Colombian drug overdoses have increased by 356% from 2010 to 2021. SIVIGILA, the national public health surveillance system, found similar statistics from the same timeframe, reporting 127,087 substance-use-related overdoses among Colombian people ages 10 and older. These intervals reflect an upward trend in drug overdoses that has been unfolding over the past three decades.

Survey

Additional reports found that Colombian drug overdoses significantly increased in young women between 2018 and 2021. This likely links to the widespread emotional distress prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a corresponding increase in prescription administration. According to Think Global Health, many users are transgender (potentially using drugs to serve as an emotional coping mechanism for their social isolation).

In grouping overdoses by substance type, the Committee on National Security Systems administered a Colombian household survey; substances most frequently associated with Colombian overdose were “tranquilizers/sedatives/antidepressants (43%), cannabis (16%), stimulants (16%), alcohol (16%), and opioids (6%),” according to Columbia University. This data neglects to include Colombian drug use among homeless or incarcerated individuals who did not receive the survey.

Colombia’s Response to the Increase in Drug Consumption

In 2022, Colombia became one of 34 countries to implement take-home naloxone programs (used to reverse the repercussions of opioid usage). Later in 2023, Colombia joined 17 other nations in the institutionalization of drug consumption rooms (DCRs), together with international contention over establishing DCRs, which made international government sanctioning difficult to acquire.

These peer-run facilities oversee the safe consumption and injection of illicit drugs, essentially arguing that safe consumption is preferable to any alternative overdose. Facilities provide access to sterile supplies (i.e., syringes), on-site medical personnel, and resources on recovery; employees are either medical personnel or recovered users.

Cambie, the first official Colombian DCR

“Cambie,” which directly translates to the English word “change,” takes action that is intentionally and deeply rooted in the meaning of its name.

Not only is “Cambie” the first safe injection site sanctioned in Colombia, but it is also the first of its kind to exist in all of South America. The facility strictly injects heroin and follows an empathy-based model of care. In its first year, it effectively prevented 14 heroin-based fatalities, according to Think Global Health.

The Process

Upon entering the facility, clients receive a survey that allows Cambie to approximate the client’s safest dosage and injection site; its services are comparable to approximately 200 other international institutions. Based in the Santa Fe neighborhood of Bogóta, Colombia, the institution bolstered 87 clients within its first two years of operation. Resultedly, the surrounding community has experienced a reduction in public heroin use, injection litter, rates of sexually transmitted diseases, and overdose deaths, without experiencing a correlated increase in the frequency of crime or drug use.

Cambie is also spearheading research on injection supplementation; Psychologist and coordinator at Cambie, Daniel Rojas, conducted a study by providing 10 heroin users with hammer pipes, known for their substance-optimizing abilities, Think Global Health reports. The trade-in for hammer pipes welcomes the opportunity for users to manipulate a mechanism less likely to be riddled with contaminants. This may show particular benefits, considering how Cambie’s annual 2025 report indicated that the leading causes of overdose in users were abrupt  “dose escalation,” unawareness of dosage, abrupt post-abstinence use, and “concomitant use with other depressants.”

A Colombian “Good Samaritan” Clause

There is a critical distinction between personal administration and trafficking, the former of which is not reinforced by DCRs. Nonetheless, in an effort to reduce Colombian drug trafficking and overdose frequency, the Colombian 2023 National Drug Policy allocated $49.5 million in assets towards funding of small projects, like injection sites and DCRs.

The approach to drug administration resembles Massachusetts’s “Good Samaritan Clause,” a clause that reduces the stigma and criminalization of underage, by eliminating the risk of persecution when reporting a medical emergency as an indoxicated minor. The ultimate goal – prioritizing the social emphasis on wellbeing rather than indictment.

Conclusion

Harm reduction is not just a form of health intervention, but a safeguard of human rights. Not only do DCR facilities protect critical sanitary needs of drug users, but they also consider the emotional underpinnings of drug use and recognize the drug epidemic as a reflection of systemic inequity in health care access. The government has effectively protected some of its most vulnerable communities by approaching the Colombian drug epidemic through this empathy-based lens.

