Programme description

Title: Peace-Building by Promoting Cooperation between Government and Civil Society (Cercapaz Programme)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Colombia
Lead executing agency: Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación
Overall term: 2007 to 2011

Context

Clientelism, corruption, conflict with illegal armed groups, drug cultivation and sale, and the involvement of governmental actors in Colombia’s decades old dynamic of violence have consistently undermined rule of law in Colombia. As a result, citizens view both the government and rule of law in Colombia with distrust. They are uncertain about their rights, their role and the support they are entitled to receive as responsible citizens.

Violent conflict has lasted for generations and has prevented a culture of peace and harmony from developing through all aspects of society. Up to now, citizens have had little opportunity to experience effective strategies for understanding conflict and resolving it through peaceful and constructive dialogue. Although many civil society and governmental peace initiatives are committed to curbing everyday violence, few have a national presence. Alliances for more effective cooperation between government and civil society actors must be formed and must receive intense supported, if peace is to be sustainable.

Objective

Citizens, civil society groups and state bodies have a sustainable and transparent working relationship based on trust. The programme aims to consolidate civil rights, involve citizens in social processes, increase the accountability of the public administration and develop joint strategies for promoting peace through local, regional and national actors.

Approach

Peace-Building by Promoting Cooperation between Government and Civil Society (the CERCAPAZ programme) addresses the structural causes of conflict. It strengthens the effectiveness of both civil society and the state through capacity building for peaceful conflict resolution. The programme supports measures and dialogue processes that build trust and creates neutral platforms for developing conflict resolution strategies. CERCAPAZ uses a cooperative approach and supports reform processes.

As many relevant actors in civil society as possible are involved in the transformation processes for complex conflicts and receive support in their respective roles. These include peace initiatives, women and youth organisations, municipal and state administrations, the private sector and ministries. The programme works locally and regionally in two priority regions: the coffee zone Eje Cafetero and Nororiente, in the northeast of the country.

Positive experiences with new ways of handling and settling conflicts are being introduced from municipal level through to the national government level using policy proposals, development plans and strategies. Learning processes with multiplier effects are also being initiated. In addition, CERCAPAZ promotes the sustainable development of a culture of peace among individuals by encouraging people to interact civilly with each other on a day-to-day basis. This includes educational measures for nonviolent conflict management and support for initiatives, reconciliation, equal rights and the integration of population groups threatened and affected by conflict.

The programme component ‘Sustainable and peace-oriented management of the environment and natural resources’ is being implemented by a consortium formed by the consulting firms IP Consult and AMBERO Consulting Gesellschaft mbH.

Results achieved so far

Together with its partners, CERCAPAZ has supported selected municipalities in preparing their four-year development plans, which for the first time contained issues such as reconciliation, equal rights and peace building. CERCAPAS also organised discussion forums for voters and candidates in the run-up to the 2007 regional and municipal elections.

Students in their last year of school are conducting a social project. The national court of auditors commended a method developed by CERCAPAZ for social control by young people as a model approach for integrating democratic structures and transparency. Under the supervision of teachers and representatives from the local audit office, young people independently audit public institutions. The national court of auditors recommended implementing the method in all regional audit offices and provided corresponding training.

Together with the Presidential Programme for Youth (Colombia Joven) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), CERCAPAZ supports the Game of Peace initiative El Golombiao. The football game has its own rules: the first goal must be scored by a girl and bonus points are awarded for fair play. The influence of violent youth gangs has declined in areas where Golombiao is being played. In 2009, regional youth groups supported by CERCAPAZ set up a national association to incorporate lessons learned from local and regional youth policy into the national debate.

Together with representatives from various women’s organisations and with support from CERCAPAZ, the mayor of Cartagena - who was elected in 2007 - developed policy guidelines to strengthen women’s rights at the municipal level. A unit was set up specifically to implement these guidelines, and they are now being applied in projects and action plans.

Many artistic, creative and innovative initiatives have helped promote a culture of peace through nonviolent methods of conflict transformation such as Golombiao. The first postgraduate programme ‘Do-no-harm and peace building’ has been set up in cooperation with the National University of Colombia (UNAL) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In its first round of applications, the programme attracted 93 applicants instead of the 30 to 35 usually received. UNAL now offers the course as a standalone programme and has received inquiries from various institutions, such as the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission.

As a neutral actor, CERCAPAZ has brought together many different conflicting parties. In the Oriente de Caldas region, energy companies, farmers, fishermen and the local government discussed at length whether and how to divert and dam the Guarinó River, without reaching a consensus. While the fishermen and farmers feared for their livelihoods, energy companies insisted on using the water for a power plant to generate maximum energy. The disagreement escalated into a stalemate. Today, the parties are working together to find a solution, in order to save the river and its catchment area.

CERCAPAZ mobilises companies as actors for peace, to promote the role Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays in peace building. In cooperation with the United Nations Global Compact and other UN agencies, a training programme on human rights was developed for companies in 2008. Around 100 companies have developed their own CSR action plans or updated existing ones to take human rights into account.

Facts and figures

• Almost three quarters of the municipalities receiving support integrate peace, inclusion and equality into their municipal plans.
• 2,000 students in 30 communities have so far taken part in audits.
• A national network now has 15 female mayors.
• 86 peace initiatives have been introduced since 2008.
• A baseline study was conducted on on-the-job teacher training methods and on the quality of teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools.

Further information

• Local programme website
  http://www.cercapaz.org
• Vote bien – Elecciones 2010
  Internet platform for the regional elections, supported by GIZ, other international donors, the Colombian media and NGOs
  http://www.votebien.com