Attachments
Highlights
Following the approval of the peace deal, the demobilization and disarmament process of FARC combatants started. By the end of January around 6,000 FARC members gathered in 26 ‘transitional zones’ located in 14 provinces to progressively lay down their weapons over a period of six months. In each zone the tripartite verification mission (Government, the FARC and the United Nations) is present. The UN system is supporting the peace stabilization process with an initial joint data collection to develop territorial profiles of areas where UN projects will be implemented.
Operational Updates
-
In order to mitigate the security risks that may arise from the presence of the FARC in the transitional zones, UN agencies will develop interventions towards peace stabilization in the first months of 2017.
-
WFP is member of the UN Peace Core Group that is currently reviewing the tools to collect information in order to identify gaps and opportunities for joint interventions. WFP is present in 70 percent of municipalities where concentration zones (designated areas in which FARC members will gather to enter the process of disarmament and reincorporation) are located, and 89 percent of these municipalities will be targeted by WFP.
-
In January the Colombian Government is working hand in hand with the UN Peace Group, through the participation of the Agency for Territorial Renewal. The main role of this agency is the promotion of social and economic development in rural areas affected by the conflict, while it seeks to identify potential interventions to support in the short term, especially regarding economic infrastructure. Thus, data collection tools are under joint revision to include all required information. The needs assessments are expected to start in February.
-
WFP and the local government in Caquetá Province signed an agreement to strengthen government capacities to develop and implement an efficient school meals programme. A new model of management will be put in place while building local capacities. With the financial contribution of the local government, WFP will support the implementation of the 2017 municipal school meals programme that will reach 15,600 students in 60 schools. Small farmers associations supported by WFP will provide fresh food. Thus, WFP contributes to link small farmer organizations to institutional markets.
Challenges
- The main challenge facing the country office is related to the financing of the CSP that is expected to start in April 2017, as the new portfolio includes more diverse activities than the current PRRO, and all of them should be funded. Therefore, efforts for resource mobilization are underway.