– Talia Gitlin

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

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 9 in Colombia: Hydrogen, Jobs and Innovation

SDG 9 in ColombiaIn 2021, Colombia’s Ministry of Energy unveiled an ambitious plan to transition to clean energy by 2050 by replacing fossil fuels with a low-emission hydrogen solution. As of 2025, not only has Colombia remained consistent in its efforts, it is on track to becoming a regional leader in energy sustainability. This article lists some updates on SDG 9 in Colombia.

The 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce the rate of global warming spurred nations into modernizing their energy sources. Part of Colombia’s SDG 9, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, is a commitment to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030. This is a goal it plans to achieve by transitioning to hydrogen, which it could then potentially export internationally. 

Hydrogen, most commonly used in refining, fertilizers and other chemicals, also serves as a low-carbon alternative that could power small appliances and large vehicles alike. Global demand for hydrogen is likely to increase exponentially in the next two decades. Broad international interest, support and investment have the potential to create thousands of jobs to poverty-stricken regions like Cartagena, Colombia.

Close to 10 million people suffer from energy poverty in Colombia, mostly in rural areas like the Amazonía, Chocó and Orinoquía. While hydrogen is not yet an affordable alternative, mass production and naturally-occurring white hydrogen will make it a competitive alternative by 2030.

Progress for the People

The advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promises several benefits to Colombians, particularly the people of Cartagena, where the state-owned company Ecopetrol bases its operations.

  1. Job Creation: According to Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), 41.1% of Cartagena’s population lived in poverty in 2023. The rate of poverty in the region has been increasing since 2021. The city’s unemployment rate for the first semester of 2025 was 9.8%, which hovers above the national average of 8.6% during the same period. Colombia’s roadmap anticipates the creation of 7,000 to 15,000 new jobs. In 2024, Ecopetrol announced the hiring of 344 employees as it expanded its operations. The construction of a new processing plant, new pipelines, the necessity for trained professionals, engineers and more is expected to create further job opportunities for Colombians in the coming years.
  2. Education, Training and Research: The sectors in Cartagena that saw a decrease in new jobs included professional, scientific, technical and administrative roles. In 2023, Ecopetrol invested the equivalent of more than $10 million in career training for its workforce. Ecopetrol is also working with the Inter-American Development Bank, the national vocational education center SENA, several top universities, among others. In a joint effort, they plan to build the first Innovation and Technology Center in the Caribbean.
  3. Health: Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapor and warm air, reducing carcinogens and other pollutants in the air. Vehicles powered by hydrogen are quieter, limiting noise pollution.
  4. Investment Opportunities: Several companies, including ENGIE, Siemens Energy and Porsche Colombia have shown support for Colombia’s initiatives.

Updates on SDG 9 in Colombia

The Colombian government has already taken several steps to advance its SDG 9, which include industry, innovation and infrastructure. As of 2025, there are 36 projects in multiple phases of progress.

  1. Strategy: In 2022, Ecopetrol announced that its development of a pilot program would occur in three phases. First, it would focus on the expansion of hydrogen operations at an industrial scale. Second, it would focus on sea and air transport and the search of commercial opportunities across Europe and Asia. Third, it would promote mass use of hydrogen.
  2. Legislation: The Energy Transition Law, enacted in 2021, laid the foundation for the regulations needed for hydrogen development and offered tax incentives to attract projects. In 2024, Decree 1597 established guidelines and regulations for the development of the hydrogen sector.
  3. Discovery of white hydrogen: Colombia discovered white hydrogen in the Cordillera Oriental and Sinú-San Jacinto basins. White hydrogen can be extracted at a lower cost than other types of manufactured hydrogen.
  4. Blending: Promigas’ Cartagena Plant began operations in 2022. Promigas started green hydrogen production and subsequent injection into the natural gas grid. It is the second company in Latin America to utilize blending in its distribution systems.
  5. International investment: Viridi RE declared its intention to build a green hydrogen and methanol plant in La Guajira.
  6. Pipelines: Promigas has been approved for a two-way pipeline between Barranquilla and the Ballena gas field that is expected to begin operating in 2027. Additional planned pipelines include Mariquita-Gualanday, Jamundí-Valle del Cauca and Barrancabermeja-Ballena.
  7. Hydrogen bus: Ecopetrol is looking to build a hydrogen-powered bus capable of transporting 50 passengers to be used in Bogota’s public transit system.

Looking Ahead: SDG 9 in Colombia

Colombia has impressed the international community with its unshakeable commitment to produce and implement a low-carbon source of energy. Ecopetrol and several private investors are financing initiatives, building infrastructure and promoting scientific research.

The nation’s natural resources and strategic geographical location may prove advantageous in the race to become a major hydrogen exporter in the coming years. Moreover, the advancement of SDG 9 through the investment hydrogen industry contributes to the creation of more jobs, healthier communities, learning opportunities and overall poverty reduction for Colombians.

– Johanna Lorena Arredondo Gonzalez

Johanna is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik

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Colombia’s Pension Reform is Fighting Poverty

Colombia’s Pension ReformDuring a person’s working years, a portion of their income is set aside and invested in a fund that grows over time. This money can only be accessed after retirement, providing a stable income when they are no longer working. Pensions are essential for helping elderly people avoid poverty after they retire.

Elderly Poverty in Colombia

The South American country of Colombia has a population of approximately 50 million people, of which more than 7 million (14%) are above the age of 60. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Aging at Colombia’s Javeriana University, 28.4% of this population (or 1.8 million) are living below the poverty line. The study also found that more than one million people in this age demographic are “victims of Colombia’s armed conflict,” which has been going on for decades

Inflation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted many countries, including Colombia. Since 2021, the inflation rate has grown exponentially, peaking at 13.34% in March 2023. While the current rate is much lower, the effects of inflation are still widely present. These effects are especially difficult for elderly people, who often rely on fixed incomes and have limited opportunities to increase their earnings.

In 2023, Colombia’s pension plan only covered 25.5% of the elderly population, according to Bloomberg Linea. This situation leads many older Colombians to extend their working lives, often taking on informal and poorly paid jobs. This is an issue that is more noticeable in rural areas

This is an issue that will continue to become more palpable over time. In 2015, only 10.8% of Colombia’s population was over 60. By 2050, that number will increase to 27.5%

Passage of the Law

While Colombia’s pension reform was a significant issue for years, it became the forefront of Colombian politics in 2022 with the electoral success of Gustavo Petro to the presidency. During the campaign, he promised many social reforms, including pension reform.

His promise came to fruition when the Colombian Congress passed the pension reform bill in June 2024, which came into effect in July 2025. Specifically, this new law aims to strengthen the state pension fund, Colpensiones, by requiring individuals who earn less than $800 per month to contribute to the public fund. It also guarantees payments for older adults who have insufficient retirement savings or none at all. The government estimates that approximately 2.6 million older Colombians will benefit from these expanded payments, providing long-overdue financial security to a vulnerable segment of the population

New Pillar System

The reform also establishes a new “pillar system” that focuses on increasing coverage and efficiency. It divides pension contributions into different pillars based on income levels, thereby encouraging higher-income earners to contribute to private savings while ensuring lower-income workers receive support from the public system. This structure aims to make the overall pension system more inclusive and reduce inequality among retirees.

Additionally, one of the primary objectives of Colombia’s Pension Reform is to combat elderly poverty by offering a guaranteed minimum monthly payment to retirees who did not meet the required weeks of contributions under the old system. This helps ensure that aging citizens who worked informally or intermittently have support in their later years.

While implementation will require significant coordination and public education, the reform is a step toward creating a more equitable retirement system in Colombia.

– William Brentani

William is based in San Francisco, CA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Colombia’s New Labor Law Can Help Reduce Poverty

Colombia's new labor lawColombia’s new labor law, signed into effect by Colombian President Gustavo Petro on June 26, is intended to support workers’ rights by delivering job stability, increased benefits and ensured protections. While the law is popular among trade unions, it stalled in Colombia’s congress as the opposition claimed it would detriment employment and businesses. New benefits for workers are expected to increase costs for business owners, but providing workers with more power within their industries can reduce poverty.

Aims of Colombia’s New Labor Law

  • Workday and overtime reforms. The law redefines the standard workday as eight hours and caps overtime at two hours per day or 12 hours per week, ensuring that workers cannot be exploited with extended hours. Salaried workers’ overtime, Sunday and holiday pay will rise, with Sunday and holiday rates set to progressively increase from 75% to 100% over three years. In addition, employers will have to provide higher compensation for overnight work, which has been redefined as 7 p.m. to 6. a.m. For workers, these reforms will likely result in higher earnings for those in service sectors, retail, hospitality and logistics. At the same time, employers may see increased labor costs, especially for businesses relying heavily on late or weekend shifts.
  • Mandatory contracts. Colombia’s new labor law limits the use of short-term and fixed-term contract workers to encourage stable job growth and retention. Indefinite-term contracts will now be the standard, allowing workers to agree to a job for an undefined period. Fixed-term contracts will convert to an indefinite agreement if they extend more than four times or exceed a timespan of five years. This change will give employees more job stability and predictability, less flexibility for seasonal hiring and more long-term obligations for employers.
  • More benefits for gig workers. Employers will be required to provide gig-economy workers, like food delivery drivers, with medical coverage and social security benefits, in addition to formally classifying these workers as freelancers. Employers will be subject to higher compliance costs and restructuring of their business models. However, workers will be granted better access to health care, job protections and fairer treatment.
  • Supporting remote work. Provisions regarding telework in Colombia’s new labor law provide a connectivity allowance for remote workers who earn up to twice the minimum wage. Also, it requires companies, depending on their size, to offer remote work to their employees.
  • Emphasizing worker protections. Anti-discrimination laws were expanded with this bill and included pregnant women, disabled workers and employees nearing retirement. This enactment will help enhance diversity and equity in the workplace.
  • Uplifting community members and child care. Around 69,000 community mothers who provide care and education to children in their communities will be officially incorporated into Colombia’s Institute of Family Welfare. This state entity reaches around three million Colombians and provides support services for children and families. With this enactment, community mothers will have more state assistance and access to necessary resources. This is likely to positively impact the care they can provide the children under their supervision.&
  • Protecting students. According to the bill, student interns must be provided monetary compensation and benefits such as vacation time and severance pay. Around 400,000 students who participate in internships will gain complete labor rights and full pay.

How It Can Help Reduce Poverty

With increased access to reliable contracts and government support, workers in Colombia can more effectively sustain jobs to support their families. In addition, poverty can be ameliorated by providing workers with easier access to welfare benefits and higher minimum wages. For workers in Colombia, these reforms subsidize the amount of income they are spending on necessary services, leaving room for emergencies and adequate nutrition.

Formalizing the gig economy, paying workers more and limiting atypical contracts are expected to increase labor costs. However, these reforms have the promising potential to underpin the workforce, provide fair compensation and benefits and help sustain poverty reduction by offering workers viable and endurable opportunities.

As employment in Colombia steadily rises, workers must be supported with effective social services and protected by enforced labor laws. Compliance from employers, government oversight and support for workers and businesses will be critical to improving conditions for Colombian workers and effectively reducing poverty throughout the country.

– Erin Hellhake

Erin is based in Old Bridge, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Poverty in Colombia: How Stratification Reinforces Inequality

Poverty in Colombia: How Stratification Reinforces InequalityColombia’s stratification system, originally created to fairly distribute utility subsidies, has shaped the classification of poverty in the country and it is now undergoing national reform. Launched in 1985 and solidified in the 1991 Constitution, the system divides neighborhoods into six socioeconomic levels. Authorities assign each area a stratum based on physical characteristics like road quality, construction materials and surrounding infrastructure. Strata 1 and 2 represent the poorest zones, while strata 5 and 6 represent the wealthiest. Strata 3 and 4 fall in the middle. Most classifications are the result of visual inspection, not household income.

Redistribution as a Barrier

The system’s intent was progressive. Higher strata would pay full or elevated rates for public services, effectively subsidizing lower-income households. Those in strata 1 and 2 receive discounts, while strata 3 and 4 are expected to pay market rates. But over time, the policy has increased inequality and distorted the measurement of poverty in Colombia, failing to reflect current economic conditions, thereby leading to mismatches. A struggling family in stratum 6 may pay full price, while a wealthy homeowner in a modest area may qualify for discounts.

A ScienceDirect study found that residents in middle-income Stratum 4 reported a higher quality of life than those in Stratum 6. It cited stronger community ties and a greater sense of safety. In lower strata, household income improved wellbeing, but in wealthier areas, social trust mattered more. The researchers concluded that Colombia’s current classification system may overlook the factors that actually improve people’s lives.

Outdated Metrics and Adverse Incentives

Poorer neighborhoods sometimes resist infrastructure upgrades to avoid reclassification and loss of benefits. In other cases, families face higher utility rates after a neighborhood improves, even if their income remains unchanged. Strata assignments have not kept pace with the country’s demographic shifts, rapid urbanization or population displacement from conflict. The result is a system that reflects outdated stereotypes more than present-day realities.

Strata affect more than just utility bills. Strata details appear on personal IDs and can influence access to bank loans, scholarships and job opportunities. “Stratum” has become a shorthand for class status—mocking someone as “estrato 8” (too rich) or “estrato 3” (unsophisticated) is common in daily speech. This reinforces classism, racial prejudice and territorial segregation.

According to the World Values Survey, as the BBC reported, Colombia ranks among the most socially distrustful countries in Latin America. During the 2021 protests, some residents in higher-income neighborhoods reportedly armed themselves against perceived threats from poorer communities. As noted by a 2024 Reuters report, many Colombians rarely interact with people outside their stratum. For wealthier residents, this makes it easy to ignore poverty altogether.

Colombia’s stratification system aimed to reduce inequality. Instead, it entrenched a modern caste order, where address often determines opportunity. These outcomes have prompted national efforts to rethink how Colombia targets poverty, from the delivery of public services to vulnerability assessment.

SISBÉN IV: A Data-Driven Alternative

The government’s primary tool for identifying and addressing poverty in Colombia is the System for Identifying Potential Beneficiaries of Social Programs (SISBÉN). It is a multidimensional classification system that evaluates households based on income, housing, health and education conditions. Its goal is to help social investment reach the most vulnerable populations.

SISBÉN IV, the latest version, classifies households into groups A through D, with Group A representing extreme poverty and Group D being nonvulnerable. The system shifts focus away from strata and toward individual vulnerability. It does not directly distribute aid, but it enables institutions like Prosperidad Social, ICBF and housing programs to allocate support more equitably. By relying on updated, verifiable data, SISBÉN improves targeting and reduces misclassification, helping ensure that those most in need are prioritized for public assistance.

Universal Income Registry: Replacing the Strata System

To modernize social policy, Colombia is preparing to launch the Universal Income Registry (RUI) in 2026. This system will eventually replace SISBÉN and the outdated strata model. Built on the Social Household Registry (RSH), the RUI will assess household vulnerability based on income, employment, education, housing conditions and health status. This reform will expand the national social registry from 35 million to up to 57 million people, creating a more accurate and unified platform for distributing subsidies.

The RUI aims to:

  • Identify subsidy-eligible families more accurately
  • Maintain Colombia’s principle of social solidarity
  • Reduce exclusion errors through real-time data
  • Improve transparency and efficiency in public spending

This shift toward income-based classification marks a fundamental departure from geographic indicators like strata.

Housing Reform: Mi Casa Ya

The Mi Casa Ya program is Colombia’s primary housing subsidy initiative. It provides down-payment and interest subsidies to first-time homebuyers from vulnerable populations, based on their SISBÉN group rather than strata.

Recent reforms have expanded the program’s reach beyond major cities to include rural and Indigenous communities. In addition to income requirements, applicants must:

  • Not own a home
  • Not have received prior housing subsidies
  • Meet minimum SISBÉN vulnerability thresholds

By using data to prioritize need, Mi Casa Ya makes homeownership more accessible and equitable for lower-income families.

A More Equitable Path

While Colombia’s stratification system has long reinforced inequality, reforms like SISBÉN IV, the Universal Income Registry and programs like Mi Casa Ya reflect growing efforts to reframe how the country defines vulnerability. These reforms reflect a shift in understanding and addressing poverty in Colombia, moving from geographic assumptions to individual need. By using data-driven tools, the country is working toward a more inclusive and equitable future.

– Jacobo L. Esteban

Jacobo is based in Cali, Colombia and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How the Youth Uplifts Communities from Violence in Colombia

How the Youth Uplifts Communities from Violence in ColombiaOn June 7th, 2025, a 15-year-old gunman shot presidential candidate Uribe Turbay, who remains in critical condition. Colombian gangs have a history of targeting youth and particularly those living in poverty for recruitment. Despite Colombia’s turbulent past and even present, the country remains hopeful for the future, where the youth rise above poverty and uplift their community with them. 

History of Violence in Colombia

Colombia has a history of organized crime and violence. Most notorious were Colombia’s Cali Cartel and rival Medellín Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar. In the 1980s and 90s, each generated billions of dollars from trafficking Cocaine and ruled their territories ruthlessly. Escobar even waged a personal war against the Colombian government for a period.

These gangs in Colombia often targeted the youth for recruitment. Children tend to be more impressionable, vulnerable to violence or threats of violence. They can be targeted if they lack education or live in poverty, as they have fewer other opportunities.

These historic patterns appear to have re-emerged with the shooting of Turbay. The youth who shot him had reportedly been paid to do so, indicating there were additional factors at play. His young age and likelihood of facing far less harsh criminal penalties might have played a role in why he was targeted.

Employment Reducing Violence in Colombia

Despite violence remaining prevalent across Colombia, it has reduced significantly since the 1980s and 1990s. With some support, the youth have begun to find better opportunities and take their country a step in the right direction.

Access to employment has helped the youth improve their lives and lift themselves out of poverty. Research shows that unemployment and less access to income can result in increased rates of violence, so reducing these issues spells hope.

William Alarcon, former operational manager at AES, explains how two young women coming from typically more dangerous areas of Colombia gained employment at his company. “One of the ideas in the company where I work was to give the chance to some people coming from those areas, it’s a good idea… they were very good [at] labor. They also had the intention to study more, to learn more,” he says. As a result, they were able to benefit their communities and, in particular, their families and their children, so they wouldn’t have to go through the same struggle as they did.

Alarcon also recalled how gaining employment at 25 not only benefited him, but also gave him the chance to give back. “I could improve lives, I worked making aqueducts for people in rural areas… I was very happy to see the face of those people, the happiness of the people [when they received water to their house],” he says.

Education Reducing Violence in Colombia

Education also directly relates to poverty and, by extension, violence in Colombia. Research shows that more education is correlated with more and better career opportunities. Professional experience can be difficult to get at a young age with limited available positions, but education can offer valuable skills and knowledge, making young people more employable.

“The advice to young people is to study, at least to go to make a technical career and if they can, go to a university because,” says Alarcon. “I compare people who study, at the end, can get better lives, better things, they can travel, they can educate their children in a better way.”

He also recommends that the Colombian government promote and provide access to education, particularly in areas of violence, to give the youth more opportunities. A process that the Colombian government has begun to consider with recent initiatives.

Looking Ahead

Despite the history of violence in Colombia and some ongoing issues, the country has a hopeful future because of the hard work of its youngest and the support from those around them. Violence is still an issue, but some trends show signs of promise. Through employment, education and general self-improvement, the country’s youth can potentially reshape their future.

– Jesse Correll

Jesse is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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4 Organizations improving education in Colombia

education colombiaAs of 2022, nearly 37% of Colombia’s entire population is living below the country’s poverty line. This large impoverished population is here due to multiple factors, including armed conflicts and displacements, especially within the country’s rural areas. However, there are ways to help these families, with one major way being to support the development of better education within the country. Helping with education is an important step for many families to get out of poverty, and helping prevent further poverty within families that have not been affected yet. Here are a few organizations that help strengthen education in Colombia.

Fundación Pies Descalzos

Founded in 1997 by famous pop-singer and songwriter Shakira, Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation in English) helps broaden access to education in Colombia. This includes training teachers, providing benefits to families in need, and building more schools. According to its website, it has helped more than 224,000 children all over the country. They also have worked with multiple other organizations during the years, including USAID, the Colombian Department of Education and Nestle. Recently, it also gave humanitarian aid to families affected by armed conflict within the country.

Education Cannot Wait

Founded in 2015 by Gordon Brown, Education Cannot Wait works to help refugee families provide better access to education for their children. Due to the large number of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, this makes a significant portion of the poverty population that needs better access to education in Colombia. It also helps local Colombian children who were internally displaced due to armed conflict as part of its programs to provide better educational resources. So far, it has built 215 schools around the country and trained over 5,000 teachers as of 2024.

Social Finance UK

An organization based in the United Kingdom and founded in 2007, Social Finance offers numerous humanitarian aid benefits both within and outside its country’s borders. In Colombia, it mainly focuses on children of displaced families and children living in rural areas, as those are the ones who suffer the most difficulties in maintaining an education and are most affected by poverty in Colombia.

Its current program for Colombia, Outcomes Fund for Education Results (OFFERS), focuses on taking data from different projects and sharing their findings with the Colombian education system to help them make informed decisions on improving policy and finding methods to give the impoverished better access to education. OFFERS is also funded by Global Affairs Canada, which is a governmental organization of the Canadian government.

Powerful Children Colombia

Founded in 2021 as a response to the number of families that fell into poverty during the global pandemic, Powerful Children Colombia focuses on empowering children in Colombia who are currently suffering from poverty. It does this by creating partnerships with other organizations that help Colombian children with educational and developmental opportunities, in hopes of giving them better avenues to escape the cycle of poverty. Its two current programs focus on helping children in rural areas to help them promote physical education.

Education in Colombia

Colombia could take a long time to fully heal from the problems it has, but with better education, poverty could greatly improve, leading to higher standards of living. These are also only a few of the organizations helping give better access to education in Colombia, and they are always willing to receive support from people all over the world.

– Jose Gabriel Lopez

Jose is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Indigenous Poverty in Colombia

An Overview of Indigenous Poverty in ColombiaAs of 2018, approximately 1.9 million Indigenous people live in Colombia. According to ABColombia, nearly half of them experience extreme poverty, while more than 60% of Colombia’s total population lives below the poverty line. Indigenous communities face distinct and deeply entrenched barriers that perpetuate this inequality, often tied to conflict, displacement and discrimination.

Armed Conflict and Displacement

Colombia has endured decades of armed conflict, beginning in 1964 with the emergence of guerrilla groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Though a peace agreement was signed with the FARC in 2016, violence and displacement remain ongoing challenges.

Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable in this context. Due to their geographic isolation and limited political representation, many Indigenous families live in conflict zones and face territorial disputes involving armed actors. ABColombia reports that more than 300 Indigenous people have been forcibly displaced in recent years. Children from these communities also face heightened risk: since 2016, more than 8,000 Indigenous children have been forcibly recruited by armed groups.

Systemic Discrimination and Rights Violations

Historical discrimination continues to affect Indigenous people in Colombia. Though the 1991 Constitution officially recognized their rights, enforcement remains inconsistent. Many Indigenous groups still face exclusion from decision-making and public services.

Land dispossession, threats and attacks against community leaders persist. Advocacy for Indigenous rights can be dangerous: in 2023, Colombia recorded 142 killings of human rights defenders, nearly half the global total. Indigenous advocates are among those most frequently targeted. The violence impedes community organizing, weakens support networks and perpetuates cycles of poverty.

Pathways to Support and Development

Despite the challenges, organizations across Colombia are working to support Indigenous communities and reduce poverty. Targeted assistance and advocacy are essential to improve living conditions and ensure access to education, health care and legal protection.

  • Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund(SCIAF). Originally founded in 1985, SCIAF supports Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities by strengthening disaster resilience, land rights and access to basic services.
  • International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs(IWGIA).  IWGIA promotes Indigenous rights and self-determination. In Colombia and other Southern American countries, it focuses on land rights and gender equity among Indigenous women.
  • Amnesty International. This organization funds campaigns and provides research to help minority groups in different countries. In Colombia, Amnesty International defends the rights of Indigenous groups threatened by armed conflict, displacement and violence.

Looking Ahead

Efforts to reduce Indigenous poverty in Colombia increasingly involve strengthening local governance, education access and legal land rights. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), land tenure security is a key catalyst for multiple benefits in poverty eradication, food security and nutrition. Expanding such measures in Colombia offers a pathway for enhancing economic stability while protecting cultural heritage. National and international programs continue to support civil society participation, territorial autonomy and rural development. Long-term improvements in these areas remain tied to sustained investment, enforcement of existing protections and collaboration with Indigenous-led organizations.

– Jose Gabriel Lopez

Jose is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solidarity Income: Building Futures With Cash Transfers

Solidarity IncomeMillions of Colombian citizens live in abject poverty. As of 2022, the overall poverty rate was approximately 37%. However, the country has significantly improved in decreasing poverty over the past few decades, mainly due to its cash transfer programs, which provide regular cash assistance to low-income families.

Programs such as Families in Action, Youth in Action and Solidarity Income have proven imperative in promoting youth education and improving the health and well-being of citizens. They also provide emergency financial assistance. The nation has implemented these initiatives to support vulnerable communities in achieving long-term economic stability and building futures in Colombia.

Families in Action

In 2000, Colombia started its main conditional cash transfer program, Families in Action. The program aims to assist low-income families with consistent financial support if they meet specific conditions. These include ensuring their children attend school regularly and get routine health checkups for children aged less than 5.

Since its inception, Families in Action has helped around 2.7 million Colombian families and about 10 million people. The program has increased the use of preventive health care services. More families are taking their children to growth and development check-ups and ensuring increased diversity in rural children’s diet. The program aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and help future generations lead successful lives by building futures in Colombia.

The program is supported by numerous international agencies such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). These influential partners ensure that the program is running smoothly and has enough funding, which is crucial to continued success.

Youth in Action

Another initiative launched by the Colombian government in 2001 is Youth in Action. Aimed at easing the challenges many low-income youth face during their transition to adulthood, the program supports individuals aged 14 to 28 in college or attending vocational training programs. It provides regular cash payments to eligible students, which help pay for important expenses such as transportation, school supplies and housing. The main goal is to reduce youth unemployment and help students stay in school.

The initiative has been able to help approximately 300,000 young people through job training in semi-skilled trades, particularly in major cities where many struggle with unemployment. The program also connects these students with essential career services and job placement programs, guaranteeing their education leads to future opportunities.

The program has helped increase earnings and employment. For example, earnings for women increased by almost $18 per month (at the time of the evaluation). Additionally, 20% of program beneficiaries work in government-recognized firms, compared with 17.4% of other women. Overall, Youth in Action is an investment in Colombia’s future workforce and a strategic tool for building futures in Colombia through a fairer society.

Solidarity Income

Social inequalities among informal workers and families excluded from traditional social safety nets were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the government launched Solidarity Income in 2020 to provide unconditional cash transfers to support families not protected by other assistance initiatives.

Unlike Families in Action, Solidarity Income has no conditions. Instead, it is specifically designed to quickly help struggling people who lost jobs and could not afford food during the pandemic. The program used data from government databases and financial institutions to pinpoint exact households, allowing them to send money, even to those in remote areas.

In only a few years, the initiative reached more than three million families, with most in extreme poverty. An example is Heidy Barrera, who said, “this money will allow me to buy food for my household.” Solidarity Income was crucial during the height of the pandemic, when many other forms of financial support were unavailable.

Conclusion

Colombia’s Families in Action, Youth in Action and Solidarity Income programs show the impact of how organized cash transfer programs can positively influence millions of lives. These initiatives provide short-term relief and long-term development by helping people grow through education and health, which are essential in preventing regression and help build futures in Colombia. Strengthening and expanding these programs will be of utmost importance to create a more equitable society for the future generation of Colombians.

– Rafe Photopoulos

Rafe is based in Gainesville, FL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr